Hi Amund,
I understood that the test was applied to an enclosure, and within the enclosure there is …equipment. The Part 22 of 60950 (I am using it as an example for this case only), specifies as follows: At the CONCLUSION of the test, the following conditions shall exist: 1. For OUTDOOR ENCLOSURE (and seems to me that it is NOT your case): “NO water shall have entered the enclosure” 2. For OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT (and seems to me that you went to the test lab with THIS OBJECT…): “Water IS PERMITTED TO ENTER the enclosure provided it does NOT: - Deposit on insulation where it could lead to tracking along the CREEPAGE DISTANCE - Deposit on bare live parts or wiring, or on windings not designed to operate when wet - Enter any supply wiring space I gave this example just to underline the fact that I assume that you submitted for evaluation the OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT and NOT the ENCLOSURE. The 60529 is adding to the above mentioned conditions for the IPX6 rating acceptance, a draconic condition: “if any water has entered it shall not be sufficient to interfere with the CORRECT OPERATION of the equipment OR impair safety”; As per your description, seems to me that the safety is not impaired. Did the test lab verify AFTER TEST the CORRECT OPERATION of the equipment? After that verification they shall draw the conclusions. IF they did not verify, and/or they verified AND it was observed a CORRECT OPERATION, In my engineering judgement, the test lab used INCORRECT the above condition as a proof for their decision; At the end, WITH or WITHOUT any TEST LAB Report the responsibility and liability stays with the Manufacturer; As far as I feel, generally speaking, the Test Labs shall perform the CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT; You and your Hardware team are the persons who are dealing with the SAFETY of the equipment; Did you try to immerse that switch in water and to see if it will stop your equipment from a CORRECT OPERATION? All of the above are valid if that switch itself is not performing a SAFETY FUNCTION within your equipment….and all of these are just my opinions, and not of my employer, (what else shall I include as a disclaimer…(J) Respectfully yours, Constantin Constantin Bolintineanu P.Eng. TYCO SAFETY PRODUCTS CANADA 3301 LANGSTAFF Road, L4K 4L2 CONCORD, ONTARIO, CANADA e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 905 760 3000 ext 2568 Fax: 905 760 3020 Before printing this e-mail think if it is necessary DISCLAIMER: This e-mail message may contain privileged or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not disclose, use, disseminate, distribute, copy or rely upon this message or attachment in any way. If you received this e-mail message in error, please return the message and its attachments to the sender, and then please delete from your system without copying or forwarding it or call TSPC at 905 760 3000 extension 2568 so that the sender's address records can be corrected. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Goedderz, Jim Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 12:29 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: IP test - pass or fail? Amund, As you continue looking at this, I believe that you will find that the IP testing is an “enclosure” test. The compliance criteria is not actually so much whether or not the influx of dust or water affects your product. What will matter is if you passed the definition of the enclosure rating that you want. Jim Goedderz Tyco Safety Products/Sensormatic Sr. Principal Engineer Product Safety Engineer From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Amund Westin Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 11:37 AM To: [email protected] Subject: IP test - pass or fail? We’re doing an IPX6 test (high pressure water jet) according to IEC60529. Some water enter the unit, but drain holes make their job. Only plastic enclose in that area anyway. But, a few drops are discovered on a plastic material switch inside the unit and also some drops on two connection poles on the swicth. We have failed on this test because (according to the test lab) in the long term, creepage currents can cause the two poles to be shorted and thereafter a incorrect function will appear. Is it likely to believe that such creepage currents can occur, when the two poles are placed 10mm from each other and the voltage supply is 3.3VDC? b.r. Amund - 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://www.ieeecommunities.org/emc-pstc Graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. can be posted to that URL. 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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]> - 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://www.ieeecommunities.org/emc-pstc 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]>
