Are you confused between MCB and MCCB?
Actually most of the time, electrical students get confused in MCB and MCCB. Both are circuit breakers that means their same working function is to protect the power circuit or system.
If MCB and MCCB work the same, why it is used with two different namings?
In this tutorial, I am describing- what is the main difference between the MCB and MCCB?
Let’s start…
Difference between MCB and MCCB [In Tubular Form]
Here is the difference between these two circuit breakers according to their specification.
| # | Content | MCB | MCCB |
| 01 | What is MCB & MCCB? | MCB is known as Miniature Circuit Breaker. | MCCB is known as Moulded Case Circuit Breaker. |
| 02 | Current Capacity | MCB has low carrying current capacities i.e. up to 63A. | MCCB has high carrying current capacities than the MCB. It has a capacity in a range from 100A to 1kA. |
| 03 | Trip Circuit | In this MCB, the trip level circuit occurs in fixed conditions. | In this MCCB, the trip level circuit occurs in variable conditions. |
| 04 | Breaking Capacity | It has a range of a current breaking capacity up to 10kA. | It has a range of a current breaking capacity from 10k to 100kA. |
| 05 | Size | It occurs in a small size. | It occurs in large sizes as compared to the MCB. |
| 06 | Economical | It is cheaper in cost. | It is a little bit costlier than MCB. |
| 07 | Auxiliary Contact | Auxiliary contact does not occur in the MCB circuit. | It occurs in the MCCB circuit. For example, you can connect the alarm circuit. |
| 08 | Used | It is used for small current carrying applications like residential purposes.
For example, In-home wiring protection, MCB is used. |
It is used for large current carrying applications for commercial or industrial purposes.
For example, In Motor protection, MCCB is used. |
| 09 | Advantages | MCB is used only for the overheating, short circuit and overload conditions. | MCCB is used for the short circuit current conditions, overload conditions, earth fault protection, under frequency protection, and many more purposes. |
| 10 | Features | The main feature of the MCB is to protect the power circuit from short circuit and overload conditions. | The main feature of the MCCB is to protect the power circuit and to make extra auxiliary contact for the shunt tripping condition.
So, it gives more features as compare to MCB. |
Similarity between MCB and MCCB
Let’s see the similarities between both MCB and MCCB.
- Both devices commonly work as protective devices like a breaker.
- Both can be operated automatically or manually for the ON/OFF condition.
- These two circuit breakers are mostly used in low tension or low voltage circuit.
- These breakers sense and protect the power circuit from the overcurrent or short circuit condition.
- Both breakers require the same installation and maintenance.
Topmost MCB and MCCB Brands Used
Many of the topmost electrical companies are manufacturing different switchgear protection devices like a relay, circuit breaker, and fuse.
Here, I am looking for the topmost company brands in India where the companies manufacture branded MCB and MCCB.
- Siemens
- Legrand
- L & T
- GE
- Havells
- Hager
- LifeGuard
- Bitcorp
- Schneider Electric
- India Limited
- Mitsubishi Switchgear
- SAFTYGUARD
- Anchor Electricals Private Limited
I have covered all different points to distinguish Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) and Moulded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB).
And also I described both similarities and useful topmost brands where MCB and MCCB are manufactured.
If you any queries regarding this tutorial, you can freely hit the comment below.
More Electrical Differences You Should Know:
- Relay vs PLC
- Alternating Vs Direct Current
- Electrical Motor Vs Generator
- Electrical Conductor Vs Insulator
- Programmable Logic Controller Vs Relay
Thanks for Reading!
I have completed master in Electrical Power System. I work and write technical tutorials on the PLC, MATLAB programming, and Electrical on DipsLab.com portal.
Sharing my knowledge on this blog makes me happy. And sometimes I delve in Python programming.
I have like your all contents which are covered nearabout all related data. Nicely explained.
Thank You
Thanks, you too for giving feedback about the shared tutorials. I am promising, I will share more content for the DipsLab readers.
Thanks, Dipali. It’s really nice to get to know more about electrical as I am from an electrical background. Waiting for more electrical topics to be covered by you.
Glad to connect with you Indraneel. And Thanks, for reaching out to my blog and finding out very useful.
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Well explained!
Thank you 🙂
Very nicely explained
Thanks 🙂
Interesting
Thanks:)
Worth Sharing Ms. Dipali Chaudhari, especially for our electrical engineering students, because when I interview Freshers, almost time they get confused & stuck while such questions.
Such knowledge will very helpful to engineering students.
Keep it up.
Good, The main difference between MCB and MCCB is in the rated of current and amount of breaking capacity when over load or short circuit occur. MCB is commonly used in single-phase distribution line, and MCCB is commonly installed in three-phase lines for main protection of the electrical system.
MCCB comes with an adjustable trip characteristic for the higher models,Their interrupting rating ranges from around 10,000 amps to 200,000 amps,MCCB is more suited for higher energy due to its better capacity.
Apart from technical reasons as explained in above posts In general all knows that MCBs used for distribution/outgoing feeders and MCCBs are used for main/incomer feeders.
Good Effort.
Few more updates are as below:
MCB are available upto125A and with 15kA breaking Capacity. Auxiliary contacts are also available for MCBs. MCCB are available with both Fixed and Variable trip units.
Thanks for posting this Dipali Chaudhari.
You’re welcome, Mohan 🙂
It’s excellent.
Thanks, Amar 🙂
Love this.
Thanks 🙂
White colour MCB
Dear Ms Deepali
I liked your style of article writing, simple and lucid.
Thanks, for commenting. Really, you made my day very glad 🙂
Very good post, Dipali.
Thanks 🙂
Hi,
It’s a clear explanatory article about the differences. Thanks for sharing this good article dipali.
Nice well compiled and made easy presentation where all basic information can be viewed in one place and saves time for both students and working professionals from searching multiple books and websits for basic information on the subjects.
Carry on the good work you are doing.
But also expand into other fields of Science and Technology to make your website more attractive to a larger audience and more viewership.
One way of doing it is to invite Scientists and Engineers from for presentation from other fields of Science and Technology as well.
Another useful inclusion will be industrial & research inputs from working scientists and engineers.
The best explanation. Thank you, madam.
You’re welcome, Narcisio.
Thanks for the insightful information, Such a great article and clear explanation, It means a lot.