What are the main two types of circuit breaker?
In a nutshell, Simmi is correct. There are only 2 main types of CIRCUIT BREAKERS. An RCD is not a circuit breaker although it can be used in COMBINATION with a circuit breaker. The 2 main types of CIRCUIT BREAKERS are: 1] Thermal (for overload current detection – uses a bi-metal strip for this function) &, 2} Magnetic (for short circuit current detection – uses a coil based on Ampere/Turns). Most modern circuit breakers utilise both thermal & magnetic tripping although there is another type of circuit breaker that only uses a coil (no bi-metal strip). It is the Hydraulic Magnetic circuit breaker & can more accurately detect overload currents than the other types. I used to be an engineer for a circuit breaker manufacturer (Heinemann).
