IEC 61243-3:2009

IEC 61243-3
®
Edition 2.0 2009-11
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside


Live working – Voltage detectors –
Part 3: Two-pole low-voltage type

Travaux sous tension – Détecteurs de tension –
Partie 3: Type bipolaire basse tension

IEC 61243-3:2009

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---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
IEC 61243-3
®
Edition 2.0 2009-11
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside


Live working – Voltage detectors –
Part 3: Two-pole low-voltage type

Travaux sous tension – Détecteurs de tension –
Partie 3: Type bipolaire basse tension

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
XB
CODE PRIX
ICS 13.260; 29.240.20; 29.260.99 ISBN 978-2-88910-452-9
® Registered trademark of the International Electrotechnical Commission
Marque déposée de la Commission Electrotechnique Internationale

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– 2 – 61243-3 © IEC:2009
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.5
INTRODUCTION.7
1 Scope.8
2 Normative references .8
3 Terms and definitions .10
4 Requirements .13
4.1 General requirements.13
4.1.1 Safety.13
4.1.2 Indication.13
4.1.3 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) .14
4.2 Functional requirements .14
4.2.1 Clear indication .14
4.2.2 Clear perceptibility.15
4.2.3 Temperature and humidity dependence of the indication .15
4.2.4 Frequency dependency for a.c. voltage detector.16
4.2.5 Ripple dependency for d.c. voltage detector .16
4.2.6 Response time .16
4.2.7 Power source dependability.16
4.2.8 Testing element.16
4.2.9 Time rating .16
4.3 Electrical requirements.17
4.3.1 Insulating material .17
4.3.2 Protection against electric shocks.17
4.3.3 Current limiting elements.17
4.3.4 Minimum clearance and creepage distances.17
4.3.5 Protection against electrical stresses.20
4.3.6 Lead(s).20
4.3.7 Probes.20
4.3.8 Connector(s) (if any).20
4.3.9 Accessible switches in the detecting circuit for temporary loading (if

any).20
4.4 Mechanical requirements.20
4.4.1 Design.20
4.4.2 Dimensions, construction.22
4.4.3 Degree of protection provided by enclosures .22
4.4.4 Resistance to vibration .22
4.4.5 Drop resistance .22
4.4.6 Shock resistance .22
4.4.7 Possible disassembling .22
4.4.8 Surface temperature.23
4.4.9 Resistance to heat.23
4.4.10 Probes.23
4.4.11 Lead(s).23
4.5 Marking .23
4.5.1 General .23
4.5.2 Marking on the indicator .23

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61243-3 © IEC:2009 – 3 –
4.5.3 Marking on the probe and/or the lead .24
4.6 Instructions for use.24
4.7 Requirements in case of reasonably foreseeable misuse during live working.24
4.7.1 AC/DC voltage misuse.24
4.7.2 Maximum current to earth in case of misuse .25
4.7.3 Misuse in case of mistaking of the voltage of the low voltage network .26
5 Tests .26
5.1 General .26
5.2 Tests for general requirements.27
5.2.1 Indication.27
5.2.2 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) .27
5.3 Tests for functional requirements .28
5.3.1 Clear indication .28
5.3.2 Clear perceptibility of visual indication.30
5.3.3 Clear perceptibility of audible indication (when available) .32
5.3.4 Temperature and humidity dependence of the indication .34
5.3.5 Frequency dependency for a.c. voltage detector.35
5.3.6 Ripple dependency for d.c. voltage detector .36
5.3.7 Response time .36
5.3.8 Power source dependability.37
5.3.9 Testing element.37
5.3.10 Time rating .37
5.4 Tests for electrical requirements.38
5.4.1 Tests on the insulation .38
5.4.2 Protection against electric shocks.39
5.4.3 Current limiting elements.40
5.4.4 Minimum clearance and creepage distances.40
5.4.5 Protection against electrical stresses.40
5.4.6 Lead(s).41
5.4.7 Probe(s) .41
5.4.8 Connector(s) .41
5.4.9 Switches for temporary loading (if any).41
5.5 Tests for mechanical requirements .42
5.5.1 Design.42
5.5.2 Dimensions, construction.42
5.5.3 Degree of protection provided by enclosures .42
5.5.4 Vibration resistance.42
5.5.5 Drop resistance .43
5.5.6 Shock resistance .44
5.5.7 Possible disassembling .44
5.5.8 Surface temperature.44
5.5.9 Heat resistance .45
5.5.10 Probes.45
5.5.11 Lead(s).47
5.6 Marking .48
5.6.1 Visual inspection and measurement .48
5.6.2 Durability of marking.48
5.7 Instructions for use.48
5.7.1 Type test .48

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– 4 – 61243-3 © IEC:2009
5.7.2 Alternative test in case of voltage detectors having completed the
production phase.49
5.8 Tests for reasonably foreseeable misuse during live working.49
5.8.1 AC/DC voltage misuse.49
5.8.2 Maximum current to earth in case of misuse .49
5.8.3 Misuse in case of mistaking of the voltage of the low voltage network .50
6 Conformity assessment .50
7 Modifications .50
Annex A (informative) Differences with IEC 61010 series.51
Annex B (normative) Supplementary functions Phase indication – Rotating field
indication – Continuity check .56
Annex C (normative) Instructions for use .62
Annex D (normative) General type test procedure.63
Annex E (normative) Classification of defects and associated requirements and tests .65
Annex F (informative) In-service care and use .67
Bibliography.69

Figure 1a – Illustration of the electrical insulation of an indicator casing .18
Figure 1b – Illustration of the electrical insulation of a probe with a detachable lead .18
Figure 1 – Illustration of the electrical insulation features applicable to components of
a voltage detector .18
Figure 2a – Example of a voltage detector with the indicator integrated in a probe.21
Figure 2b – Example of a voltage detector with the indicator not integrated in a probe.21
Figure 2 – Voltage detector.21
Figure 3 – Maximum rms a.c. current to earth in case of misuse .25
Figure 4 – Maximum d.c. current to earth in case of misuse.25
Figure 5 – Test sep-up for the influence of interference voltage .29
Figure 6 – Test set-up for measurement of clear perceptibility of visual indication.31
Figure 7a – Positioning of the voltage detector in the test set-up .33
Figure 7b – Key measurement points on the hemisphere .33
Figure 7 – Test set-up for measurement of clear perceptibility of audible indication .33
Figure 8 – Test set-up for close adhesion of insulation of the insulated part of the
contact electrode .46

Table 1 – Climatic categories of voltage detectors .16
Table 2 – Minimum clearance distances for basic insulation and for supplementary
insulation .19
Table 3 – Minimum clearance distances for reinforced insulation .19
Table 4 – Parameters to be observed to check the climatic dependence.34
Table 5 – AC voltage values for test on the complete equipment .39
Table 6 – Maximum permissible surface temperatures .45
Table B.1 – Classification of defects and associated requirements and tests .61
Table D.1 – Sequential order for performing type tests .63
Table D.2 – Type tests out of sequence .64
Table E.1 – Classification of defects and associated requirements and tests .65
Table F.1 – Periodic testing .68

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61243-3 © IEC:2009 – 5 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________

LIVE WORKING –
VOLTAGE DETECTORS –

Part 3: Two-pole low-voltage type


FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
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with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
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5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 61243-3 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 78: Live
working.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1998. It is a technical
revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
– no more switches are allowed for scale change;
– all the voltage detectors are now for use indoor and outdoor excluding the use under rain
conditions;
– no contact electrode which has the construction of a hook is allowed;
– no more voltage classes (A and B) are considered;
– the concept of double or reinforced insulation design (or constructional arrangements
providing an equivalent protection) is added;

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– 6 – 61243-3 © IEC:2009
– for testing, the consideration of normal and single fault conditions is added;
– EMC requirements and tests are upgraded;
– the influence of interference voltage is now considered;
– the classification of the voltage detector into an overvoltage category is increased to at
least category III;
– the protection against electrical stresses is reinforced (transient and temporary
overvoltages);
– the degree of protection provided by all the enclosures (IP code) is increased to be at
least IP54, unless otherwise specified;
– the requirement and test for switches for temporary loading have been reviewed;
– the requirement for ELV indication has been reviewed (a redundant non-disconnectable
indicating system is not anymore the unique means allowed);
– the ranges of climatic conditions for operation of voltage detectors of category N and of
category S have been reviewed;
– the ball pressure test now refers to IEC 60695-10-2;
– a wear test concerning the insulating material of the lead(s) is added;
– the conformity assessment of voltage detectors having completed the production phase is
added;
– the normative annex on supplementary functions has been reviewed;
– the normative annex on sampling plans and procedure has been deleted (not applicable
according to IEC 61318);
– the informative annex on acceptance tests has been deleted (consideration now included
in IEC 61318).
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
78/821/FDIS 78/832/RVD

Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts of the IEC 61243 series can be found, under the general title Live working –
Voltage detectors, on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in
the data related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed;
• withdrawn;
• replaced by a revised edition; or
• amended.

IMPORTANT – The “colour inside” logo on the cover page of this publication indicates
that it contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct understanding
of its contents. Users should therefore print this publication using a colour printer.

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61243-3 © IEC:2009 – 7 –
INTRODUCTION
The devices covered by this standard are designed to be used in a live working environment
to determine the status (presence or absence of operating voltage) of low-voltage
installations.
The live working environment comes with its specific hazards and working conditions which
are generally more severe than the ones encountered by workers in other fields than live
working.
This International Standard is a product standard giving essential requirements and tests to
verify that the devices perform well and will contribute to the safety of the users, provided
they are used by skilled persons, and according to safe working procedures and to local or
national regulations.
Voltage detectors are not considered as measuring or testing devices, separately covered by
IEC 61010 series. However, in case of misuse by general electrical workers, the requirements
and tests included in this document are intended to achieve an equivalent level of safety.
To take into consideration the specific needs of a live working environment, the following
differences exist with IEC 61010 series:
– some requirements and tests exist in both standards but with different sanctions or pass
test criteria (see A.1);
– some requirements of IEC 61010 are not included in this standard with the rationale (see
A.2);
– some additional requirements of this standard are not specified in IEC 61010 with the
rationale (see A.3).
This International Standard has been prepared according to the requirements of IEC 61477,
where applicable.
The product covered by this standard may have an impact on the environment during some or
all stages of its life cycle. These impacts can range from slight to significant, be of short-term
or long-term, and occur at the global, regional or local level.
This standard does not include requirements and test provisions for the manufacturers of
...