Audio Cable Classification - Class 2 wiring for the speaker outputs

B

Bunny

I was not sure where the best place for this post would be, but I figured the Telecommunications board would be a good place to start.

What do you know about Class 2 wiring for the speaker outputs? We are currently using a more expensive 600V cable since we have not determined if our amp is approved for Class 2 wiring. We understand, in some inspections the inspector simply looks for a sticker saying it is OK for class 2 wiring otherwise they force us to use the more expensive 600V tray cable. It is much cheaper cabling if we can put a sticker on the unit saying Class 2 wiring. I would really appreciate it if you could advise me.

:thanks:
 

Stijloor

Leader
Super Moderator
I was not sure where the best place for this post would be, but I figured the Telecommunications board would be a good place to start.

What do you know about Class 2 wiring for the speaker outputs? We are currently using a more expensive 600V cable since we have not determined if our amp is approved for Class 2 wiring. We understand, in some inspections the inspector simply looks for a sticker saying it is OK for class 2 wiring otherwise they force us to use the more expensive 600V tray cable. It is much cheaper cabling if we can put a sticker on the unit saying Class 2 wiring. I would really appreciate it if you could advise me.

:thanks:

Any Telecommunications/Electronics folks who can help?

Thank you!!

Stijloor.
 
M

MIREGMGR

What's your target market...US only?

If so, are you designing for the NEC, or do you have to consider other codes as well?

What's stopping you from establishing whether your amp is rated for Class 2 wiring?
 
B

Bunny

"What's your target market...US only?"

Our market is Worldwide, but some concerns have been raised is the US.
 
B

Bunny

What's your target market...US only?

If so, are you designing for the NEC, or do you have to consider other codes as well?

What's stopping you from establishing whether your amp is rated for Class 2 wiring?

We are confused because we are in the medical device industry not in the audio industry and the standards I see referred to are foreign. We are developing a standard integration device for use in OR. This device will control medical cameras, monitors, speakers, teleconfering equipment and about anything else a physician wants controlled in the OR. We are building our own audio control board for this device and want to be sure that these class 2 wiring issues we here about won't be a concern.
 
M

MIREGMGR

"Class 2 wiring" is terminology from the National Electrical Code, a private standard developed and maintained by the National Fire Protection Association in Quincy, MA. The NEC is offered to be legally adopted for local application by cities and states. It's not by any means universal in the US, but it is the most common electrical code by a considerable margin.

There are significant differences between US and European electrical wiring system expectations, among other things with respect to color coding, characteristic voltages and frequencies of course, grounding, and many other issues. ISO 60601-1 generally is built on a foundation of European building wiring practices and rules. UL 60601-1, the variant of ISO 60601-1 used by Underwriters Laboratories, a US NRTL, includes modifications to integrate with the NEC.

In my opinion, engineers working on a wiring product that is intended to be permanently installed as part of a building wiring system in the US and therefore will be subject to local inspector approvals at each installation site...as opposed to merely being connected to that wiring system...should have a comprehensive knowledge of the history and underlying technology issues in this standards area, and should be very familiar with the NEC and perhaps other significant US reference electrical codes.
 
M

MIREGMGR

The requirements that would apply to a product such as you have described would be more extensive than just a single question. I don't know how to answer that question without knowing much more about the product, but in any case it's your engineers that need to have that understanding, because it directly affects what's required to obtain your Listing or Labeling.
 
B

Bunny

That is what I thought, but they didn't know either.

I can tell you that our product was already tested to IEC 60601-1 and the test lab didn't ask for the class 2 label.
 
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