A
Agust Sigurdsson
Hello.
I have a few question regarding IEC 60601-1 and- Potential Equalization Conductors.
We are designing a device for medical use, intended to be attached to another medical device and collect data from it. Both are Class I devices and have their own power supplies and fulfill the required levels of protection for patient and operator safety. They have a Functional Earth connection to each other but their frames do not have other galvanic contact to each other. If they are connected to separate wall outlets there is a potential risk of electric shock for a person who touches them simultaneously.
Rather than to demand use of a Medical Multi-Socket Outlet we selected to address this risk by permanently interconnecting the frames of the devices by means of a short piece of wire.
Now my questions:
Would this wire qualify as a Potential Equalization Conductor and then be subject to all requirements for such parts in IEC 60601-1 ?
If so ? would the requirements in section 8.6.7 apply or is a ?Terminal for the connection of a Potential Equalization Conductor? something quite different ?
If section 8.6.7 applies to our case ? how should we address the apparently contradicting demands for minimizing the risk for accidental disconnection but still allow it to be detached without the use of a tool ? Would for instance an ordinary blade connector on one end of the wire qualify ?
Are there any restrictions in 60601-1 which may have escaped me, prohibiting situations like this ?
Finally: Can someone explain the reason or scenario behind this requirement for a Potential Equalization Connection to be detachable without the use of a tool ?
Thanks in advance
Agust Sigurdsson
I have a few question regarding IEC 60601-1 and- Potential Equalization Conductors.
We are designing a device for medical use, intended to be attached to another medical device and collect data from it. Both are Class I devices and have their own power supplies and fulfill the required levels of protection for patient and operator safety. They have a Functional Earth connection to each other but their frames do not have other galvanic contact to each other. If they are connected to separate wall outlets there is a potential risk of electric shock for a person who touches them simultaneously.
Rather than to demand use of a Medical Multi-Socket Outlet we selected to address this risk by permanently interconnecting the frames of the devices by means of a short piece of wire.
Now my questions:
Would this wire qualify as a Potential Equalization Conductor and then be subject to all requirements for such parts in IEC 60601-1 ?
If so ? would the requirements in section 8.6.7 apply or is a ?Terminal for the connection of a Potential Equalization Conductor? something quite different ?
If section 8.6.7 applies to our case ? how should we address the apparently contradicting demands for minimizing the risk for accidental disconnection but still allow it to be detached without the use of a tool ? Would for instance an ordinary blade connector on one end of the wire qualify ?
Are there any restrictions in 60601-1 which may have escaped me, prohibiting situations like this ?
Finally: Can someone explain the reason or scenario behind this requirement for a Potential Equalization Connection to be detachable without the use of a tool ?
Thanks in advance
Agust Sigurdsson