LABORATORY EXERCISE 4

ELECTRICAL PROTECTION DEVICES

(Different Types and Importance of Protection Devices)

I. INTRODUCTION
In the complex tapestry of electrical systems, circuit breakers and protective
devices are the silent guardians.

What is their primary role?

 To ensure safety, protect equipment, and prevent potentially catastrophic

failures.

As technology evolves and electrical demands grow, these devices have also
undergone significant transformations, incorporated cutting-edge innovations and
offered enhanced protective capabilities.

The High Voltage (HV), Medium Voltage (MV) and Low Voltage (LV) electric
installations and equipment are subjected to internal and external faults that can
cause serious damages in persons and other equipment. To avoid and to minimize
the consequences of those faults’ protection devices associated to equipment
that are able to break electric current are required.
Note: HV (V>60kV) ; MV (1kV<V<60kV) ; LV (V≤1kV)

II. OBJECTIVES
In this exercise the students will be able to:
 Understand different types of Electrical Protective devices and its
functionalities.
 Have a Profound knowledge and understanding about electrical systems and
its importance
 Cognizant of ensuring safety, preventing equipment damage, and
maintaining reliability of electrical systems as future Electrical Practitioners.
III. MATERIALS
1. Pens
2. EE Papers
3. References (Books/Website, etc.)
IV. PROCEDURES
1. Search and List down different types of protective devices and study its usages
and functionalities.
2. With the questions provided and expound your answers briefly.
3. Classify the Pros and Cons of your listed protective devices and tabulate to
compare your answers in terms of the following criteria:
i. Safety
ii. Equipment Protection
iii. False Trips
iv. Reset
v. Regulatory Compliance
vi. Physical Space
vii. Cost
viii. Maintenance
ix. Lifespan

V. DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROTECTIVE DEVICES

1. FUSE
Usage: To protect circuit from overcurrent

Function: Melts and breaks the circuit wen the current exceeds a
safe level

2. CIRCUIT BREAKER
Usage: To protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by
overcurrent or short circuit.

Function: Automatically interrupts the flow of electricity in a circuit to protect against overload or
short circuit conditions, preventing damage to equipment and electrical fires.

3. GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER

Usage: To protect from electric shock by interrupting a circuit when a
ground fault is detected.

Function: Quickly shuts off power to the circuit when it detects a

ground fault or leakage current, preventing electric shock,
commonly used in bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoor areas.
4. SURGE PROTECTOR
Usage: To protect electronic devices from voltage spikes.

Function: Diverts excess voltage away from connected devices

during power surges or spikes, protecting electronics from damage,
commonly used with computers, TVs, and other sensitive
equipment.

5. ISOLATION TRANSFORMER
Usage: Installed between power source and
sensitive equipment.
Function: Electrically isolates the equipment
from the power source, preventing electrical
noise, spikes, and surges from damaging
connected devices, commonly used in medical
equipment and sensitive electronic
applications.

6. ELECTRICAL ENCLOSURES
Usage: Houses electrical components and devices.

Function: Protects electrical equipment from

environmental factors such as dust, moisture, and
physical damage, ensuring safe operation and longevity of
the equipment.

7. THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA

Usage: Used to detect overheating in electrical systems.

Function: Captures infrared radiation emitted by objects to

identify hot spots in electrical components, helping to
prevent equipment failures and fire hazards.
8. CURRENT LIMITING REACTOR
Usage: Installed in electrical circuits.

Function: Limits the rate of rise of current during short

circuits or faults, reducing stress on electrical equipment and
minimizing damage.

9. ELECTRICAL SAFETY INTERLOCK

Usage: Integrated into control systems.

Function: Ensures that access doors or covers to electrical

equipment cannot be opened when the equipment is
energized, preventing accidental contact and enhancing
safety.

10. VOLTAGE REGULATOR

Usage: Installed in electrical distribution systems.

Function: Maintains a constant voltage output despite

fluctuations in the input voltage, ensuring stable and reliable
operation of connected equipment.

11. THERMAL OVERLOAD RELAY

Usage: To protect motors from overheating.

Function: Breaks the circuit if the motor exceeds a preset

temperature.

12. ARC FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER

Usage: To protect against fires caused by arcing faults in
electrical wiring.

Function: Detects and interrupts arcing faults.

 13. LIGHTING ARRESTER
Usage: To protect electrical equipment from lightning-
induced surges.

Function: Diverts the surge to the ground.

14. BUCHHOLZ RELAY

Usage: To protect oil-filled transformers.

Function: Detects gas buildup and oil flow indicating faults

within the transformer.

15. PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICE

Usage: To protect electrical equipment from overpressure.

Function: Releases pressure buildup to prevent equipment

rupture.

VI. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. What is the importance of protection devices in electrical systems?
Protective devices in electrical systems is important for safety as they
prevent electrical shocks, fires, and other hazards by interrupting fault
conditions. They also protect the equipment itself. PEC also require us to
comply to meet safety standards and regulatory requirements. Lastly, it
ensures reliability of the system as it will ensure that the rest of the system will
continue to operate despite the faults and short circuits.

2. What is the role of protective devices in minimizing the time of a fault?

Protective devices minimize time of fault as they can quickly detect
unnatural or abnormal conditions and disconnect the faulty section from the
system, some examples are circuit breakers and fuses. As they isolate the
portion from the rest of the system, it prevents affecting the entire system and
allows repairs to be done quickly. In some cases, it also allows the rest of the
system to operate normally despite a section being isolated.

3. What is the purpose of overcurrent protection in electrical circuits?

Overcurrent protection prevents overheating of the wires and eventually
 the fire and damage overheating wires may cause. It also protects the
equipment from damages as they prevent the current higher than they are
designed to handle.

4. How to protect your circuits from lightning strikes?

There are multiple devices that will protect circuits from lighting strikes,
some of the examples are: Lighting arresters and surge protectors, lighting
arresters diverts high voltage to the ground while surge protectors shield the
device from voltage spikes. Proper grounding can also help dissipate surge
energy.

5. How to properly maintain the electrical system?

In order to properly maintain an electrical system, there must be regular
inspections and routine testing do be done regularly, this is to check for wears,
damages, etc. Cleaning the panels and components regularly from dust and
other debris ensure that there will be no other foreign objects affecting the
system. Lastly, Securing the connections of the system by preventing and
checking for loose connections will prevent arcing and overheating.

6. What are some signs that the electrical systems need maintenance?
Some signs that screams maintenance of the system are some of the
following: if tripping of breakers and fuses happen frequently, there may be
underlying issues; flickering lights may be a sign of loose connections or
overheating; in some cases, burning smell and hot outlets or switches
indicates overheating components or potential electrical fires; in extreme
cases, there will be unusual noises coming from the system or the electrical
panel and may be caused by arcing and loose connections.

7. How can you prevent electrical system problems from occurring?

Regular maintenance and checking; using components that meet
standards; properly installing of the components and stations, avoiding
overloading circuits and managing distribution of electrical loads; protecting
electrical equipment from the environment (such as moisture, dust,
temperatures, and weather); and using protective devices all prevents system
problems from occurring in the first place.

8. Can you perform electrical maintenance task by yourself? Why?

Yes. I’ve done some maintenance task, although they are all limited to house
electrical maintenance, which includes replacing and choosing the correct fuse to be
used for circuit breakers, cleaning and maintaining some appliances and repairing
them. Also, it is important to note that I do not have any license to conduct
professional maintenance task and I think it is proper to let the professionals to do
their job in this fields which are the licensed technicians, electricians, and/or
engineers.
VII. TABULATE YOUR ANSWERS
Type of Protective
Pros Cons
Device
Fuse Safety – highly protects the Reset – once tripped, it
system requires replacement.
Equip. Prot. – reliable for
overcurrent
False Trips – it only responds
to overcurrent.
Regulatory compliance –
required by the regulations
Physical space – Compact and
small
Cost – cheap
Maintenance – only needed
when replacing
Lifespan – can last long if not
tripped frequently
 Circuit Breaker Safety – highly protects the system False trips – can sometimes trip
Equip. Prot. – reliable for overcurrent unnecessarily
and short circuits Cost – prices vary
Reset – only needs to be switched back
Regulatory compliance – required by
the regulations
Physical Space – only needs to be
hanged or stick to a wall
Maintenance – only needs occasional
testing
Lifespan – long and durable
GFCI Safety –protect against shock False trips – can sometimes trip
Equip. Prot. – reliable for ground faults Physical Space – requires outlet
Reset – only needs to be switched back space
Regulatory compliance – required by
the safety regulations
Maintenance – only needs occasional
testing
Lifespan – long and durable
Surge Protector Safety - Diverts excess voltage from Reset – needs replacement
connected devices Physical Space – requires outlet
False trips – less frequent space
Regulatory compliance – required for Cost – prices vary
safety regulation
Maintenance – self resets
Lifespan – long and durable
Isolation Transformer Safety – Prevents electrical noise and Physical Space – requires
surges installation space
Equip. Prot. – Protects sensitive Cost – high cost
equipment from power issues
False trips – rarely trips
Regulatory compliance – required for
safety regulation
Maintenance – only needs occasional
testing
Lifespan – long and durable
Electrical Enclosures Safety – Protects equipment from Physical Space – requires
environmental factors installation space
Equip. Prot. – Shields against dust, Cost – prices vary
moisture, and physical damage
Regulatory compliance – required for
safety regulation
Lifespan – long and durable
Thermal Imaging Camera Safety – Detects overheating in Equip. Prot. – Does not directly
electrical systems protect equipment
Reset – only needs a few button to reset Cost – high cost
Physical Space – handheld Regulatory compliance – Supports
Maintenance – rarely predictive maintenance practices
Lifespan – long and durable
Current Limiting Reactor Safety - High, limits short-circuit Physical Space – large
currents Cost – high cost
Equip. Prot. – Excellent for controlling Maintenance – requires inspection
fault current
False Trips – rarely trips
Regulatory compliance – required for
safety regulation
Lifespan – long and durable
Electrical Safety Interlock Safety – High, prevents accidental Physical Space – it may vary
operation Cost – prices vary
Equip. Prot. – Good, prevents improper
operation
False Trips – rarely trips
Regulatory compliance – required for
safety regulation
Maintenance – doesn’t need any
Lifespan – long and durable
Voltage Regulator Safety – maintains stable voltage Physical Space – it may vary
Equip. Prot. - Excellent for voltage Cost – prices vary
stability Maintenance – calibration and
False Trips – rarely trips adjustments needed
Regulatory compliance – required for
safety regulation
Lifespan – long and durable
Thermal Overload Relay Safety – prevents motor overheating
Equip. Prot. - Excellent for motors
False Trips – rarely trips
Reset – Easy
Regulatory compliance – required for
safety regulation
Physical Space – small
Maintenance –only occasionally
Lifespan – long and durable
AFCI Safety – prevents fire hazards False Trips – frequent
Equip. Prot. - detects arcing faults Physical Space – it may vary
Reset – Easy Cost – prices vary, but usually
Regulatory compliance – required for high
safety regulation Maintenance – occasional
Lifespan – depends on usage
Lighting Arrester Safety – protects against lightning Physical Space – it may vary
surges Cost – high cost
Equip. Prot. - Excellent for high- Maintenance – occasional
voltage protection inspection
False Trips – rarely trips
Reset – doesn’t need
Regulatory compliance – required for
safety regulation
Lifespan – long and durable
Buccholz Relay Safety – detects internal transformer Reset – needs manual reset
faults Physical Space – installation
Equip. Prot. - Excellent for oil-filled spaces needed
transformers Cost – high cost
False Trips – rarely trips Maintenance – occasional
Regulatory compliance – required for inspection
safety regulation
Lifespan – long and durable
Pressure Relief Device Safety – prevents overpressure Cost – moderate cost
Equip. Prot. - Excellent for pressure
relief
False Trips – rarely trips
Reset – doesn’t need
Regulatory compliance – required for
safety regulation
Physical Space – small
Maintenance – rarely
Lifespan – long and durable
VIII. CONCLUSION

Safety is the main or one of the most important aspect that engineering
and many other industries. Safety should not only be applied to the
machineries/devices that are operating but also to the employees that operate
these. This is the main job of the protective/protection devices. Protective devices or
in this context, electrical protective devices ensure that the device or system it is
installed in will operate at upmost reliability and efficiency. Not only that, they also
help detect the errors and potential hazards way before they even began, this
makes the system safer and makes it also easier to fix as it will be early. It is also
important to know that safety regulations and standards are imposed by law and
should not be neglected nor become a privilege in production companies. Various
regulatory boards and association impose these rules/codes; these codes are:
National Electrical Code (NEC) and Philippine Electrical Code (PEC). The Energy
Regulatory Commission adopted the PEC as the main code that electrical engineers
has to follow. Organizations such as IEEE and IEC aim to improve further these
regulations given if new technologies or more efficient devices are introduced.

It is also important to note that engineers should not only follow the PEC
only to avoid legal repercussions, as it is tested and studied heavily to protect
everyone involved in a project. Ultimately, PEC also aims to reduce carbon footprint
produced in all electrical-related industry. This is why protective devices are also
important in environmental level, production that is not running efficient and are
constantly stopped because of faulty and unregulated workplace can lead to
increased carbon footprint. Also, using the minimum standards are encouraged as
these already do the job correctly, but they are usually manufactured easily, this
makes using these devices instead of more expensive protective devices.
Therefore, unless the more expensive and harder to manufacture device will result
to more efficient system, there really is no reason to use these and it is only natural
to opt for the minimum but correct standards.

Prepared by:

Engr. Abegail R. Rareza

Instructor, 2nd Sem, AY 2023-2024