I don't really understand your note. Does the leakage current exceed 3.5 mA or not? If yes, you cannot use an ordinary plug or an IEC 320 appliance coupler. IEC 950 clause 1.2.5.2 (the A4 change) requires an industrial plug the appliance coupler meet IEC 309 or a comparable national standard. The spirit behind the requirements is to prevent the layperson from buying an appliance that has a leakage current high enough to increase the risk of electric shock and then simply plug it into a socket outlet without a ground contact. Remember many grounded plugs used in Europe will fit the ungrounded socket outlets.
The industrial plug SHOULD cause him to call an electrician or at least read the warning label. By not allowing the IEC 320 appliance coupler the user is prevented from buying an ordinary cord set to connect the appliance to an ungrounded socket outlet because the IEC 309 connector will not fit the IEC 320 appliance inlet on the appliance. If the leakage current is less than 3.5 mA then you can use the ordinary plug and an appliance coupler according to IEC 320. Clause 5.2.5 does not apply because 5.2.5 only applies to the appliance if the leakage current exceeds 3.5 mA. Regards, Lou Aiken <---- Begin Forwarded Message ----> From: "Doug McKean" <[email protected]> To: "EMC-PSTC" <[email protected]> Subject: EN-60950 Question ... List-Post: [email protected] Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 16:35:43 -0500 Reply-To: "Doug McKean" <[email protected]> Situation: Piece of equipment measures over 3.5 milli-amps for earth leakage test: According to EN-60950 "5.2.5: Equipment with an earth leakage current exceeding 3,5 mA CLASS I STATIONARY that is PERMANENTLY CONNECTED EQUIPMENT, or that is PLUGGABLE EQUIPMENT TYPE B ... " then three conditions follow one of which is labeling requirements. Definition of PLUGGABLE EQUIPMENT TYPE B is located in 1.2.5.2. Questions: If you claim your equipment is pluggable type equipment type A: Definition of pluggable type equipment type A is located in 1.2.5.1. Are you exempt from 5.2.5 ??? Are you allowed to use IEC-320 connectors? What really constitutes the difference between pluggable type equipment type A versus pluggable type equipment type B? Just the plug? Or better, what is the spirit behind all this? Do you have to state this in product material to the customer? Regards, Doug <---- End Forwarded Message ----> Best Regards, Lou Aiken 27106 Palmetto Drive Orange Beach, AL 36561 USA tel 1 334 981 6786 fax 1 334 981 3054
