Hi PSES Folks, EN 60204-1:2006+A1:2009 13.2.3 states " Where a circuit includes a neutral conductor that is identified by color alone, the color used for this conductor shall be BLUE. In order to avoid confusion with other colors, it is recommended that an unsaturated blue be used, called here "light blue" (see 3.2.2 of IEC 60446). "
We are typically finding the European safety inspectors are expecting to see the neutral colored light blue in electrical panels inside our equipment (Machinery Directive scope) regardless of whether or not it is separately labeled as neutral. i.e. not relying on "color alone" for identification. We typically label the neutral conductors regardless which helps with NA compliance as well. These are typically either in-house staff or private consultants hired by our customers to review new equipment. We are finding fewer wire manufacturers in the US making light blue MTW wire as a standard color and some manufacturers don't seem to want to claim what shade of blue they might supply when ordering their standard blue. I'm wondering if other folks are running into similar challenges and how they are dealing with it. In the absence of having light blue insulation one thought we had was to put light blue heat shrink only on the ends of the wire. The mid-section would still be visible in whatever color it is be it darker blue or something else. I don't know if the European folks will still be expecting to see light blue along the entire length or if they will be satisfied with the identification on the termination ends only. I don't have any European inspector contacts to query at the moment. David P. Nyffenegger, PMP, SM-IEEE Product Development Manager - ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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.ieee-pses.org/emc-pstc.html Attachments are not permitted but the IEEE PSES Online Communities site at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ can be used for graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html (including how to unsubscribe) 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]>
