Residual Current Circuit Breakers (RCCBs) are crucial components in modern electrical systems, designed to protect both people and equipment from the dangers of electrical faults. Also known as Residual Current Devices (RCDs), RCCBs play a pivotal role in ensuring electrical safety by detecting imbalances in electrical currents and disconnecting the circuit to prevent shocks and fires.

    At their core, RCCBs function by monitoring the flow of electrical current through live and neutral wires. In a well-functioning circuit, the current flowing through the live wire should be equal to the current returning through the neutral wire. However, if there is an imbalance, such as when current leaks to the ground due to a fault or insulation failure, the RCCB detects this discrepancy. This imbalance is often referred to as "residual current," and if it exceeds the device's threshold, the RCCB trips and disconnects the circuit almost instantaneously.