Practical Guide to Low Voltage Directive (eBook)

Cover 1
Practical Guide to the Low Voltage Directive 2
Copyright Page 3
Contents 4
About the author 9
Chapter 1. Introduction 10
About this book 10
Important basic concepts 10
The golden rules 13
Benefits of using this book 14
Health and safety warning 14
Scope 14
Limitations of use 15
The limitations of the guidance notes 15
Reducing costs and time to market 16
Spend versus committed cost 17
North America and Canada versus Europe 19
Chapter 2. The Directives 20
The Low Voltage Directive 20
What is electrical equipment 21
New Approach European Directives 23
Who are manufacturers? 24
The CE Mark 28
The CE Mark and demonstrating compliance 29
Placing on the market 33
Second-hand goods 33
Repaired goods 35
Chapter 3. Briefing notes to key job functions 36
Director's brief 36
Engineering manager's brief 38
Designer's brief 39
Chapter 4. Directives, standards and essential requirements 41
The basics 41
New Approach Directives 42
'Old-style' Directives 42
Harmonized standards 42
Why is there a need now? 44
Why do we need standards? 44
Product liability 45
EN 60950 and other standards 46
Chapter 5. A detailed guide to EN 60950 47
Chapter 6. Achieving compliance 145
Understanding 145
Product review 145
Product test 146
Manufacturing control 146
Ongoing support- the Internet etc. 146
Compliance proving 147
Documentation and the Data File 147
During design – components 148
During design – testing 148
Testing 148
Compliance and conformity – manufacturing controls 149
Chapter 7. A simple guide to designs and reviews 150
Purpose 150
The simple design guide? 150
The basics 152
Power connections to equipment 153
Equipment fusing 159
Product name or model number 161
Choosing critical components 161
Critical items list 162
Earthing and grounding 163
Switches, fuses, filters and internal wiring 166
Power supplies 166
The enclosure 167
Labels 170
Batteries 172
Outlets and inputs and outputs 173
Fault conditions 173
Internal cables and looms 173
External cables and looms 173
Mechanical consideration 174
Thermal 174
Fire 174
Chemical and ozone 175
Radiation 175
Chapter 8. Simple guide to flammability requirements 176
When a fire enclosure is necessary 178
Special requirement for any, enclosure 179
Construction of the bottom of a fire enclosure 180
Construction for the side of a fire enclosure 182
Construction for the top of a fire enclosure 184
Critical items list 187
Chapter 9. Creepage and clearance 188
Creepage and clearance EXAMPLE 1 189
Creepage and clearance EXAMPLE 2 189
Creepage and clearance EXAMPLE 3 193
Creepage and clearance EXAMPLE 4 196
Creepage and clearance EXAMPLE 5 197
Chapter 10. Summary 207
Connection to supply 207
Isolation of supply 208
Mechanical hazards 208
Earthing 208
Types of insulation 209
Protection against electric shock 209
Resistance to fire 210
Fire hazards 210
Limits on fuel 210
Limits on heat 211
Insulation damage 211
Plates 213
Index 225