25/09/2023 14:24 What are the Differences Between IEC Power Supply Protection Classes?

| CUI Inc

Power Blog Homepage

What are the Differences Between

IEC Power Supply Protection Classes?
August 4, 2020 by Bruce Rose - 4 Minute Read

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has defined three

safety classes for power supplies: Class I, Class II, and Class III. These Confidentialité - Conditions

three classes are used to identify different methods for preventing the
user of the power supply from being subjected to hazardous voltages
from the input power source. Although it is easy to understand the

https://www.cui.com/blog/iec-power-supply-protection-classes 1/8
25/09/2023 14:24 What are the Differences Between IEC Power Supply Protection Classes? | CUI Inc

differences in the IEC classes, many engineers are not familiar with the
definitions and thus this blog will present a quick explanation of the
differences between the classes.

1. Class I - a layer of basic insulation and a grounded conductive chassis

2. Class II - double insulation (basic + supplemental) or reinforced
insulation
3. Class III - no protection needed as the input voltage is not hazardous

Class I Power Supplies

In IEC Class I power supplies the user is protected from hazardous input
voltage levels by at least a layer of basic insulation and a grounded
conductive chassis. The first level of safety protection is provided by the
basic insulation. The second level of safety protection is provided by the
grounded conductive chassis. If there is a failure of the basic insulation,
then any conductor with a hazardous voltage will be grounded by the
conductive chassis before the hazardous voltage can come in contact
with the user. All Class I power supplies must have safety ground
brought to an electrically conductive chassis in the power supply.

https://www.cui.com/blog/iec-power-supply-protection-classes 2/8
25/09/2023 14:24 What are the Differences Between IEC Power Supply Protection Classes? | CUI Inc

Class II Power Supplies

In IEC Class II power supplies the user is protected from hazardous input
voltage levels by at least a layer of basic insulation and a layer of
supplemental insulation or a layer of reinforced insulation. For double
insulation, the first level of safety protection is provided by the basic
insulation while the second level of safety protection is provided by the
layer of supplemental insulation. Reinforced insulation provides the
same safety factor as the combined basic and supplemental layers of
insulation but in a single layer of insulation. For more on insulation
check out our blog post on Insulation, Isolation, and Working Voltage.

Because of double or reinforced insulation, IEC Class II power supplies

are not required to have the safety ground conductor brought to the
power supply.

A common source of confusion is the difference between an IEC Class II

power supply and a NEC Class 2 power supply. This topic is covered in
our post What's the Difference Between Class 2 and Class II Power
Supplies?

https://www.cui.com/blog/iec-power-supply-protection-classes 3/8
25/09/2023 14:24 What are the Differences Between IEC Power Supply Protection Classes? | CUI Inc

Class III Power Supplies

In IEC Class III power supplies the input voltage is not at a hazardous
level and thus the user does not need to be protected from the input
voltage. The IEC label for the non-hazardous input voltage is Safety Extra
Low Voltage (SELV). The voltage in accessible parts of SELV circuits shall
not exceed 42.4 Vac peak or 60 Vdc for longer than 200 ms., with an
absolute limit of 71 Vac peak or 120 Vdc. SELV circuits must be
separated from hazardous voltages by two levels of protection. The two
layers of protection may be basic and supplemental insulation,
reinforced insulation, or basic insulation combined with a safety
grounded electrically conductive chassis.

Understanding the three IEC Power Supply Protection Classes enables

those specifying or selecting power supplies to choose the appropriate
class of supply based upon safety, regulatory, and cost constraints.

Categories: Fundamentals , Product Selection

You May Also Like

https://www.cui.com/blog/iec-power-supply-protection-classes 4/8
25/09/2023 14:24 What are the Differences Between IEC Power Supply Protection Classes? | CUI Inc

Ac-Dc Power Supplies and Dc-Dc Converters

Featured Products

What's the Difference Between Class 2 and Class II Power Supplies?

Power Blog

https://www.cui.com/blog/iec-power-supply-protection-classes 5/8
25/09/2023 14:24 What are the Differences Between IEC Power Supply Protection Classes? | CUI Inc

Power Supply Safety Standards, Agencies, and Marks

Technical Paper

Have comments regarding this post or topics that you would like to see us
cover in the future?
Send us an email at powerblog@cui.com
Share Share

https://www.cui.com/blog/iec-power-supply-protection-classes 6/8
25/09/2023 14:24 What are the Differences Between IEC Power Supply Protection Classes? | CUI Inc

Bruce Rose

Principal Applications Engineer

During his many years in the electronics industry working in design, sales, and
marketing, Bruce Rose has focused on analog circuits and power delivery. His range of
work experience includes organizing and chairing international workshops, publishing
and presenting in more than 40 technical conferences and journals, and having been
awarded seven patents. While he enjoys his time at work, Bruce further enjoys the time
he is able to spend with his family hiking, biking, and canoeing as well as pursuing his
passion of full scale and model aviation.

Need More Info?

Read More Blog Posts Custom Adapters

https://www.cui.com/blog/iec-power-supply-protection-classes 7/8
25/09/2023 14:24 What are the Differences Between IEC Power Supply Protection Classes? | CUI Inc

Contact Us

Like this blog post?

Sign up to get the latest articles straight into your inbox.

Your email address

Subscribe

Privacy Policy

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

https://www.cui.com/blog/iec-power-supply-protection-classes 8/8