
Miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) are essential safety devices that are designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by overcurrent. These compact and reliable devices act as automatic switches, interrupting the flow of electricity when the current exceeds a safe level. Similar to [RCBOs](https://my.rs-online.com/web/c/fuses-circuit-breakers/circuit-breakers/rcbos/), they serve as a crucial component in the electrical distribution system of buildings, homes, and industrial facilities. Miniature circuit breakers are installed in distribution boards or consumer units and are often used in conjunction with residual current devices (RCDs) for enhanced electrical safety.

## **How Does a Miniature Circuit Breaker Work?**

Miniature circuit breakers automatically disconnect the electrical circuit when they detect a current exceeding the rated capacity of the circuit. This action [ensures machine safety](https://my.rs-online.com/web/content/discovery/ideas-and-advice/machine-safety-guide) and employee safety by helping to prevent overheating and potential damage to the wiring, appliances, or other connected devices. Along with equipment such as [safety relays](https://my.rs-online.com/web/c/relays-signal-conditioning/relays/safety-relays/) and [non-contact safety door switches](https://my.rs-online.com/web/c/switches/safety-interlock-switches-components/non-contact-safety-switches/), they are an integral part of modern electrical installations, contributing to the overall reliability and safety of electrical systems.

Mini circuit breakers typically use thermal and magnetic tripping mechanisms.

- **Thermal Tripping**: For overload protection, the bimetallic strip heats up and bends when continuous overcurrent flows. This deflection releases a mechanical latch, opening the MCB contacts and stopping current flow.
- **Magnetic Tripping**: For short-circuit protection, a sudden current rise causes electromechanical displacement of a plunger associated with a tripping coil or solenoid. The plunger strikes the trip lever, immediately releasing the latch mechanism and opening the circuit breaker contacts.

## **What Are the Different Types of Miniature Circuit Breakers?**

Mini circuit breakers come in different types, each designed to trip at different levels of overcurrent. The choice of MCB type depends on the specific characteristics of the electrical load it is protecting:

- **Type B**: General purpose, suitable for domestic installations. Trips between 3 and 5 times the load current.
- **Type C**: Designed for applications with higher inrush currents, such as motors and transformers. Trips between 5 and 10 times the full load current.
- **Type D**: Intended for circuits with significant inrush currents, like those associated with high-powered equipment. Trips between 10 and 20 times the full load current.

## **Advantages of Miniature Circuit Breakers**
- **Safety and Protection**: MCBs provide superior protection against overloads, short circuits, and electrical faults compared to traditional fuses. They comply with Malaysian safety standards, including MS IEC 60898 and MS IEC 61008, to safeguard against overloads and short circuits, preventing damage to wiring, appliances, and other connected devices.
- **Reusability and Easy Reset**: Unlike [cartridge fuses](https://my.rs-online.com/web/c/fuses-circuit-breakers/fuses/cartridge-fuses/) that need replacement after tripping, miniature breakers can be easily reset and reused multiple times. This feature reduces maintenance costs and downtime.
- **Sensitivity and Reliability**: Miniature circuit breakers are more sensitive to current changes and faults than fuses, offering more reliable protection. They can detect even small fluctuations in current flow, ensuring better safety for electrical systems.
- **Versatility and Compact Size**: Available in various types and sizes, MCBs can be used in a wide range of applications, from residential to industrial settings. Their compact size allows for easy installation in electrical panels and distribution boards.
- **Quick Response Time**: MCBs have a short tripping time, ranging from 0.04 to 13 seconds depending on the type, ensuring rapid protection against electrical faults.
- **Visual Fault Indication**: Mini breakers for electrical panels provide clear visual indication when they trip, making it easy for users to identify and locate faults in the electrical system.
- **Customisable Protection**: Different types of MCBs (B, C, D, K, and Z) offer varying levels of sensitivity and tripping currents, allowing for customised protection based on specific application needs.
- **Enhanced Safety for DC Applications:** Specialised MCBs designed for DC voltages offer advantages like non-polarity, simplified wiring, and high rated voltage capabilities (up to 1000V DC), making them ideal for communication and photovoltaic systems.
- **Cost-Effective in the Long Run:** While initially more expensive than fuses, mini breakers are more cost-effective over time due to their reusability and reduced maintenance requirements.
- **Compliance with Safety Standards:** MCBs are designed to meet high safety standards, ensuring reliable protection for electrical installations across various environments.

These advantages make miniature circuit breakers an essential component in modern electrical systems, offering improved safety, efficiency, and reliability compared to traditional protective devices.

## **What Causes an MCB to Trip, and Can It Be Reset?**

Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs) trip primarily due to two conditions: overloads and short circuits. An overload occurs when the current flowing through the circuit exceeds the MCB's rated capacity, causing a bimetallic strip inside the MCB to heat up and bend, which triggers the trip mechanism to break the circuit. Short circuits happen when there is a direct connection between live and neutral wires, resulting in a sudden surge of current that activates the magnetic tripping mechanism almost instantaneously to prevent damage and hazards.

After an MCB trips, it can be reset easily by toggling its switch back to the 'ON' position. However, it is crucial to first identify and resolve the underlying issue that caused the tripping before resetting it. If the MCB trips again after being reset, it indicates that there is still a fault in the circuit, and further investigation or professional help may be required.

## **Industrial Applications of MCBs**

Micro circuit breakers are indispensable in ensuring operational continuity and safety across various sectors in Malaysia. MCBs are mostly used in the following areas:

### **Official and Commercial Facilities**

MCBs are crucial in business operations across Malaysia, providing reliable protection for electrical circuits that power computers, HVAC systems, and lighting circuits. By guarding against electrical faults, mini breakers help prevent potential data loss and ensure that business activities continue smoothly without disruption. Facilities managers often implement comprehensive MCB systems to manage the diverse array of electrical equipment, ensuring that all components are adequately protected against electrical anomalies.

### **Medical Facilities**

In medical facilities across Malaysia, the reliability of electrical systems is a matter of life and death. MCBs are critical components in these settings, safeguarding life-saving equipment from unexpected overcurrents. The adoption of mini circuit breaker panels in healthcare settings not only supports the functionality of medical devices but also enhances patient safety by minimising the risk of equipment failure.

### **Security Systems**

Security systems used in buildings and other facilities rely heavily on the functionality of MCBs. These mini breakers for electrical panels protect systems, ensuring that they remain operational 24/7, providing continuous security monitoring and protection. This is particularly crucial in high-security areas where constant surveillance is necessary to prevent and respond to security breaches effectively.

### **Telecommunications Facilities and Systems**

Telecommunications facilities depend extensively on MCBs to protect their operations. These facilities house sophisticated equipment for data transmission and telecommunication operations that are sensitive to electrical disturbances. MCBs ensure that the power supplied to this equipment is stable and within safe limits, preventing damage to delicate electronic components that could result in service interruptions.

## **Your Trusted MCB Supplier and Manufacturer**

When it comes to safeguarding your electrical circuits, trust RS Malaysia to provide you with high-quality miniature circuit breakers. As a leading supplier of electrical components, we offer a comprehensive selection from industry-leading brands like [ABB](https://my.rs-online.com/web/b/abb/), [Siemens](https://my.rs-online.com/web/b/siemens/), [Schneider Electric](https://my.rs-online.com/web/b/schneider-electric/), [Eaton](https://my.rs-online.com/web/b/eaton/), and [Lovato](https://my.rs-online.com/web/b/lovato/), ensuring you find the perfect MCBs to meet your specific needs and Malaysian safety standards.

Whether you need MCBs for residential, commercial, or industrial applications, RS is your reliable partner for electrical protection. Our commitment to quality extends beyond our products to our service. We offer competitive prices, expert technical support, and next-day delivery options to ensure a seamless experience for our customers in Malaysia. For more delivery information, please refer to our [delivery policy](https://my.rs-online.com/web/content/support/all-articles/delivery).



MCBs

Circuit Breakers

Fuses & Circuit Breakers

Electrical, Automation & Cables

Automation & Control Gear

Automation Signalling

Contactors & Auxiliary Contacts

Electric Motors

Industrial Robots

PLCs, HMIs & Industrial Computing

Process Control

Sensors

Solenoids

Cables & Wires

AV Cables

Cable Glands & Fittings

Cable Joints & Cable Sleeving

Cable Management

Cable Ties & Fixings

Computer Cables

Electrical Power & Industrial Cables

Networking & Coaxial Cables

Single Core Cable

Wire to Board Cables & Ribbon Cable

Enclosures & Server Racks

19-Inch Racking

Enclosures

Enclosures & Racking Components

Earth & Lightning Protection

Fuse Holders & Accessories

Fuses

Fuses - PCB

HVAC, Fans & Thermal Management

Air Conditioning & Fans

Air Conditioning & Heating Accessories

Building Automation

Electronics Heating & Cooling Components

Fan Accessories

Lighting

Emergency Lighting & Safety Lighting

Light Bulbs, Lamps & Tubes

Light Fittings, Fixtures & Luminaires

Lighting Components

Torches & Inspection Lamps

Relays & Signal Conditioning

Relay Accessories

Relays

Signal Conditioners & Isolators

Switches

Capacitive, Magnetic and Piezo Switches

DIP & Rotary Encoded Switches

Domestic Installation Switches

Foot Switches & Components

Joysticks & Components

Key Switches & Selector Switches

Keyboard & Keypad Switches

Limit & Position Switches

Micro Switches & Detector Switches

Push Button Switches & Components

Rocker Switches & Components

Rope Pull Switches & Components

Rotary Switches & Components

Safety Enabling & Control Switches

Safety Interlock Switches & Components

Switch Disconnectors & Components

Toggle Switches & Slide Switches

Electronic Components, Power & Connectors

Batteries & Chargers

Battery & Charger Accessories

Battery Chargers & Power Banks

Non-Rechargeable Batteries

Rechargeable Batteries

Connectors

AV Connectors

Automotive Electrical Connectors

Backplane & Rack Connectors

Circular Connectors

IC Sockets & Adapters

Mains & DC Power Connectors

Network & Telecom Connectors

PCB Connectors & Wire Housings

Power Connectors

RF Coaxial Connectors & Adapters

Terminal Blocks

USB, D Sub & Computing Connectors

Wire Terminals & Splices

Displays & Optoelectronics

Display Modules

Fibre Optic Components

Indicators & Indicator Components

LED Lighting Components

LEDs - Light Emitting Diodes

Laser Modules & Components

Optocouplers & Photodetectors

ESD Control, Cleanroom & PCB Prototyping

ESD Control & Clean Room

PCB Etching, Preparation & Developing

PCB Handling

PCB Spacers, Pillars & Supports

PCB Tools

Prototyping Boards

Passive Components

Antennas

Capacitors

Crystals, Oscillators & Resonators

EMI Filters & Protection

Fixed Resistors

Inductors

Passive Components Kits

Rotary Encoders

Sounder, Buzzer & Microphone Components

Surge Protection Components

Variable Resistors

Power Supplies & Transformers

Power Supplies

Renewable Energy

Transformers

Voltage Converters

Raspberry Pi, Arduino, ROCK, STEM Education & Development Tools

Arduino Shop

BBC micro:bit Shop

Development Tools & Single Board Computers

ROCK SBC Shop

Raspberry Pi Shop

STEM Education

Semiconductors

Amplifiers & Comparators

Audio & Video ICs

Chip Programmers & Debuggers

Clock, Timing & Frequency ICs

Communication & Wireless Module ICs

Data Converters

Discrete Semiconductors

Interface ICs

Logic ICs

Memory Chips

Power Management ICs

Processors & Microcontrollers

Programmable Logic ICs

Sensor ICs

Mechanical, Fluid Power & Tools

Access, Storage & Material Handling

Ladders & Steps

Material Lifting & Loading Equipment

Storage & Shelving

Transit & Equipment Cases

Trucks, Trolleys & Lifting Tables

Adhesives, Sealants & Tapes

Adhesive, Sealant & Tape Dispensers

Adhesives & Glues

Sealants & Resins

Tapes

Bearings & Seals

Gaskets, Seals & Packings

Linear Motion

Rotary Bearings & Housing Units

Engineering Materials & Industrial Hardware

Anti Vibration & Levelling Components

Carbon Fibre & Felt Sheets

Castors & Wheels

Ceramic Materials

Channel Support Systems

Conveyor Components

Insulation Materials

Knobs, Levers & Handles

Metal Materials

Plastic & Rubber Materials

Polishing & Finishing

Shim Stock

Structural Systems

Fasteners & Fixings

Clips & Springs

Girder Fixings

Magnets & Magnetic Strips

Nails & Rivets

Nuts & Washers

Pins, Keys & Retaining Clips

Screws & Bolts

Sheet Metal & Panel Fasteners

Spacers & Standoffs

Wall Plugs, Fixings & Anchors

Hand Tools

Cable, Connector & Crimping Tools

Clamps & Vices

Hammers & Demolition

Knives, Scissors & Saws

Manual Grease Guns & Accessories

Measuring & Marking

Pliers & Cutters

Sanding, Filing & Polishing

Screwdrivers, Hex & Torx Keys

Spanners, Sockets & Wrenches

Specialist Tools

Staplers & Riveters

Threading Tools

Tool Kits & Tool Storage

Mechanical Power Transmission

Belts & Pulleys

Brakes & Clutches

Bushes & Collars

Mem Mcb Circuit Breakers

0 Products showing for Mem Mcb Circuit Breakers

Popular Searches

Related links