RE: Safety regulations

2008-05-02 Thread Reginald Henry
 
Bonjour Benoit:
 
The devil is in the details.
 
If the Card Cage is LISTED and it has a particular model number and now you
add data cards to it and 
you sell the Card Cage under a different model numbers ( that will vary
depending upon your various configurations )  the Card Cage then becomes no
longer LISTED.
 
You have to advise UL and have them include all of the new model numbers in
the LISTING and provide info
as to what that changes are.*and that will cost you about 800 US DOLLARS.
 
ALL OF THE ABOVE PRESUPPOSES THAT YOU ARE THE APPLICANT ( THE OWNER OF THE
FILE ) .
 

Best Regards

Reg Henry

Reginald Henry


Electrical Engineer


Please think before

printing this e-mail

Tel: (631) 952-2288Ext: 310 
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From: emc-p...@ieee.org [mailto:emc-p...@ieee.org] On Behalf Of
rn...@san.rr.com
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 2:21 PM
To: 'Benoit Nadeau'
Cc: 'EMC-PSTC'
Subject: RE: Safety regulations



 
Bonjour Benoit:
 
 
If a PCB manufacturer buys a card cage that includes a fully listed power
supply (approved by UL or CSA or ETL or any NRTL), and stuff this cage with
his own PCBs (not listed) with no harmful external voltages or access to, and
resell this as a whole new product. Can he put that on the market without
having to re-list the new product as long as the markings on the power supply
are still visible from outside the box? 
 
If the card cage is LISTED, then probably okay.
If a product is LISTED, then it meets safety 
requirements for its intended purpose, namely
a card cage with cards provided by another
entity.
 
Be careful that the card cage is LISTED rather
than RECOGNIZED.  If RECOGNIZED, then it is 
intended as a part of some host equipment, and 
the host equipment will need to be independently 
certified (LISTED).
 
If the card cage is LISTED, and you put another
name on it to make it look like a different 
product, or make it look like another manufacturer,
then you will need to get a "COMPLEMENTARY
LISTING."  This is where t he certification house
lists both you and the card cage as manufacturers,
and that the card cage manufacturer is the actual
manufacturer.  
 
I hope this answers your question.
 
 
Best regards,
Rich
 
 
 
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Re: Safety regulations

2008-05-02 Thread Curt McNamara

On May 1, 2008, at 8:37 AM, Benoit Nadeau wrote:


 
So the question is:
 
If a PCB manufacturer buys a card cage that includes a fully listed 
power
supply (approved by UL or CSA or ETL or any NRTL), and stuff this cage with
his own PCBs (not listed) with no harmful external voltages or access to, and
resell this as a whole new product. Can he put that on the market without
having to re-list the new product as long as the markings on the power supply
are still visible from outside the box?
 


I think there are two or three answers. 

1)The label on the power supply pertains to the supply and the card cage. It
says nothing about the cards placed within it. If the system (cards, card
cage, and power supply) needs a safety approval then the cards must have their
own approval.

2)There is no uniform requirement for safety approvals in the USA. Certain
municipalities require safety approvals, and many customers require them.
However (with the exception of telecom equipment) there is no federal
requirement (although OSHA has requirements as noted in another message). 

Most manufacturers conduct safety approvals to enable their products to be
sold everywhere and to anyone. The manufacturer needs to determine the safety
standard appropriate for the product based on the market. Most manufacturers
consider it a good investment to have a third party do the approval. This
validates the design and is helpful in the case of litigation.  ;

3)Every product has a manual and product documentation which states approvals.
If you have your own designs inside the card cage then in my opinion they need
approval before you can claim anything about safety. If you claim nothing
about safety then I would take pains to ensure customers do not see the power
supply approval label as saying anything about the cards.

  Curt

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RE: Safety regulations

2008-05-02 Thread rnute

 
Bonjour Benoit:
 
 
If a PCB manufacturer buys a card cage that includes a fully listed power
supply (approved by UL or CSA or ETL or any NRTL), and stuff this cage with
his own PCBs (not listed) with no harmful external voltages or access to, and
resell this as a whole new product. Can he put that on the market without
having to re-list the new product as long as the markings on the power supply
are still visible from outside the box? 
 
If the card cage is LISTED, then probably okay.
If a product is LISTED, then it meets safety 
requirements for its intended purpose, namely
a card cage with cards provided by another
entity.
 
Be careful that the card cage is LISTED rather
than RECOGNIZED.  If RECOGNIZED, then it is 
intended as a part of some host equipment, and 
the host equipment will need to be independently 
certified (LISTED).
 
If the card cage is LISTED, and you put another
name on it to make it look like a different 
product, or make it look like another manufacturer,
then you will need to get a "COMPLEMENTARY
LISTING."  This is where the certification house
lists both you and the card cage as manufacturers,
and that the card cage manufacturer is the actual
manufacturer.  
 
I hope this answers your question.
 
 
Best regards,
Rich
 
 
 
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RE: Safety regulations

2008-05-02 Thread Ron Pickard, RPQ
Hi Benoit,

 

You state that the built-in power supply is “fully listed and approved by UL
or CSA or ETL or any NRTL” (I’m not sure what that statement actually
means). Generally, such a power supply is not Listed, but is a Recognized
Component and as such it likely has Conditions of Acceptability associated
with the Recognition meaning that the power supply must have those conditions
addressed in the end system by the system manufacturer to satisfy those safety
concerns. 

 

I am a bit amazed that OSHA regulations haven’t been brought into this
discussion before this, but as a “card cage” type of product, is this
product intended to be marketed within the US workplace and is it not
considered to be a consumer product? If so, then OSHA regulations from 29CFR
Part 1910 Subpart S would apply. Regardless of circuit class and excerpt from
29CFR Part 1910 Subpart S (1910.399) specifically states:

 

“Acceptable. An installation or equipment is acceptable to the Assistant
Secretary of Labor, and approved within the meaning of this Subpart S:

(1) If it is accepted, or certified, or listed, or labeled, or otherwise
determined to be safe by a nationally recognized testing laboratory recognized
pursuant to § 1910.7; or

(2) With respect to an installation or equipment of a kind that no nationally
recognized testing laboratory accepts, certifies, lists, labels, or determines
to be safe, if it is inspected or tested by another Federal agency, or by a
State, municipal, or other local authority responsible for enforcing
occupational safety provisions of the National Electrical Code, and found in
compliance with the provisions of the National Electrical Code as applied in
this subpart; or

(3) With respect to custom-made equipment or related installations that are
designed, fabricated for, and intended for use by a particular customer, if it
is determined to be safe for its intended use by its manufacturer on the basis
of test data which the employer keeps and makes available for inspection to
the Assistant Secretary and his authorized representatives.”

 

So, if the “whole new product” is to be intended for the US workplace,
then any of the 3 conditions above must be applied. Marketing such a system
into the workplace without first being acceptable to OSHA could introduce
liability(ies) to the marketer/integrator. And, consumer products don’t need
to adhere to OSHA regulations, but it would be wise to exercise due diligence
in regard to this product’s safety to reduce any safety liabilities to the
user, integrator and/or marketer.

 

Please note that this is pure speculation (educated guess?) since there was
not enough information provided in your original product description to
formulate a sound response.

 

Comments?

 

Best regards,

 

Ron Pickard
RPQ Consulting
7372 West Luke Avenue
Glendale, AZ 85303
+623.512-3451 tel, +623.848-9033 fax
rpick...@rpqconsulting.com

www.rpqconsulting.com



From: emc-p...@ieee.org [mailto:emc-p...@ieee.org] On Behalf Of Benoit Nadeau
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 6:38 AM
To: EMC-PSTC
Subject: Safety regulations

 

Bonjour,

 

I’m much more fluent in EMC than safety and this is why I respectfully seek
advice in this matter.

 

I have a question coming from the designers and I’ve been looking in the US
regulations (the NEC mainly) to find the answer but I didn’t. I think this
is more like an interpretation than anything else.

 

So the question is:

 

If a PCB manufacturer buys a card cage that includes a fully listed power
supply (approved by UL or CSA or ETL or any NRTL), and stuff this cage with
his own PCBs (not listed) with no harmful external voltages or access to, and
resell this as a whole new product. Can he put that on the market without
having to re-list the new product as long as the markings on the power supply
are still visible from outside the box? 

 

For me this would be like having an external Power Supply that feeds very low
voltage to a box (like a laptop computer),

 

Thank you for the time you are going to take to answer this.

 

Regards,

 

 

==

Benoit Nadeau, ing. M.ing.

Gérant du Groupe Conformité (Conformity Group Manager)

Matrox

1055 boul. St-Régis

Dorval (Québec)

Canada H9P 2T4

Tél: (514) 822-6000 (2475)

FAX: (514) 822-6275

bnad...@matrox.com

www.matrox.com

==

 

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RE: Safety regulations

2008-05-02 Thread Tarver, Peter
> From: Benoit Nadeau
> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 6:38 AM
> 
> If a PCB manufacturer buys a card cage that includes a fully 
> listed power supply (approved by UL or CSA or ETL or any 
> NRTL), and stuff this cage with his own PCBs (not listed) 
> with no harmful external voltages or access to, and resell 
> this as a whole new product. Can he put that on the market 
> without having to re-list the new product as long as the 
> markings on the power supply are still visible from outside the box?

I think you can tell from the speculative nature of the responses so far that 
You don't provide enough information about the approval of the power supply or 
its electrical ratings for sound advice.  If the responses haven't already 
provided you with the guidance you were seeking, please be more specific.

Also, provide the details of the certification markings on the power supply, 
since it's unusual, though not unheard of, for a 'fully approved' power supply 
to be used in an application for building into a card cage.

Regards,

Peter L. Tarver, PE
ptar...@ieee.org 

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RE: Safety regulations

2008-05-02 Thread Tarver, Peter
> From: Curt McNamara
> Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 7:38 AM
> 
> Wow! The chart shows 2A at 45V for Class II, or 100VA as you 
> note. This is a lot of energy to me, and can certainly result 
> in ignition given the correct conditions. 

Perhaps, but not enough to start a fire, cause an electric shock (in dry 
conditions).

Keep in mind that the 45 V, the 2 A and the 100 VA are note measured at the 
same loading condition are unlikely to occur simultaneously.  Voltage is most 
often open-circuit, current is at some very low impedance load condition 
(possibly a short-circuit) and power is into a Thevenin equivalent impedance.

> I note that the 
> standard also shows voltages above SELV as permissible.

You don't specify a standard, but presumably you're referring to 60950-1.  
While the OP failed to mention any voltage, current or power output from the 
"Listed" power supply, it's most probably limited to SELV, though not 
necessarily to LPS (an approximation of NEC Class 2).

> The implication in the original question was information 
> technology (as far as I could tell). Even with approved 
> supplies and only SELV levels safety investigations are still 
> required.

Not necessarily.  Ted's proposition that a Class 2 or LPS output power supply 
would not *require* a safety evaluation was accurate.  A safety evaluation 
might be a wiser course, but it's not strictly necessary.

> Some examples:
> Flammable material (the laptop plastic case).
> Fault (5V to ground) causes part to fall off board through 
> vent hole, igniting material on table.

> There are lots of ways to design unsafe products using only 
> SELV (not even considering Class II).

Or without using any electricity.  Though I think your point might have been 
that SELV alone is insufficient rationale to not perform a safety evaluation, 
since SELV has no current or power limitations associated with it.  SELV alone 
only addresses electric shock, not fire or energy hazards.

Nonetheless, Ted's proposition was correct, unless the product contains some 
other type of circuit that draws the product into a different category of 
equipment, where evaluations are required, regardless of voltage input.  
Telecom equipment is a good example.  In some markets, radio equipment.


Regards,

Peter L. Tarver, PE
ptar...@ieee.org 

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RE: Safety regulations

2008-05-02 Thread Brian O'Connell
Where is limited power/voltage/current required for Class II
construction ? Did you intend to say Class 2 power source ?

luck,
Brian


From: emc-p...@ieee.org [mailto:emc-p...@ieee.org]On Behalf Of
Curt McNamara
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 7:38 AM
To: ted.eck...@apcc.com
Cc: emc-p...@ieee.org
Subject: Re: Safety regulations

Wow! The chart shows 2A at 45V for Class II, or 100VA as you
note. This is a lot of energy to me, and can certainly result in
ignition given the correct conditions. I note that the standard
also shows voltages above SELV as permissible.


The implication in the original question was information
technology (as far as I could tell). Even with approved supplies
and only SELV levels safety investigations are still required.


Some examples:
Flammable material (the laptop plastic case).
Fault (5V to ground) causes part to fall off board through vent
hole, igniting material on table.


There are lots of ways to design unsafe products using only SELV
(not even considering Class II). If your product needs a safety
approval then an investigation is required.

To phrase this another way: someone else's label (the power
supply manufacturer) is not a valid indicator that a product has
a safety approval.

Curt
For help, send mail to the list administrators:

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RE: Safety regulations

2008-05-02 Thread Umbdenstock, Don
LPS designated power supplies are specified for ITE when there is no fire
enclosure (i.e., plastic enclosure not qualified for fire enclosure).

 

Other standards achieve fire protection by specifying a maximum of 15W power
source if there is no fire enclosure (IEC 60065).

 

Don Umbdenstock
Manager Compliance Engineering

Tyco Safety Products / Sensormatic
6600 Congress Avenue
Boca Raton, FL 33487 USA
Phone: 561.912.6440
djumbdenst...@tycoint.com <mailto:djumbdenst...@tycoint.com>  



From: emc-p...@ieee.org [mailto:emc-p...@ieee.org] On Behalf Of Curt McNamara
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 10:38 AM
To: ted.eck...@apcc.com
Cc: emc-p...@ieee.org
Subject: Re: Safety regulations

 

Wow! The chart shows 2A at 45V for Class II, or 100VA as you note. This is a
lot of energy to me, and can certainly result in ignition given the correct
conditions. I note that the standard also shows voltages above SELV as
permissible. 

 

The implication in the original question was information technology (as far as
I could tell). Even with approved supplies and only SELV levels safety
investigations are still required. 

 

Some examples:

Flammable material (the laptop plastic case).

Fault (5V to ground) causes part to fall off board through vent hole, igniting
material on table.

 

There are lots of ways to design unsafe products using only SELV (not even
considering Class II). If your product needs a safety approval then an
investigation is required.

 

To phrase this another way: someone else's label (the power supply
manufacturer) is not a valid indicator that a product has a safety approval. 

 

  
 Curt

 

in real life

Curt McNamara, P.E. // principal electrical engineer
Logic Product Development
411 Washington Ave. N. Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55401
T // 612.436.5178
F // 612.672.9489
_www.logicpd.com_ http://www.logicpd.com/>

 

On May 2, 2008, at 7:24 AM, ted.eck...@apcc.com wrote:





The output of a Class 2/LPS circuit does not have the voltage or energy to
be a shock or ignition risk as long as that voltage is used without any
changes.  I could design a circuit with an inverter and step-up transformer
that would give me a hazardous voltage.  The Class 2 limit is 100 W.  In
theory, I could get 1000 VAC RMS at 100 mA.  Even with losses due
efficiency limits, there would be enough current to kill somebody.

I will say that in general, if you are using a power supply that meets the
60950 LPS or the NEC Class 2 limits (they are basically the same) then you
can hang circuits off the output without problems.  However, it still needs
to be investigated in a case by case basis.

Ted Eckert
APC-MGE
http://www.apc.com/

The items contained in this e-mail reflect the personal opinions of the
writer and are only provided for the assistance of the reader. The writer
is not speaking in an official capacity for APC-MGE or Schneider Electric.
The speaker does not represent APC-MGE's or Schneider Electric's official
position on any matter.



scott barrows 
   To 
Sent by:  Curt McNamara ,   
emc-p...@ieee.org peter merguerian
   
   cc 
05/02/2008 07:10  Benoit Nadeau , 
AMEMC-PSTC 
  Subject 
              Re: Safety regulations  










If the power supply is an NEC class 2 (vs a class II insulation system) or
an LPS construction, then there is not enough current available to be a
fire hazard.

Scott

Curt McNamara  wrote:
What if a short occurred on one of these PCBs? Is there enough flammable
material to constitute a fire hazard? Could a component get hot enough to
melt connections and drop off, igniting material underneath the product?

As you can see, there may be other cases to consider. Given that an event
could initiate legal action, it may be wise to have a third party verify
safety.

Curt

On May 1, 2008, at 10:37 PM, peter merguerian wrote:

  If the power supply is Listed/Certified Class 2 (power limited
  outputs) and there are no hazardous energy levels, I see no
  problems.

  Peter Merguerian



  Benoit Nadeau  wrote:
  Bonjour,

  I’m much more fluent in EMC than safety and this is why I
  respectfully seek advice in this matter.

  I have a question coming from the designers and I’ve been looking in
  the US regulations (the NEC mainly) to find the answer but I didn’t.
  I think this is more like an interpretation than anyt

RE: Safety regulations

2008-05-02 Thread Aldous, Scott
Curt writes:

 

To phrase this another way: someone else's label (the power supply
manufacturer) is not a valid indicator that a product has a safety approval. 

 

If I understand the original question correctly, this is what it really comes
down to. The power supply may be Listed by itself, but that does not mean that
the end product using it is then somehow covered by the power supply Listing,
even if no additional hazards are present in the end product outside the power
supply. If there is a requirement for the end product to be Listed, then it
must be evaluated separately. Allowing the power supply Listing mark to be
visible in the end product in such a way that the customer is led to believe
that this mark covers the end product is a no-no.

 

Scott Aldous

Compliance Engineer

Advanced Energy

Tel: 970-407-6872

Fax: 970-407-5872



From: emc-p...@ieee.org [mailto:emc-p...@ieee.org] On Behalf Of Curt McNamara
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 8:38 AM
To: ted.eck...@apcc.com
Cc: emc-p...@ieee.org
Subject: Re: Safety regulations

 

Wow! The chart shows 2A at 45V for Class II, or 100VA as you note. This is a
lot of energy to me, and can certainly result in ignition given the correct
conditions. I note that the standard also shows voltages above SELV as
permissible. 

 

The implication in the original question was information technology (as far as
I could tell). Even with approved supplies and only SELV levels safety
investigations are still required. 

 

Some examples:

Flammable material (the laptop plastic case).

Fault (5V to ground) causes part to fall off board through vent hole, igniting
material on table.

 

There are lots of ways to design unsafe products using only SELV (not even
considering Class II). If your product needs a safety approval then an
investigation is required.

 

To phrase this another way: someone else's label (the power supply
manufacturer) is not a valid indicator that a product has a safety approval. 

 

  
 Curt

 

in real life

Curt McNamara, P.E. // principal electrical engineer
Logic Product Development
411 Washington Ave. N. Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55401
T // 612.436.5178
F // 612.672.9489
_www.logicpd.com_ http://www.logicpd.com/>

 

On May 2, 2008, at 7:24 AM, ted.eck...@apcc.com wrote:





The output of a Class 2/LPS circuit does not have the voltage or energy to
be a shock or ignition risk as long as that voltage is used without any
changes.  I could design a circuit with an inverter and step-up transformer
that would give me a hazardous voltage.  The Class 2 limit is 100 W.  In
theory, I could get 1000 VAC RMS at 100 mA.  Even with losses due
efficiency limits, there would be enough current to kill somebody.

I will say that in general, if you are using a power supply that meets the
60950 LPS or the NEC Class 2 limits (they are basically the same) then you
can hang circuits off the output without problems.  However, it still needs
to be investigated in a case by case basis.

Ted Eckert
APC-MGE
http://www.apc.com/

The items contained in this e-mail reflect the personal opinions of the
writer and are only provided for the assistance of the reader. The writer
is not speaking in an official capacity for APC-MGE or Schneider Electric.
The speaker does not represent APC-MGE's or Schneider Electric's official
position on any matter.



scott barrows 
   To 
Sent by:  Curt McNamara ,   
emc-p...@ieee.org peter merguerian
   
   cc 
05/02/2008 07:10  Benoit Nadeau , 
AMEMC-PSTC 
  Subject 
              Re: Safety regulations  










If the power supply is an NEC class 2 (vs a class II insulation system) or
an LPS construction, then there is not enough current available to be a
fire hazard.

Scott

Curt McNamara  wrote:
What if a short occurred on one of these PCBs? Is there enough flammable
material to constitute a fire hazard? Could a component get hot enough to
melt connections and drop off, igniting material underneath the product?

As you can see, there may be other cases to consider. Given that an event
could initiate legal action, it may be wise to have a third party verify
safety.

Curt

On May 1, 2008, at 10:37 PM, peter merguerian wrote:

  If the power supply is Listed/Certified Class 2 (power limited
  outputs) and there are no hazardous energy levels, I see no
  problems.

  Peter Merguerian



   

Re: Safety regulations

2008-05-02 Thread Curt McNamara
Wow! The chart shows 2A at 45V for Class II, or 100VA as you note. This is a
lot of energy to me, and can certainly result in ignition given the correct
conditions. I note that the standard also shows voltages above SELV as
permissible. 

The implication in the original question was information technology (as far as
I could tell). Even with approved supplies and only SELV levels safety
investigations are still required. 

Some examples:
Flammable material (the laptop plastic case).
Fault (5V to ground) causes part to fall off board through vent hole, igniting
material on table.

There are lots of ways to design unsafe products using only SELV (not even
considering Class II). If your product needs a safety approval then an
investigation is required.
 
To phrase this another way: someone else's label (the power supply
manufacturer) is not a valid indicator that a product has a safety approval. 

Curt

in real life
Curt McNamara, P.E. // principal electrical engineer
Logic Product Development
411 Washington Ave. N. Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55401
T // 612.436.5178
F // 612.672.9489
_www.logicpd.com_ http://www.logicpd.com/>

On May 2, 2008, at 7:24 AM, ted.eck...@apcc.com wrote:


The output of a Class 2/LPS circuit does not have the voltage or energy 
to
be a shock or ignition risk as long as that voltage is used without any
changes. &nbs p;I could design a circuit with an inverter and step-up
transformer
that would give me a hazardous voltage.  The Class 2 limit is 100 W.  In
theory, I could get 1000 VAC RMS at 100 mA.  Even with losses due
efficiency limits, there would be enough current to kill somebody.

I will say that in general, if you are using a power supply that meets 
the
60950 LPS or the NEC Class 2 limits (they are basically the same) then 
you
can hang circuits off the output without problems.  However, it still 
needs
to be investigated in a case by case basis.

Ted Eckert
APC-MGE
http://www.apc.com/

The items contained in this e-mail reflect the personal opinions of the
writer and are only provided for the assistance of the reader. The 
writer
is not speaking in an official capacity for APC-MGE or Schneider 
Electric.
The speaker does not represent APC-MGE's or Schneider Electric's 
official
p osition on any matter.



scott barrows   
  
   & nbsp;  

To 
Sent by:  Curt McNamara , 
  
emc-p...@ieee.org peter merguerian  
  
  
&nb sp; 
  
   
cc 
05/02/2008 07:10  Benoit Nadeau 
, 
AMEMC-PSTC   
  
   &nb sp; 
Subject 
          Re: Safety regulations
  










If the power supply is an NEC class 2 (vs a class II insulation system) 
or
an LPS construction, then there is not enough current available to be a
fire hazard.

Scott

Curt McNamara  wrote:
What if a short occu rred on one of these PCBs? Is there enough 
flammable
material to constitute a fire hazard? Could a component get hot enough 
to
melt connections and drop off, igniting material underneath the product?

As you can see, there may be other cases to consider. Given that an 
event
could initiate legal action, it may be wise to have a third party verify
safety.

Curt

On May 1, 2008, at 10:37 PM, peter merguerian wrote:

  If the power supply is Listed/Certified Class 2 (power limited
  outputs) and there are no hazardous energy levels, I see no
  problems.

  Peter Merguerian



  Benoit Nadeau  wrote:
  Bonjour,

  I’m much more fluent in EMC t han safety and this is why I
  respectfully seek advice in this matter.

  I have a question coming from the designers and I’ve been looking 
in
  the US regulations (the NEC mainly) to find the answer but I 
didn’t.
  I think this is more like an interpretation than anything else.

  So the question is:

  If a PCB manufacturer buys a card cage that includes a fully 
listed
  power suppl

Re: Safety regulations

2008-05-02 Thread John Woodgate
This message has been converted via the evaluation version of
Transend Migrator. Use beyond the trial period specified in
your Software Evaluation Agreement is prohibited. Please contact
Transend Corporation at (650) 324-5370 or sales.i...@transend.com
to obtain a license suitable for use in a production environment.
Thank you.

-

In message 
, 
dated Fri, 2 May 2008, ted.eck...@apcc.com writes:

>I will say that in general, if you are using a power supply that meets 
>the 60950 LPS or the NEC Class 2 limits (they are basically the same) 
>then you can hang circuits off the output without problems.  However, 
>it still needs to be investigated in a case by case basis.

There is also the matter of stored energy. The input power may be only 1 
W, but if the energy is stored over time in batteries and/or very 
high-value capacitors, there is a hazard.
-- 
OOO - Own Opinions Only. Try www.jmwa.demon.co.uk and www.isce.org.uk
Murphy's Law has now been officially re-named The Certainty Principle
John Woodgate, J M Woodgate and Associates, Rayleigh, Essex UK

-

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Re: Safety regulations

2008-05-02 Thread Ted.Eckert
This message has been converted via the evaluation version of
Transend Migrator. Use beyond the trial period specified in
your Software Evaluation Agreement is prohibited. Please contact
Transend Corporation at (650) 324-5370 or sales.i...@transend.com
to obtain a license suitable for use in a production environment.
Thank you.

-
The output of a Class 2/LPS circuit does not have the voltage or energy to
be a shock or ignition risk as long as that voltage is used without any
changes.  I could design a circuit with an inverter and step-up transformer
that would give me a hazardous voltage.  The Class 2 limit is 100 W.  In
theory, I could get 1000 VAC RMS at 100 mA.  Even with losses due
efficiency limits, there would be enough current to kill somebody.

I will say that in general, if you are using a power supply that meets the
60950 LPS or the NEC Class 2 limits (they are basically the same) then you
can hang circuits off the output without problems.  However, it still needs
to be investigated in a case by case basis.

Ted Eckert
APC-MGE
http://www.apc.com/

The items contained in this e-mail reflect the personal opinions of the
writer and are only provided for the assistance of the reader. The writer
is not speaking in an official capacity for APC-MGE or Schneider Electric.
The speaker does not represent APC-MGE's or Schneider Electric's official
position on any matter.


   
 scott barrows 
To 
 Sent by:  Curt McNamara ,   
 emc-p...@ieee.org peter merguerian

cc 
 05/02/2008 07:10  Benoit Nadeau , 
 AMEMC-PSTC 
   Subject 
       Re: Safety regulations  
   
   
   
   
   
   




If the power supply is an NEC class 2 (vs a class II insulation system) or
an LPS construction, then there is not enough current available to be a
fire hazard.

Scott

Curt McNamara  wrote:
 What if a short occurred on one of these PCBs? Is there enough flammable
 material to constitute a fire hazard? Could a component get hot enough to
 melt connections and drop off, igniting material underneath the product?

 As you can see, there may be other cases to consider. Given that an event
 could initiate legal action, it may be wise to have a third party verify
 safety.

 Curt

 On May 1, 2008, at 10:37 PM, peter merguerian wrote:

   If the power supply is Listed/Certified Class 2 (power limited
   outputs) and there are no hazardous energy levels, I see no
   problems.

   Peter Merguerian



   Benoit Nadeau  wrote:
   Bonjour,

   I’m much more fluent in EMC than safety and this is why I
   respectfully seek advice in this matter.

   I have a question coming from the designers and I’ve been looking in
   the US regulations (the NEC mainly) to find the answer but I didn’t.
   I think this is more like an interpretation than anything else.

   So the question is:

   If a PCB manufacturer buys a card cage that includes a fully listed
   power supply (approved by UL or CSA or ETL or any NRTL), and stuff
   this cage with his own PCBs (not listed) with no harmful external
   voltages or access to, and resell this as a whole new product. Can
   he put that on the market without having to re-list the new product
   as long as the markings on the power supply are still visible from
   outside the box?

   For me this would be like having an external Power Supply that feeds
   very low voltage to a box (like a laptop computer),

   Thank you for the time you are going to take to answer this.

   Regards,


   ==
   Benoit Nadeau, ing. M.ing.
   Gérant du Groupe Conformité (Conformity Group Manager)
   Matrox
   1055 boul. St-Régis
   Dorval (Québec)
   Canada H9P 2T4
   Tél: (514) 822-6000 (2475)
   FAX: (514) 822-6275
   bnad...@matrox.com
   www.