Hazardous-voltage primer
Understanding the hazards associated with voltage and knowing the principles
of safety and the importance of certification are the keys to safe design
and product use. Even low voltage is hazardous and can damage products and
harm users.
By David Lohbeck, National Instruments -- EDN, 5/11/2006
Understanding the hazards associated with voltage and knowing the principles
of safety and the importance of certification are the keys to safe design
and product use. Even low voltage is hazardous and can damage products and
harm users.
By David Lohbeck, National Instruments -- EDN, 5/11/2006
It is common knowledge that wall-outlet voltages of 120V in the
United States and 230V in Europe can cause severe shock or death, but did
you know that many people consider 120 and 230V to be low-voltage? Believe
it or not, according to most standards, voltages less than or equal to 1000V
are low. Voltages greater than 1000V are high and are not commonplace in the
typical home or workplace. More specifically, peak voltage greater than
42.4V is hazardous; voltage less than or equal to 42.4V, or SELV (safety
extra-low voltage), is nonhazardous. It is difficult to know when
electricity can cause serious injury or be fatal.
United States and 230V in Europe can cause severe shock or death, but did
you know that many people consider 120 and 230V to be low-voltage? Believe
it or not, according to most standards, voltages less than or equal to 1000V
are low. Voltages greater than 1000V are high and are not commonplace in the
typical home or workplace. More specifically, peak voltage greater than
42.4V is hazardous; voltage less than or equal to 42.4V, or SELV (safety
extra-low voltage), is nonhazardous. It is difficult to know when
electricity can cause serious injury or be fatal.
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