For a manufacturing plant service interruptions can lead to economic losses and considerable inconvenience. An automatic reset system on an RCCB (Residual Current Circuit Breaker) means continuity of operation and limits malfunctions, especially where there are outdated installations and weather conditions with frequent lightning.

To better understand the operation and great advantages of an automatic RCCB reset system, we should first consider its essential role for the safety of the people using the electrical systems.

Every electrical system has a switchboard that can vary from a small wall-mounted domestic panel to large cabinets containing all the circuit breakers necessary for ensuring safety.

For example, MCB protect the system in the event of an overload and short circuit. RCCB serve to protect the people who work or live in the environments in question. Then there are residual current devices with overload protection, which combine the characteristics of the previous two.

In the event of electrical system faults or malfunctions, an RCCB suspends the power supply. Interruption of the power supply is not, therefore, a negative event and should not necessarily be prevented as it determines people’s safety.

These circuit breakers are essential for protecting employees and equipment, but they are sensitive devices that require continuous maintenance in order to operate properly when needed.

When maintenance or interventions to restore the power supply are not performed in a timely and regular manner, the consequences can be very serious.

If not resolved quickly, service interruptions can create serious inconvenience depending on the nature of the devices supplied downstream of the circuit breaker that has tripped. They can range from the loss of the contents of a cold room to the shutdown of an assembly line, with consequent production and delivery delays, as well as a domino effect on costs for the company.

Each RCCB has button you can press to check that it is working correctly and has not deteriorated over time. This monthly test interrupts the power supply, which requires the rebooting of computers and the internet and shutdown of production and system alarms, as well as the reset of machinery.

RCCB maintenance is therefore an additional cost and logistical problem, particularly where the intervention of electrical technicians is required to restart the service after each monthly check.

Fortunately, these problems can now be avoided thanks to an automatic reset system capable of performing monthly checks on the system without interrupting the power supply and, most importantly, automatically reactivate it should the RCCB trip following a check on the system’s status.

The automatic reset system monitors the status of the system and, if no problems are detected, restores power with minimal loss of time and money compared to human intervention, while also maintaining the RCCB.

This is a great advantage also in terms of safety for employees, who no longer depend on a RCCB which, if not adequately maintained, can fail at critical moments.

How does the automatic reset work? Which checks should be carried out on the system?

The automatic reset systems are connected to RCCBs and residual current devices with overload protection and perform two important tests to limit damage and prolong the working life of the system.

The first test regards the efficiency and correct operation of the circuit breaker and is performed on a monthly basis: the reset system automatically checks the response of the circuit breaker, signalling any problems without any interruption of the power supply to the system.

The maintenance is doneautomatically and does not require programming or human intervention. If any anomaly is detected during the testing, the system signals that the RCCB is compromised and further assistance is required.

The second test is performed when a circuit breaker trips to interrupt the power supply due to a fault. The reset system analyses the installation for faults. If it does not detect any, it automatically resets the circuit breaker and quickly restores the operation of the system.

The most sophisticated systems also enable the monitoring of the installation at regular intervals, to ensure that even installations in harsh environmental conditions or remote areas regain power long before any possible human intervention.

Whether infiltrations, outdated plants or antennas in poorly accessible areas, any installation that does not enjoy perfect conditions can be made more efficient with these reset systems that perform checks over a prolonged period to restore power.

In other words, an automatic reset system allows an unprecedented level of autonomy and excellent maintenance of the electrical system, with a significant improvement in safety for people and an additional guarantee against economic and organisational disruptions caused by power interruptions to manufacturing plants.