Safety Requirements for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control and Laboratory Use - Part 031: Safety requirements for hand-held probe assemblies for electrical measurement and test

UL 61010-031

1 Scope and object

1.1 Scope

This part of IEC 61010 applies to hand-held and hand-manipulated PROBE ASSEMBLIES of the types described below, and related accessories which are intended for professional, industrial process, and educational use. These PROBE ASSEMBLIES are for use in the interface between an electrical phenomenon and test or measurement equipment. They may be fixed to the equipment or be detachable accessories for the equipment.

a) Low-voltage and high-voltage, non-attenuating PROBE ASSEMBLIES (type A). Non-attenuating PROBE ASSEMBLIES that are RATED for direct connection to voltages exceeding 33 V r.m.s. or 46,7 V peak or 70 V d.c., but not exceeding 63 kV. They do not incorporate active components, nor are they intended to provide a voltage divider function or a signal conditioning function, but they may contain passive non-attenuating components such as fuses.

b) High-voltage attenuating or divider PROBE ASSEMBLIES (type B). Attenuating or divider PROBE ASSEMBLIES that are RATED for direct connection to secondary voltages exceeding 1 kV but not exceeding 63 kV. The divider function may be carried out wholly within the PROBE ASSEMBLY, or partly within the test or measurement equipment to be used with the PROBE ASSEMBLY.

c) Low-voltage attenuating or divider PROBE ASSEMBLIES (type C). Attenuating, divider or other signal conditioning PROBE ASSEMBLIES for direct connection to voltages exceeding 33 V r.m.s or 46,7 V peak or 70 V d.c., but not exceeding 1 kV r.m.s. or 1,5 kV d.c. The signal conditioning function may be carried out wholly within the PROBE ASSEMBLY, or partly within the test or measurement equipment intended to be used with the PROBE ASSEMBLY.

d) Low-voltage attenuating and non-attenuating PROBE ASSEMBLIES (type D), that are RATED for direct connection only to voltages not exceeding 33 V r.m.s., or 46,7 V peak, or 70 V d.c., and are suitable for currents exceeding 8 A.

NOTE PROBE ASSEMBLIES which

- are not within the definitions of types A, B, C, or D, or

- which are designed to be powered from a low-voltage mains supply, or

- include other features not specifically addressed in this standard

may also need to meet the relevant requirements of other parts of IEC 61010 [6]. Figures in square brackets refer to the bibliography.

1.1DV Modification of 1.1 (a), (c), and (d):

1.1DV.1 Replace the second sentence of part (a) with "Non-Attenuating PROBE ASSEMBLIES that are RATED for direct connection to voltages exceeding 30 V r.m.s. and 42,4 V peak or 60 V d.c., but not exceeding 63 kV."

1.1DV.2 Replace the second sentence of part (c) with "Attenuating, divider, or other signal conditioning PROBE ASSEMBLIES that are RATED for direct connection to voltages exceeding 30 V r.m.s. and 42,4 V peak or 60 V d.c., but not exceeding 1 kV r.m.s. or 1,5 kV d.c."

1.1DV.3 Replace part (d) with "Low-voltage attenuating and non-attenuating PROBE ASSEMBLIES (type D), that are RATED for direct connection only to voltages not exceeding 30 V r.m.s. and 42,4 V peak, or 60 V d.c., and are suitable for currents exceeding 8 A." 1.2 Object

1.2.1 Aspects included in scope

The object of this standard is to ensure that the design and methods of construction used provide adequate protection for the OPERATOR and the surrounding area against:

a) electric shock or burn (see clauses 6, 10 and 11);

b) mechanical hazards (see clauses 7 and 8 and 11);

c) excessive temperature (see clause 9);

d) spread of fire from the PROBE ASSEMBLY (see clause 9).

e) arc flash (see Clause 13).

NOTE Attention is drawn to the existence of additional requirements which may be specified by national authorities responsible for the health and safety of labour forces.

1.2.2 Aspects excluded from scope

This standard does not cover

a) reliable function, performance or other properties of the PROBE ASSEMBLY;

b) effectiveness of transport packaging;

c) servicing (repair);

d) protection of servicing (repair) personnel.

NOTE Servicing personnel are expected to be reasonably careful in dealing with obvious HAZARDS, but the design should protect against mishap in an appropriate manner, and the service documentation should point out any residual HAZARDS.

1.3 Verification

This standard also specifies methods of verifying, through inspection and type testing, that the PROBE ASSEMBLY meets the requirements of this standard.

1.4 Environmental conditions

This standard applies to PROBE ASSEMBLIES designed to be safe at least under the following conditions:

a) altitude up to 2 000 m, or above 2 000 m if specified by the manufacturer;

b) temperature 5 C to 40 C; or below 5 C or above 40 C if specified by the manufacturer;

c) maximum relative humidity 80 % for temperatures up to 31 C decreasing linearly to 50 % relative humidity at 40 C;

d) applicable RATED POLLUTION degree.

1.4ADV Addition of the following referencing the National Electrical Code and the Canadian Electrical Code:

This standard applies to equipment to be employed in accordance with ANSI/NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (NEC); designed to be installed in accordance with the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC), Part I, CSA C22.1, and General Requirements - Canadian Electrical Code, Part II, CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 0; or designed to comply with both the NEC and CEC.