Hello Maria:
Assuming you are seeking to use the CE mark (indicating
compliance to the Low Voltage Directive) on your
product...
Assuming the output of the wall adapter is SELV and
Limited Power (EN 60950)...
Assuming the wall adapter bears the CE mark...
Assuming your product operates from a SELV source...
For the purposes of the LVD, I suggest you consider
that your product and the wall adapter are two,
independent products, an electronic keyboard, and a
wall adapter.
Your electronic keyboard product is exempt from the LVD
because it operates from a source less than 50 V.
However, it is probably beneficial to use the CE mark
for the purposes of not having to justify why your
keyboard product product does not need the CE mark.
You may use any means to demonstrate your electronic
keyboard product is safe. One way is to test it to
an EN safety standard, in which case you would choose
EN 60065.
Likewise, you may use any means to demonstrate the
wall adapter is safe. Since you are buying this adapter,
and since it bears the CE mark, it is deemed safe. Note
that the wall adapter itself does not mention the standard
by which it has been deemed safe. The wall adapter will
have its own Declaration of Conformity, which will
indicate EN 60950.
This SHOULD be the end of the story. You have two
products, each bearing the CE mark.
However, someone MAY question whether the safety of an
EN 60950 adapter is compatible with a Class III (exempt)
EN 60065 product. (This question would not arise if the
electronic keyboard product did not have a CE mark on
it!)
So, it would be appropriate to be prepared to answer
this question. This could be done by showing that the
EN 60950 adapter also complies with EN 60065. You can
obtain a copy of the safety report for the adapter,
prepare a report comparing all of the construction and
tests with those of EN 60065, and deem the adapter to
comply with EN 60065. You would then state this in your
DoC.
This is not as onerous as it may sound. There are really
quite few requirements that apply to an adapter, assuming
it to be a linear power supply. I believe you will find
that the EN 60950 requirements are more severe than those
of EN 60065.
This question raises the issue of "compatibility" of the
different safety standards, in this case EN 60065 and
EN 60950. There SHOULD be NO DIFFERENCES. There SHOULD
BE ONE STANDARD for power supplies, regardless whether
the supply is for home appliances or for IT equipment, or
any other equipment!
As the distinction between various kinds of equipment
gets blurrier and blurrier with the advent of
microprocessors in almost every electronic equipment, we
need a single, generic safety standard for ALL equipment.
ECMA has started such work, and has a draft standard
available. However, this is seen as "impossible" by
many standards experts. I suspect it is seen as a
threat to the work of many standards committees, who
choose not to admit that safety requirements are universal,
and who choose not to want to work together.
Best wishes for the holiday season,
Rich
-------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Nute Product Safety Engineer
Hewlett-Packard Company Product Regulations Group
AiO Division Tel : +1 619 655 3329
16399 West Bernardo Drive FAX : +1 619 655 4979
San Diego, California 92127 e-mail: [email protected]
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