What is the difference between overcurrent and earth fault protection?

Question

Accepted Answer

Over current protection is for excessive current flow, while earth fault protection is for current leakage to earth.

Over current protection is used to protect against excessive current flow in a circuit.
Earth fault protection is used to detect current leakage to earth.
Over current protection is typically achieved using fuses or circuit breakers.
Earth fault protection is typically achieved using residual current devices (RCDs) or ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).
Over current protection is important for preventing damage to equipment and preventing fires.
Earth fault protection is important for preventing electric shock and electrocution.
Both types of protection are important for ensuring electrical safety.

Popular interview questions of Senior Electrical Engineer