• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.570-575
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• 2005

Malfunction by electrical surges is a serious problem on earth leakage current breakers(ELBs) used in a low voltage AC power system. In this paper, we tested ELBs according to IEC 61009-1 and KS C 4613 to analyze surge influence on ELB's malfunction. The test by application of surge voltage is specified both standards, but the test by application of surge current is specified only in IEC 61009-1. The experimental results showed that the ELBs used in this test are robust to surge voltage application, but the malfunction occurred to surge current application. Surge current is more frequent than surge voltage in actual situation. Therefore, ELBs should be tested by the surge current, and the domestic standard, KS C 4613, should includes a test procedure by the surge current application.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.43-48
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to develop an earth leakage alarm circuit breaker, equipped with a leakage alarming function (JER-E2S, ETECKOREA Co., Korea), and to analyze its characteristics. The developed mechanism is exclusively used for single-phase and 220 V circuits, with a rated current of 32 A, 20 A, 20 A (for restrooms), 16 A, etc. It satisfies all characteristics of existing earth leakage circuit breakers (ELB). If a fire current, which is a resistive leakage current (Igr), flows through an electric line, the device detects the leakage current in real time and warns against the leakage through a blinking LED lamp. Since the developed device displays a tolerance to a capacitative leakage current (Igc) that inevitably occurs in LED lamps, communication devices, etc., it ensures a stable power supply. In addition, the earth leakage alarm circuit breaker protects against power failure due to a momentary ground fault. Therefore, it can supply power without the risk of the circuit breaker malfunctioning due to a momentary ground fault caused by water droplets, leaves, etc. Moreover, with a standby power of less than 0.1 W, the developed earth leakage alarm circuit breaker exhibits a power saving performance that is 3~8 times greater than that of other ELBs. Installation of approximately 10 earth leakage alarm circuit breakers in one apartment household, with an area of 120 ㎡, can save 2~5 kWh per month. Therefore, the developed earth leakage alarm breaker not only satisfies the characteristics of existing earth leakage breakers, but also exhibits outstanding power supply quality since it has the functions of electric fire prevention and malfunction prevention. Therefore, this device can innovatively contribute to electric fire prevention.