Jody Leber posted regarding requirements for 'car cords,' and referenced UL
2089.
I reviewed the scope of UL 2089 and found two interesting elements:
1) the first sentence includes "... used in accordance with the National
Electrical Code, NFPA 70."
and
2) The second sentence states, "Connection to a vehicle electrical
system in
which the vehicle chassis is connected to the negative side of the battery
supply is by means of a connector intended for insertion into a cigarette
lighter receptacle or power outlet."
With regard to 1), this standard appears to invalidate itself, since the NFPA
70, Section 90.2(B), explicitly states the Code doesn't apply to an
automobile, other than a mobile home or RV (I have the 2005 Code, but not the
2008 edition, so if this has changed, I'm open to correction). Further,
Article 551, which applies to RVs, also states that, "The provisions of this
article cover the electrical conductors and equipment other than low-voltage
and automotive vehicle circuits or extensions thereof..."
Also, though it doesn't explicitly state so, Article 550, which applies to
mobile homes, makes no presumption of a 24 Vdc or less, and contains only
provisions for ac wiring.
With regard to 2), it appears use of a car cord bearing a UL certification
mark that was evaluated against this standard would be used outside its
certification, if used in an automobile with a positive earth electrical
system, as a number of classic UK cars (and probably others) used.
Very poor crafting of this standard's scope.
BTW, for those interested, UL 2089 only covers straight through car cords and
those with regulating circuitry, despite the title of the standard ("Vehicle
Battery Adaptors"). Car cord connected inverters (dc to ac converters) must
use UL 458, Power Converters/Inverters and Power-Converter/Inverter Systems
for Land Vehicles and Marine Craft.
Regards,
Peter L. Tarver, PE
[email protected]
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