xEffect Residual Current Devices Eaton.

com

xEffect
RCDs for machines and
equipment with electrical drives
Enhanced reliability in drive applications
Challenges for machine
builders
The use of an RCD is an effective
instrument for protection against
electrical shock and fire prevention.
Innovative electrical drive systems offer
specific application solutions and
improve the energy efficiency.
In modern electrical equipments and
machineries both components are used
together in more and more cases.
Optimized interaction of
Eaton drives and RCDs
Eaton takes up this problem and offers a
complete solution from one hand. The
interaction between Eaton drives and
RCDs is harmonized. Unwanted trips
because of system caused earth leakage
currents will be avoided and a safe power
disconnection in case of dangerous fault
currents is guaranteed.
Thereby it is mandatory to consider the
compliance with all standards and
regulations.
Especial attention must be paid here on
the usual technical compatibility
problems between RCDs and electrical
drive systems.
Unwanted trips of the RCDs can happen
during the normal operation because of
It is clearly recommended and in many
cases already mandatory to use RCDs
type F and Bfq for such applications.
They give the possibility to offer a safe and
reliable operation of the machine with a
high system uptime.
2 EATON CORPORATION BR019004EN
high system cause earth leackage currents
which are generated in applications with
frequency controlled drives. Increasing
the level of the personal and equipment
protection means very often a reduced
system uptime.
To learn how harmonized RCDs and Eaton
drive solutions can provide increased ener-
gy efficiency with maximum
productivity and machine uptime, down-
load the Whitepaper here
www.eaton.eu/en/cp/rcd
Residual Current Devices Type F

Benefits:
• Reliable protection for machines with
1 phase frequency converters

• Increased protection due to

- detection of mixed frequencies
- higher load rating with DC residual
currents up to 10 mA

• Reduction of nuisance tripping thanks to

- time delayed tripping
- high current withstand capability

Definition
The type F RCD is defined according to
IEC/EN 62423. It provides safe and reliable
protection against sinusoidal residual
currents and pulsating DC fault currents
(like type A devices). It is also capable
of handling residual currents with mixed
frequencies of up to 1 kHz (10, 50, 1000
Hz) in accordance with the IEC 62423
standard.
Type F RCDs can accept smooth DC
residual currents of up to 10 mA without
affecting their standard functionality, have
a time delayed tripping and distinguish
themselves from other devices thanks to
their high resistance to power surges: this
ensures minimal false tripping and a high
degree of safety.
They are available as RCCBs (2-pole or
4-pole up to 100 A) as well as RCBOs
(1N up to 40 A). With three versions for
different protection levels (30 mA, 100 mA
and 300 mA), the type F functionality is
voltage independent and can be used for
fault and additional protection. As a result,
the recommendations for installations
including variable frequency drives have
been modified.
Eaton also offers a digital version of the
type F RCBO, which displays fault currents
at the device in real time.

Field of Application
Type F residual current devices are de-
signes specifically for use in applications
with single phase frequency converters
such as pumps, welding units, vibrators or
hammer drills. In this type of application,
residual currents with mixed frequencies
can arise which residual current devices
type AC and A are unable to cope with.
The detection of mixed frequencies and
the higher load rating with DC residual cur-
rents up to 10 mA enables the RCD type F
to provide excellent protection for humans
and the system in all applications which
contain appliances and motors with single
phase frequency converters.
The time delayed tripping and the high
current withstands capability support in ad-
dition avoiding nuisance tripping. Overall,
the RCD type F enables machine builders
and plant manufacturers to develop
equipment that is extremely reliable while
ensuring high safety levels for the operator
and maintenance staff.

3 EATON CORPORATION BR019004EN

Residual Current Devices Type B, Bfq and B+

Benefits:
• Reliable protection for machines with
3 phase frequency converters

• Safe power disconnection at smooth DC

and AC residual currents

• Detection of high frequency residual

currents

• Highest system availability by digital

technology and pre-warnings

Definition
The RCCB type B detects (acc. to IEC
62423) beside AC and pulsating DC
residual currents also smooth DC residual
currents. With the extended sensitivity
of the RCCB type B, electrical installers
and machinery builders can increase the
safety considerably in power distribution
and machineries.
The special adapted tripping curve
(non-sensitive against system caused
earth leakage currents at high
frequencies) of the RCCB type Bfq
complies to the specifications of the
RCCB type B and avoid in addition
unwanted tripping in industrial
applications which contain frequency
converter controls.
The RCCB type B+ is sensitive to all resid-
ual currents and is additionally equipped
with a tripping curve that limits the trip-
ping current to max. 420 mA for frequen-
cies up to 20 kHz.
This complies additionally to the
specifications for superior fire protection
according to the German standard VDE
066-440 (formerly VVDEV 0664-110).

Field of Application
Smooth DC residual currents can occur
in industrial, commercial and residential
applications which contain photovoltaic
systems, frequency converters or electron-
ic consumers. In this kind of applications
only RCCBs type B, Bfq or B+ can gua-
rantee a safe protection for persons and
equipment.
They are also equipped with a time de- RCCBs type B+ are perfectly suitable for
layed tripping and a high current withstand installers and machinery builders to in-
capability to offer high reliability for the crease safety in fire risk applications such
system. as petrol stations, agriculture, paint shops,
depots, warehouses and many more.
RCCBs type Bfq with their special adapted
tripping curve are the perfect choice for in-
dustrial applications with 3 phase frequen-
cy converters.

4 EATON CORPORATION BR019004EN


Selection help RCDs Type F / Type B
Applications with:
• Appliances and motors with
1 phase frequency converters
(supply: phase/neutral)
• Washing machines, dishwashers
• Heat pumps
• Motor applications
• Ventilation, cooling and
5
air conditioning systems
• Welding equipment
• etc.
RCD Type F
(acc. to IEC 62423)
Standard type, multi-frequency
residual currents up to 1 kHz
F B
EATON CORPORATION BR019004EN
!
Applications with:
• Appliances and motors with 1 phase frequency converters with PFC (Power Factor Compensation) or
• 1 phase frequency converters supplied between phase/phase or
• 3 phase frequency converters
• DC systems (photovoltaic systems, UPS units…)
• PV systems Industrial applications which Fire risk applications such as:
• Battery banks contain high-power frequency
converter controls such as:
• UPS units • Petrol stations
• EV charging • Agriculture
• 3 phase motor applications
• Medical devices • Paint shops
• Speed regulated machine tools
• etc. • Warehouses
• Biogas plants, etc.
• VDE 0664-400
RCD Type B RCD Type Bfq RCD Type B+
(acc. to IEC 62423) (acc. to IEC 62423) (acc. to VDE 0664-400)
Standard type, sensitive to all Non-sensitive against system For superior fire protection
residual currents up to 1 kHz caused earth leakage currents at (max. tripping current of 420 mA
high frequencies up to 50 kHz for frequencies up to 20 kHz)
Bfq B+
 !

Correct installation
Possible residual current waveforms of applications with
frequency converters and suitable RCDs
300 mA 300 mA Suitable
Suitable
RCD
RCCB Circuit
Circuit Load Current
Load Current Residual
ResidualCurrent
Current
F B/Bfq/B+ Type
Type
B F /L /L /F1
~
L1

30 mA 30 mA 30 mA 30 mA 30 mA 30 mA N /M M
/F2 t t
PE –
1
F F B/Bfq/B+ F F B/Bfq/B+
B+ /F2

kHz
/L /L /L
~
Bfq L
M

PFC
2 N
/F1 – /F2 t t
PE

In general, RCDs type F are designed /L

6
for applications with 1 phase frequency
converters. But there are also 1 phase t
300 mA FC designs which require RCD type B
protection. /L /F1
A/F ~ /L
L1
RCDs type F are not suitable for appli- L2 M
3 N+ /M –
ances that can generate smooth DC /F2 t
PE t
30 mA 30 mA residual currents, e.g. 1 phase FC with
PFC or 1 phase FC supplied between /F2
A/F B/Bfq/B+
phase/phase.
t
They are not suitable for installations in
networks with frequencies that deviate
from the rated frequency 50/60 Hz (not /L /L /F1
~
at the outgoing terminal of a frequency L1
L2 M
converter). 4 L3
/M – t
N+ /F2
PE
Electrical loads that can generate smooth
DC residual currents in the event of a fault /F2

must be assigned to their own circuit with

a universal current-sensitive residual cur- t
rent protective device (type B, type Bfq
or type B+).
300 mA

B/Bfq/B+

EATON CORPORATION BR019004EN

30 mA 30 mA 30 mA 30 mA 30 mA

F B/Bfq/B+ F F B/Bfq/B+
Possible residual current waveforms and suitable RCDs
Suitable
SuitableRCD
RCCB- Type
– Type Circuit Circuit LoadLoad
Current
Current Residual Current
Residual Current
/L /L /F1
B F A AC
L
1
N /F
t t
PE

/L /L /F1
B+ L
2
N /F t t
PE
a a

/L /L /F1
kHz
L
Bfq 3
N /F t t
PE

L
4
N /F
t t
PE

/L /F1
/L /L /L /F1
L
5 N
/F t t
PE
a a

/L /F1
/L
L
6 N
/F t t
PE

/L /L /F1 /F2
~
L1
7 M
N /M – t
/F2 t t
PE

/L /L /F1
L
8
N – /F t t
PE

/L
L1 /L /F1
L2
9 L3
N /F t t
PE

/L /L /F1
L1
10 L2
N /F
PE t t

/L /L /L /L
~
L
PFC

M
11 N
/F1 – /F2 t t t
PE

/L /F2
~ /L /F1
L1
L2 M
12
N+ /M – t
/F2 t t
PE

/L /L /F1
L1
L2
13 L3
N /F t
PE

/L /L /F1 /F2
~
L1
14 L2 M
L3
/M – t t
N+ /F2
PE

The table shows the possible residual cur-
rent waveforms and the suitable RCDs.
In general, RCDs type F are designed
for applications with 1 phase frequency
converters. But there are also 1 phase
FC (frequency converters) designs which
require RCD type B protection.
RCDs type F are not suitable for applica-
tions that can generate smooth DC residu-
al currents, e.g. 1 phase FC with PFC or
1 phase FC supplied between phase/
phase (see Table, Possible residual current
waveforms and suitable RCDs, circuits
8 to 13).
They are not suitable for installations in
networks with frequencies that deviate
from the rated frequency 50/60 Hz (not
at the outgoing terminal of a frequency
converter).
7 EATON CORPORATION BR019004EN
Electrical loads that can generate smooth
DC residual currents in the event of a
fault must be assigned to their own circuit
with a universal current-sensitive residual
current protective device (type B, type Bfq
or type B+).
For more details see Eaton Whitepaper
„RCDs&Drives“.
Eaton hat sich das Ziel gesetzt, durch den Einsatz seiner Energiema-
nagement-Technologien und -Dienstleistungen für mehr Lebensqualität
zu sorgen und die Umwelt zu schützen. Die nachhaltigen Lösungen
helfen den Kunden, elektrische, hydraulische und mechanische Energie
sicherer, effizienter und zuverlässiger zu nutzen. Eaton erzielte im Jahr
2019 einen Umsatz von 21,4 Milliarden Dollar und verkauft Produkte in
mehr als 175 Ländern. Weltweit arbeiten rund 95.000 Mitarbeitende bei
Eaton.

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Publication No. BR019004EN
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May 2020
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