O-PEN Devices... will there be a standard?

The place to ask is the BSI

https://standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com/committees/50242253#in-progress

suggests that apart from defining the existence of a committee, it has not got off the starting blocks yet, however to be sure about that I have just Emailed the secretary of that committee to ask how it is going.  I'll  come back here as and when  I get any response. (As indeed  anyone with a BSI logon can contact them, the process to get a logon is the same as you need to comment on new drafts etc.)

Mike.

Thanks Mike.

I will also pursue this route and report back any useful information.

Well the answer came today - and as suspected, not a lot is happening.

Dear Mike,

Thank you for your enquiry.

No work is currently being undertaken- There are no drafts, nor any standard on the subject in the foreseeable future.

I hope this helps.

Research & Data Analyst

T: +44 20 8996 7004

knowledgecentre@bsigroup.com

BSI, 389 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 4AL, UK

So there we have it,

Mike.

I have just received the exact same response

Thanks for looking into it.... 

Well at least we know. I suspect it will wait until a few folk have started making them and the pros and cons have been discovered, and perhaps in a few years, a standard will be written after the fact in a way that makes sure that at least the better ones meet it.

Mike

Good question. For those that opt for an open pen method, 722.411.4.1 indent iv allows for a device that relies on the voltage between P and N to be monitored such that when it deviates from the 207-253v range the contactor pulls out. The method is only applicable to single phase. A well respected source has discredited its safety and even the indent has a note of caution. Irrespective of what the manufacturers of charge points who employ this method might have in their instructions, it is not inconceivable that such equipment could be used for a single-phase application in a TPN installation where the protection could be compromised. 
One manufacturer I am aware of uses this method but also has a CT on the protective conductor to the car that pulls the contactor out when around 18mA is flowing.

For me, the only viable option for the installation of EV charge points on TNCS systems is indent (iv) which the current COP seems to have ignored but I think I understand the reasons.

Robert Waters said:

I am looking to find out if there is a standard being worked on for O-PEN devices that provide safety protection for single phase EVSE connected to a TN-C-S system?

Whilst BSI's PEL/23/1/1 are not looking at a standard, IET Technical Standards has a committee looking at this at present, in fact for the past 18 months or so, with representatives from across the industry, and a draft is in progress. Producing a full standard is not a quick process. Once the draft is complete, it will go out for Public Comment before being finalized.

There is work going on in this area, within IET rather than BSI.

Thanks gkenyon.

Would you happen to have any contact details for the chair of that committee?

Send me a private message