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How to Select the Right ABB Residual Current Circuit Breaker with Overcurrent Protection (RCBO) for Household Use
The core principle of selecting an ABB Residual Current Circuit Breaker with Overcurrent Protection (RCBO) for household applications is to match household load characteristics, meet safety standards, and fit the distribution box space. Priority should be given to the ABB Compact Home series (de ex., GSH200 series), following the specific steps below:
- Clarify Core Selection Parameters
Five key parameters must be confirmed for household RCBOs, none of which can be omitted:
- Pole Configuration: Prioritize 1P+N
1P+N (de ex., GSH201 series) is suitable for all single-phase household circuits (lighting, prize, aparate de aer conditionat). The neutral pole remains permanently closed, with only the phase pole being switchable, economisind spațiu în cutia de distribuție (lăţime: only 17.5mm).
If both the phase and neutral lines need to be switched off simultaneously (de ex., main switch in humid areas), 2P (de ex., GSH202 series) is an option. It has a width of 35mm and a slightly higher cost.
- Curent nominal (În): Calculate Based on Load Power
| Household Circuit Type | Recommended Rated Current | Corresponding Model Example |
| Lighting circuits (LED/fluorescent lamps) | 6A/10A | GSH201 AC-C6/0.03 |
| General socket circuits (mobile phones, small household appliances) | 16O | GSH201 AC-C16/0.03 |
| High-power socket circuits for air conditioners/kitchens (2–3 HP air conditioners, electric ovens) | 20A/25A | GSH201 AC-C20/0.03 |
- Tripping Curve: Uniformly Select Type C for Households
Type C tripping curve: The instantaneous tripping current is 5–10 times the rated current, which can avoid the inrush current during the startup of household appliances (de ex., refrigerator, air conditioner startup) without causing nuisance tripping.
Nota: Type D curve is suitable for motors and does not need to be selected for household scenarios.
- Rated Residual Operating Current (IΔn): Select According to Regional Safety Requirements
Residual current is the core parameter for electric shock prevention. Households should follow the standards below:
| Applicable Area | Recommended Rated Residual Operating Current | Safety Description |
| Living rooms, bedrooms, lighting circuits (dry areas) | 30mA | Balances safety and avoidance of nuisance tripping, complying with the requirements of National Standard GB 16917 |
| Bathrooms, kitchens, balconies (humid areas) | 10mA | High sensitivity, tripping faster (≤0.04s) in case of leakage, with model suffix /0.01 |
| Main incoming switch | 100mA (opțional) | Prevents whole-house leakage, but must be used with branch circuit RCBOs of 30mA/10mA |
- Residual Current Type: Prioritize Type A for Compatibility with All Household Appliances
Type AC: Only detects pure AC leakage, suitable for traditional resistive loads (de ex., incandescent lamps, electric kettles). Cu toate acestea, it cannot detect leakage with DC components (de ex., LED drivers, switching power supplies, inverter air conditioners), and is not recommended for whole-house use.
Type A: Can detect AC + pulsating DC leakage, compatible with all household loads (especially smart home appliances and inverter equipment). It is the first choice for households, with model example: GSH201 A-C16/0.03.
- Match Requirements of Special Household Scenarios
- Humid Areas (Bathrooms, Kitchens)
Pole configuration: 2P (it is recommended to switch off both phase and neutral lines simultaneously)
Curent rezidual de funcționare nominal: 10mA
Residual current type: Type A
Recommended model: GSH202 A-C16/0.01
- High-power Equipment Circuits (Instant Water Heaters, Electric Floor Heating)
Rated current: 32O (check equipment power; de ex., an 8kW water heater requires a 32A rating)
Breaking capacity: Select Icn≥6kA (ABB GSH200 series defaults to 6kA, meeting household short-circuit current requirements)
Recommended model: GSH201 A-C32/0.03
- Households with Smart Home Appliances/Grid-connected Photovoltaic Systems
Residual current type: Type A must be selected to avoid protection failure caused by DC leakage from photovoltaic inverters and smart home appliances.
Nota: Type AC is strictly prohibited, otherwise, the risk of “leakage without tripping” will occur.
III. Recommended ABB RCBO Models for Household Use
| Scenariul aplicației | Recommended Model | Core Advantages |
| Universal sockets/lighting for the whole house | GSH201 A-C16/0.03 | Type A leakage protection, C16 rating suitable for most loads, high cost-effectiveness |
| Humid areas such as bathrooms/kitchens | GSH202 A-C16/0.01 | 2P switching, 10mA high sensitivity, preventing electric shock in humid environments |
| 3 HP air conditioners/high-power kitchen appliances | GSH201 A-C25/0.03 | 25A rated current, compatible with the startup of high-power loads |
- Installation and Selection Precautions
- Check Distribution Box Space: 1P+N models have a width of 17.5mm, and 2P models have a width of 35mm. Confirm the remaining rail length of the distribution box.
- Compatibility Check: ABB GSH200 series has the same dimensions as the SH200 series miniature circuit breakers, allowing mixed installation.
- Certification Requirements: Must select models with 3C certification (de ex., GSH201 series certificate number: 2020980305001187) to ensure compliance with national standards.
- Avoid Misunderstandings:
Do not blindly choose an excessively high rated current (de ex., 32A for socket circuits), which will prevent tripping during overload and cause fire risks.
Do not use Type AC for smart home appliance circuits, otherwise, the leakage protection function will fail.
- Rezumat
The simplest solution for selecting ABB RCBOs for households:
> For branch circuits, select 1P+N+Type A+C16/20A+30mA (GSH201 A-C16/0.03); for humid areas, select 2P+Type A+C16+10mA; for the main switch, 2P+Type A+C63+100mA is optional. This scheme balances safety, compatibility, and economy.
