Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) | Residential/commercial lighting, small appliances | Breaking capacity: 10kA (IEC 60947-2) Rated current: 32A (IEC 60947-2) Material: Copper contacts (ASTM B117 corrosion test) | ▲ Resettable design Compact size for tight spaces Cost-effective for low-current circuits | Limited to ≤63A circuits Manual reset required after tripping Less robust for high-impact surges |
Fuse | Low-cost applications, older systems | Breaking capacity: 5kA (IEC 60127) Voltage rating: 250V (IEC 60127) Material: Ceramic body (ASTM C62) | Inexpensive Guaranteed isolation after activation RoHS-compliant | One-time use only No reset capability Slower response to overloads |
Residual Current Device (RCD) | Bathrooms, wet areas, industrial equipment | Trip current: 30mA (IEC 61009) Response time: <30ms (IEC 61009) | ▲ Life-saving shock protection Mandatory for safety in moist environments | Requires proper grounding Higher cost Potential nuisance tripping in noisy circuits |
Molded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB) | Industrial machinery, high-current circuits | Breaking capacity: 50kA (IEC 60947-2) Adjustable trip settings: 100–630A | ▲ Handles high currents Customizable for diverse applications | Bulky installation Complex wiring Higher price point |
Surge Protective Device (SPD) | Electronics protection, server rooms | Surge current rating: 100kA (IEC 61643-1) Clamping voltage: 1.5kV (IEC 61643-1) | ▲ Blocks voltage spikes Protects sensitive equipment | Requires regular testing Passive degradation without visible signs |
Thermal Circuit Breaker | Motors, appliances, HVAC systems | Thermal sensitivity: 110% rated current (IEC 60947-3) Material: Plastic housing (UL 94 V-0 flame retardant) | Simple, no-moving-parts design Reliable for thermal overload | Slower response time Less precise current detection compared to electronic MCB |