Richard Thanks a lot for this exquisite and comprehensive response. These were my assumptions and rules as well Unfortunately, comments from marketing were: "why do you make our products to be at competitive disadvantage, all of our competitors marking it at full rating on the sockets"
It was brought up in one of responses that UL allows you to print full ratings on the outlet. Are where any IEC or EN standards mentioning scenario like this? Best Regards, Mark Gandler On Jan 27, 2011, at 2:17 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: Hi Mark: I understand that the equipment in question is a direct plug-in device. It includes a socket-outlet that is the same configuration as the socket-outlet in the wall. I understand two questions: 1) Should the rating of the equipment be included? 2) How should the socket-outlet be rated? In answer to question 1: Yes, the rating of the equipment must be marked on the unit, e.g., 0.1 A. This is the current when nothing is plugged into the included socket-outlet. (The plug configuration identifies the total current of the equipment and the included socket-outlet.) In answer to question 2: The rating of the socket-outlet must be marked on the unit. However, the sum of the equipment rating and the socket-outlet rating cannot exceed the rating of the equipment plug (which should be equal to the rating of the socket- outlet on the wall). If your equipment is 0.1 A, and if the equipment provides a British standard 13 A socket-outlet, then the socket-outlet must be marked as 12.9 A or less. I understand a third question: 3) Can a stand-alone socket-outlet be rated less than the rated current for that (standardized) socket-outlet. In answer to question 3: A stand-alone socket- outlet must comply with the national standard for that socket-outlet. However, if the socket-outlet is mounted on an equipment (by which it is no longer stand-alone), the socket-outlet can be marked with a rating that is less than the national standard for that socket-outlet. Best regards, Richard Nute Product Safety Consultant San Diego, California, USA -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mark Gandler Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2011 6:41 PM To: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] Subject: Socket-outlet current rating on the direct plug-in equipment Hi, if one to sell direct plug-in equipment with build-in socket outlet (air-freshener, night light) what would be appropriate current rating on the socket? Do you have to take into consideration current draw of the product itself, regardless of how small it could be, let's say 0.1A? For example, UK version, based on BS1363, maximum current is 13A. Do you put 12.9A on the socket? and if yes, how practical is it to expect the consumer will follow it to the dot? In general, can standalone sold sockets be rated less than maximum allowed current in each country? do you ever encountered such sockets? Thanks for the inputs any of the above, Mark - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at <http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/> http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ Graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. can be posted to that URL. Website: <http://www.ieee-pses.org/> http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: <http://listserv.ieee.org/request/user-guide.html> http://listserv.ieee.org/request/user-guide.html List rules: <http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html> http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> Mike Cantwell < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> David Heald < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <[email protected]> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ Graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. can be posted to that URL. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://listserv.ieee.org/request/user-guide.html List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <[email protected]> Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher <[email protected]> David Heald <[email protected]>
