Maybe the socket importers wish to claim that their sockets are "fixed installations" and therefore excluded, under the EMC Directive, from the need for conformance to Standards and from CE marking!
Richard Richard Marshall Laboratories, 30 Ox Lane, Harpenden, Herts., AL5 4HE, UK +44 (0)1582 460815 <http://www.design-emc.co.uk> www.design-emc.co.uk Member of the EMC Industry Association From: John Allen [mailto:john_e_al...@blueyonder.co.uk] Sent: 13 March 2015 15:31 To: EMC-PSTC@LISTSERV.IEEE.ORG Subject: Re: [PSES] USB Mains Outlet sockets It's interesting to note that both the "genuine" and the counterfeit items are marked as complying with BS5733, which is the "catch all" (and uniquely British!) BS safety standard for electrical installation accessories which don't fit into the scope any other particular safety standard - so that might be a rationale for claiming compliance with the UK regs requirements for "installation accessories". However, that certainly begs the question of compliance with the EMCD and the energy-efficiency Directive requirements (and RoHS II for that matter) - which rationally I think that they should. John Allen W. London, UK From: Pearson, John [mailto:john.pear...@polycom.com] Sent: 13 March 2015 13:51 To: EMC-PSTC@LISTSERV.IEEE.ORG <mailto:EMC-PSTC@LISTSERV.IEEE.ORG> Subject: [PSES] USB Mains Outlet sockets Here is a Friday discussion topic for you guys. In the UK we are seeing a plethora of aftermarket 250v AC mains outlet sockets which are supplied for installation, it seems by the homeowner, (this has been a traditional practice over here. In the US I understand that this happens less). The advantage of these sockets is that they also give you 2 USB charging ports in the wall as well as two socket outlets. I see large distributors (Screwfix, Amazon.co.uk and Ebuyer for e.g.) selling several https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=lap+mains+socket <https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=lap+mains+socket&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.mic rosoft:en-GB:IE-Address&ie=&oe=&gfe_rd=cr&ei=edoCVauNDquD8Qekq4HgBQ&gws_rd=s sl#rls=com.microsoft:en-GB:IE-Address&tbm=shop&q=usb+mains+power+socket+outl et> &sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-GB:IE-Address&ie=&oe=&gfe_rd=cr&ei=edoCVa uNDquD8Qekq4HgBQ&gws_rd=ssl#rls=com.microsoft:en-GB:IE-Address&tbm=shop&q=us b+mains+power+socket+outlet . Look out for an explosion of these items is my suspicion as the idea of getting rid of plug in USB chargers is very appealing, even to me! Questions from the compliance side Energy Efficiency Single rail PSU's are subject to mandatory Energy Efficiency marking and performance. All the units I have seen thus far do not mark or declare any performance figures. The PSU being wired into the mains does not to my mind preclude these products from compliance with the Eco-design Directive and 278/2009 specifically, or am I missing something? Safety of USB port All of the devices I have seen are stamped with EN 60950-1 on the back thus appear to be purporting compliance this std. Not seen any DoC's. I do not understand how they can meet the Disconnect Device requirements of CL 3.4 by design unless the mains switches are the disconnect device. I see however that the switches only turn off the mains to the traditional BS1363 sockets. Any thoughts? Certification Several of these items claim ASTA certification. I wonder what ASTA certified them to. I suspect not EN 60950-1. Is that not misleading? Insulation test At least one of these devices states "Do not Megger" the device. Apparently the USB charge circuitry cannot stand high voltage and would likely or possibly fail. As it is recommend in the UK that home wiring be regularly checked for insulation issues is this product "fit for purpose" ? CE marking Several of these are not CE marked. See this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Connekt-Gear-Power-Socket-Charging-white/dp/B00KO1KD N4 Rather bizarrely one supplier with a seemingly non CE marked product issued this http://www.groupgear.co.uk/catalogue/27-2000-Counterfeit-warning.pdf Does outlet sockets require CE marking by the placer on the market and if they also incorporate a PSU for charging ITE product doesn't it become an ITE product itself subject to EMCD and LVD and thus require CE marking for that purpose also? All this said it seems that they are getting great reviews but likely from the user benefit rather than the above Look forward to interesting responses. John - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. 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