The IET is carrying out some important updates between 17-30 April and all of our websites will be view only. For more information, read this Announcement
mapj1:
SELV is the double insulated version of ELV and is 2 faults to danger by insulation at the supply end.
PELV has a CPC for 2 reasons.
firstly, for the same reason that the mains does - to provide prompt disconnection of faults from the 'live' side to ground that might otherwise go un-noticed, and
secondly to prevent a failure of the power supply that generates the extra low voltage from the mains, from impressing the mains voltage on the output and not being noticed. Imagine a transformer with a short at one point part way up the primary and part way the secondary.. This allows a single insulated power supply construction.
FELV a catch all for any ELV kit that is not really PELV or SELV, including designs where there is no isolation between the LV and ELV parts of the circuit. Therefore the protection requirements for the higher voltage have to be applied to the entire circuit.
Examples include LED lights with a resisitive or capacitive dropper from mains to 12V or whatever the LED needs, and the internals of things like PIRs and some linked smoke alarms where the internals are at 9V or 12V, but use the neutral as a common reference and so the ELV parts are not isolated from the mains.
mapj1:
SELV is the double insulated version of ELV and is 2 faults to danger by insulation at the supply end.
PELV has a CPC for 2 reasons.
firstly, for the same reason that the mains does - to provide prompt disconnection of faults from the 'live' side to ground that might otherwise go un-noticed, and
secondly to prevent a failure of the power supply that generates the extra low voltage from the mains, from impressing the mains voltage on the output and not being noticed. Imagine a transformer with a short at one point part way up the primary and part way the secondary.. This allows a single insulated power supply construction.
FELV a catch all for any ELV kit that is not really PELV or SELV, including designs where there is no isolation between the LV and ELV parts of the circuit. Therefore the protection requirements for the higher voltage have to be applied to the entire circuit.
Examples include LED lights with a resisitive or capacitive dropper from mains to 12V or whatever the LED needs, and the internals of things like PIRs and some linked smoke alarms where the internals are at 9V or 12V, but use the neutral as a common reference and so the ELV parts are not isolated from the mains.
We're making some changes behind the scenes to deliver a better experience for our members and customers. Posting and interactions are paused. Thank you for your patience and see you soon!
For more information, please read this announcement