I would tend to agree with your interpretation that " light
blue is only required WHERE A CIRCUIT INCLUDES A NEUTRAL
IDENTIFIED BY COLOR. If another acceptable means of identification
is used, such as marking, then light blue is not required."
(I am mystified why they have chosen to specify the neutral
conductor colour
but have left the line conductor requirements as "preferred"
colours).
You could always ask IEC TC16 for a formal "interpretation" of this
requirement.
I do not know if they have a formal process for such requests.
For IEC 60950, there is the IEC/TC 74 Chairmans Advisory Panel
which answers such requests.
Another couple of points.
I would imagine that the very definite requirement for protective
conductors
to be green/ellow is there because this is the most critical
conductor, and
we do not want any other (confusing) method of identification other
than
colour.
Surely you have to concern yourself with the requirements in the
appropriate
product standard which applies to your particular product. IEC 60446
is not a
product standard.
Is there an EN 60446 ? It is not mentioned in the 1998/99 BSI
Catalogue.
You quote from EN 60446 ed3, but given IEC 60446 was dated February
1999,
I would not have expected the equivalent EN to be available so
quickly.
Regards,
John Crabb, Development Excellence (Product Safety) ,
NCR Financial Solutions Group Ltd., Kingsway West, Dundee, Scotland. DD2
3XX
E-Mail :john.cr...@scotland.ncr.com
Tel: +44 (0)1382-592289 (direct ). Fax +44 (0)1382-622243. VoicePlus
6-341-2289.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Crane, Lauren [SMTP:lcr...@bev.etn.com]
> Sent: 21 April 1999 16:18
> To: 'Crabb, John'; 'discussion group'
> Subject: RE: What color is neutral.
>
> Mr. Crabb,
>
> I appreciate your spending 2c (or is that 2p!) on this issue.
> As the 'thread' initiator, I hope I can trouble you with a follow-up.
>
> As you and Mr. John Woodgate (often read in the s.e.e.c newsgroup)
> suggested, I have attempted to contact the ANSI-listed members of the US
> TC44 committee regarding this issue. I still am waiting for their replies.
>
>
> Since you are so close to the standards development process.....
>
> Regarding 602446, I did get a copy of the recent (third) edition. Its
> terminology is substantially the same as EN 60204-1 1997.
>
> This is the point where I would be very interested in your comments.
>
> The standard reads (quoting from EN 60446 ed3 section 3.2.2)
> "Where a circuit includes a neutral or mid-point conductor identified by
> colour, the colour used for this purpose shall be blue. In order to avoid
> confusion with other colours it is recommended to use an unsaturated
> colour
> blue, called here 'light blue'....."
>
> My thesis (that has been supported by some notified/competent bodies but
> rejected by many peers in the industry) is that, as the section says,
> light
> blue is only required WHERE A CIRCUIT INCLUDES A NEUTRAL IDENTIFIED BY
> COLOR. If another acceptable means of identification is used, such as
> marking, then light blue is not required.
>
> This language in this section on neutrals is substantially different from
> other sections, such as the protective conductor (3.3.2) which allows no
> discretion on identifying the conductor. That is to say "The bi-colour
> combination green-and-yellow shall be used for identifying the protective
> conductor....."
>
> This is much more exact than what is said for the neutral.
>
> Am I missing something here???
>
> Thanks for any comments.
>
> PS - the equipment we make is hard wired into the customers facility
> (rather
> than plug & cord connected) so it frequently comes under the scrutiny of
> electrical inspectors.
>
> Lauren Crane
> Eaton Corporation
> lcr...@bev.etn.com
>
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