The three-phase RCD is a transformer whose primary winding is constituted by the line conductors themselves. The vector sum of the line currents and the neutral current in healthy three-phase cir- cuits is always zero, and therefore, in the secondary winding, which has the task of switching off the supply, no current will circulate. If a fault occurs, the vector sum becomes nonzero due to the current leav- ing the system through the PE not passing through the toroid. The RCD, then, activated by its secondary winding, will trip the circuit breaker. RCDs must be considered as an additional means of protection and do not substitute for the other fundamental protective measures against direct contact previously examined. RCDs, in fact, can pro- tect persons by disconnecting the supply only in the case of contact between energized objects and the ground. They can sense only fault currents not returning to the source through the legitimate path. Con- sequently,directcontactbetweenthephaseandtheneutralconductors maynotactivatetheRCD,astheremaynotbeenoughgroundcurrent circulation for it to sense (Fig. 2.9). TheRCDwillonlysensethecomponentI3,whilethelargercurrent I1 willcirculatethroughtheperson’sbody.I3 maynotbelargeenough toexceedtheRCD’soperatingthreshold,whichcannotdisconnectthe supply.
The three-phase RCD is a transformer whose primary winding is constituted by the line conductors themselves. The vector sum of the line currents and the neutral current in healthy three-phase cir- cuits is always zero, and therefore, in the secondary winding, which has the task of switching off the supply, no current will circulate. If a fault occurs, the vector sum becomes nonzero due to the current leav- ing the system through the PE not passing through the toroid. The RCD, then, activated by its secondary winding, will trip the circuit breaker. RCDs must be considered as an additional means of protection and do not substitute for the other fundamental protective measures against direct contact previously examined. RCDs, in fact, can pro- tect persons by disconnecting the supply only in the case of contact between energized objects and the ground. They can sense only fault currents not returning to the source through the legitimate path. Con- sequently,directcontactbetweenthephaseandtheneutralconductors maynotactivatetheRCD,astheremaynotbeenoughgroundcurrent circulation for it to sense (Fig. 2.9). TheRCDwillonlysensethecomponentI3,whilethelargercurrent I1 willcirculatethroughtheperson’sbody.I3 maynotbelargeenough toexceedtheRCD’soperatingthreshold,whichcannotdisconnectthe supply.
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