Graham, Thanks for the comments!
Regarding the meaning of "N." I agree that those un-trained to work on electrical systems might not understand the meaning of this character, but it is the official 'symbol' for denoting a neutral conductor according to EN 60204-1, 1997 section 3.35 (and IEC 60204-1) and is, therefore, an internationally accepted (and understood?!). At least, of course, within the EN/IEC communities. If standardized symbology is not reasonably acceptable for use, designers become bound to the colloquial understanding of lay-personnel! Regards Lauren Crane > -----Original Message----- > From: Graham Rae Dulmage [SMTP:[email protected]] > Sent: Monday, April 19, 1999 5:51 PM > To: Robert Johnson > Cc: Crane, Lauren; IEEE > Subject: Re: White neutrals in Europe > > Both responses given so far are correct. It would be nice if we all > eventually come > to common technical agreement on common technical ground overtime. I worry > that we sometimes push the technical aside and rush in with alternate > opinions. In > this > case I see a lot of danger in shipping the product as described. One point > could > be what "N" means or stands for as marked on the cable may not be > understood > in another country that doesn't use English as its national language. > Better safe > than sorry. I once had a client who asked for instructions for proper > power cords > and voltage settings for 110 countries to be set up on a large > spreadsheets. They > provided the country names as they wanted them to be listed. I pointed > out that in one instance 2 countries had the same first name and this > could cause > major problems. I lost the arguement until manufacturing did exactly what > I thought > they would, picked the wrong configuration list and on installation the > whole > shipped product blew up at a cost of $ 50K US plus the downtime for the > customer who was using the equipment. I changed the country name to avoid > confusion. > > Regards > > > G. Rae Dulmage, B. Comm., > President TelApprove Services Corporation > (613) 257 3015 > http://www.angelfire.com/on/telapprove > > Robert Johnson wrote: > > > About twenty years ago, the a group in the cable and computer industries > > gathered together all the colors used worldwide for conductor > identification and > > tried to come up with a worldwide compromise. The light blue(neutral), > brown > > (phase), and green/yellow (earth) were the best choice to avoid > miswiring > > somewhere in the world. The US NEC was changed specifically to clarify > this > > compromise (ref. NFPA 70 clause 400-22c), taking light blue as close to > white > > or gray. > > > > You can probably get away with sending the US customary colors (white, > black, > > green) to some countries, but you will have to specifically check codes > in each > > case. Don't think an answer from one European country will answer for > all of > > Europe. Note: NFPA is a US originated organization working to promote > itself > > internationally, but does not apply to Europe except in some specific > cases of > > harmonization. The absence of a European Norm does not mean no laws > apply. > > National or local laws would be applicable. > > > > Since we have a well researched solution, why fight it? > Misunderstandings when > > it comes to wiring power cords can be lethal, a terrible price to pay > for > > getting away with something less. > > > > Bob Johnson > > > > "Crane, Lauren" wrote: > > > > > > Is it acceptable to ship equipment to Europe with neutral conductors > (hook > > > > up wire) that is white, particularly if the ends are marked with the > > > > letter 'N' ? > > > > > > > > It seems to me that this would be acceptable to both the Machinery > > > > Directive and the Low Voltage Directive. Neither of these directives > have > > > > a requirement for wire color in their Essential Requirements. > > > > > > > > Marking neutrals in this manner conforms to NFPA-79, an appropriate, > > > > though US National, design standard for large semiconductor > manufacturing > > > > equipment. > > > > > > > > Conforming to NFPA-79, I think, demonstrates adequately addressing > > > > electrical hazards to the extent of the concern of the Machinery > Directive > > > > and Low Voltage Directive > > > > > > > > EN 60204 requires that neutrals be colored light blue ONLY IF COLOR > IS > > > > USED TO IDENTIFY THEM. Quoting section 15.2.3 "Where a circuit > includes a > > > > neutral conductor identified by colour, the colour shall be light > > > > blue...". > > > > > > > > Note that the definitions section of EN 60204 (3.38) says that the > neutral > > > > conductor is assigned the symbol 'N'. > > > > > > > > This is echoed in EN60439 "Specification for Low voltage switch gear > and > > > > control gear assemblies Part 1. Specification for type-tested and > > > > partially type-tested assemblies." section 7.6.5.2 which says in > part "Any > > > > neutral conductor of the main circuit should be readily > distinguishable by > > > > shape, location, marking or colour..." > > > > > > > > I would be interested to know if anyone has experiences with this > issue. > > > > > > > > Thanks in advance..... > > > > > > > > Lauren Crane > > > > Eaton Corporation > > > > > > > > [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). 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