IEC PR¢ Our Product Manager expats electronic procetion regulations, and how to tell which specific clas your new power supply falls unde, and why + Amoutlne ofthe IEC clas istinetions, I, ad il‘+ How IEC protection classes are usd inte electoncs indus to distinguish beeween protective earth rquiements of devices {The important diferene between an TEC Class If power supply and an NEC Class 2 power sup ‘The International Flecrotechnial Commission (IEC) has set ou three safety clases for power supplies — otherwise known as appliance classes or protection ‘lasses. These are sed to identify and implement methods that prevent power supply uses from potemial electric hazard ‘While these risks ae divided into three cleur categories, they re nt always cay to fllow, which is why our Pr ‘the specif meaning of ach clas to clear up any confusion surrounding the topic. uct Manager Andrew Bryars will break down, IEC protection classes Power supplies fl into one of thre protection clases, based onthe ned (or aot) fora protective earth connestin known as earthing” The works by providing «path fora faulty electrical cure to flow fo the ground, sbciding users ftom shocks when egupmett insulation ‘sls, (Clase I - where utr protection fiom eletric shock is achieved trough a combination of insulation and a protective eating ‘Cas IL where user proteton from let shock is achieved throug two levels of insulation (iter double or reinored), without the ned for eating, ‘Clas I where the input is connected oa safety extlow voltage (SELV) circuit meaning no furter protection, such as earthing is requ Earthing and insulation arthing ofr to how individual are protected fom clic hazards when falas occur, which is uualy de to excessive power overland, voltage sues, o aging rater The result ofthis an be dangerous voltages, Gre nd explosions, damage To proper, inury, and even flies, When such files happen," short-cut ‘neat (which s many times higher than te normal operating cunt flows through the safety ground wire and vith earth back othe start point ofthe dssibtion ‘eansfocmet” Protective conductors are what const earthing poteson systems. These serve to channel faulty caren securely nt the earth and dive it away fom people who ‘may come ita contact with, with cet breaker of fe, stemming te flow of elestrety ita a defective cist, Ineulaton, on the oer han, nse plastica an ltolaionbarier as itis a poor conductor of lestioiy — therfore, the caret faxed to te comect cru, slapping any cesriel leak without the ned era ground Some power supply protection wie factional grounding instead of protective ean, This proces wes teasformer an allows th leery to reac the ground ‘while preventing the faut current fom doing so Protective caring docs his too, but funcional grounding is diferent because it des not provide posction from ‘hazardous clece shocks. However, ils o miigalscleevomapnetic nis, which i ial for many medical appliances tht suffer fom inicrfeteace fom acarby ‘eve equipment, suchas paceiakers oe defies {In understanding the three IEC Power Supply Protection Classes, you can identify and sclect the relevant power supply class based on safety requirements, vio. ‘regulations and pricing. you have any addional questions or requests, eee mate than happ) Class distinctions tis imporant to not the distinction betwoon a Clas power supply, as described abovo, and a Clase 2 Limited PowerSource (LPS), which ea power supply that late tothe voleamp (VA) rng ofthe outpu boing inte. VA refi to he lve of power ina dior eurent cle cru, (Clas Power Supple ‘Cass power supplies protect the ser through atleast one layer of sic insulation rst then uses ground wie chasis —a grounding cmectonwsually onthe ‘asng of te source — that grounds the hazardous voltage befor it reaches the user sould the asi isulton fll safes ground isa equiement for al Class 1 ‘eves, basen N Primary [| Secondary ‘A Clas Il component, o open frame power sappy, nests no crt connection for safe operation The minimum distance from any lve prt to the enelvire mast be ‘bsored wheter ts conductive or notin order mata the wo levels of protection needed agaist a ingle failure in he sytem. Tac use ofa Class exeral power Supply is suaightforward, withthe mais diffrence compaed to «Class 1 prodtct being that eguzes only 2-core main eas for scare opeation. Proton is lass power supplies‘maintained by double or reinforced insulation, rather than clying on both protective cating and basic insulation In his way, IEC Cass If power supplies are not ‘dated to have asafty ground conductor bought othe power supply. Prmay JY Soxxndery However, there i often confision betwen the IEC Clas I power supply tnd. an NEC Class 2 power supply. The former describes he insulation pr‘etion to sic wars ‘om an lec shock, while the late concer the installation ofan electrical systom, NEC Class sued o assess wiring requirements between suply output and load input, considering factor ike wite sie, astalation, and dertion (Oe amount of current that Wites cary) While Cia power supply doesnot require a protective earth, sme lower power Cas prods fn applications in Clase I systems, and Clas aplication often ‘see fantional eatin the system. The Class I suply i designed to meet EMC requirements for emissions and immunity. However ihe ouput ofthe supply is ‘connected ta safety eath of 2 funeral ground, wil ects alow inpodaace pa or ols, alia the power supply characteristic pesformanes, Therefore ie Tkely that ext filler omponents wil eed tobe fied exe othe power soppy for emisios compliant ‘Clas I power supplies For last equipment the power source is ot dangerous, meaning the se doesnot equie potion fo This defined within TEC623681 under te heading ss of equipment with respect to protection fom electic shock and is defined a equipment in which poten fom elec shock relies upon supply om an ESL, ‘Clans {energy source, and in which ESS, or clas 3 enray sours, s nt generate, FSI defines an energy source tha I safe to ouch by an ordinay person, For any inquives, please don't hesitate to contact us or dowaload our techaica resource, Your Essential Guide to Power Supplies. Andrew Bryars graduate with an Honors Degre in Hletrial and Hlestonic Engineering and has worked inthe power supply industy since 1990, He as been with XP ‘or ver 25 eats and has belda varity ofengincoing, sales, and management abs culating ia his present position as Sensor Prodot Manager Share vfin