It is not so much that red not be used, but that it not be used for safe, normal, expected conditions of the equipment.
One example of this is a PREFERENCE stated in EN 60204-1 section 10.3.2. (It does allow deviations based on specific agreement with customers.) I think the underlying thought is that red lights tend to indicate dangerous conditions from which an operator should run away or seek help immediately. I think an old spin on red lights may be that red for power on, for example, means "this thing is armed and ready to fire, so watch out." However, it is expected these days that idle equipment is not hazardous and will not start up or take actions unexpectedly. Now power on is a normal safe condition for equipment (or should be, at least) and so the 'proper' color for power on lights is green or white. Other benign equipment states, such as indicators for moving parts being in a normal, expected location, should be treated similarly. Red LED's appeared in products alot because they were originally the cheapest, most available color. I only have access to UL 1950, but its 1.7.8.2 seems nearly in line with EN 60204-1 in that it allows red indicators provided that it is clear that safety is not involved. Lauren Crane Eaton Corporation. > -----Original Message----- > From: Allan, James [SMTP:[email protected]] > Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 1999 8:27 AM > To: 'emc-pstc' > Subject: Colors of indicators > > Several years ago I remember that indicators could not be red in color. > This > requirement seems to have gone away per EN60950 1.7.8.2. Could the group > provide me with a bit of history as to where the original requirement to > be > "not red" came from. Was it a part of the German GS mark requirements or > did it have a wider application in Europe than just GS marking? No great > acts hang in the shadow of the answer, just a bit of curiosity. > > Jim Allan > Senior Compliance Engineer > Milgo Solutions Inc. > E-mail [email protected] > > > --------- > This message is coming from the emc-pstc discussion list. > To cancel your subscription, send mail to [email protected] > with the single line: "unsubscribe emc-pstc" (without the > quotes). For help, send mail to [email protected], > [email protected], [email protected], or > [email protected] (the list administrators). --------- This message is coming from the emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to [email protected] with the single line: "unsubscribe emc-pstc" (without the quotes). For help, send mail to [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected] (the list administrators).
