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Repost Question (probably dumb) about UL safety

  • Thread starter The little lost angel
  • Start date
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The little lost angel

Jan 1, 1970
0
Repost with cross-post to sci.electronics in the hope that maybe more
folks will see this and can enlighten me.


I was referred to this NG by the good folks at sci.electronics.*

This started off with me overhearing a sales pitch while visiting at a
friend's office. What I thought I heard was the guy claiming their
product Y is better than a competitor's brand X. The reason being X is
certified for UL level 6 and is not safe for general consumer usage
compared to their level 3 certified product Y.

My intuition tells me that this might be sales puff and asked on the
NG. The pitch was essentially debunked because I was told there's no
such thing as levels for UL certification. But I could have misheard
the conversation due to it being some distance off.

Anyway, in the midst of delving for more info, I found that UL has a
listing of certified stuff and searched for examples to use in my
question. Doing so, led to more questions and I hope somebody could
explain them to me :)

I used these two because they are famous well known PC PSU brands...
and because some of the others that I know of wasn't found for some
strange reason despite their UL logo.

http://makeashorterlink.com/?M13132CC6 (Enermax)
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Q44122CC6 (Antec)

1) How do I tell from these things what exactly are they certified
for? There are no code or reference to say UL-xxxxx standard.
Searching on the web reveals that power supplies are normally
certified to UL-1950 standards. But that number doesn't appear at all,
unless QQGQ8 is some kind of encoded reference?

2) Are there really no different "levels" of certification for safety?

3) Are the information in those pages useful for an end user like me
to figure out what's the correct way to use the product? E.g. one of
the parameter appears to indicate spacings. Some models like
EG465P-VD(T)says 950 and its brother EG465P-VD(V) says 60950. I have
no idea what the units is supposed to be, but assuming millimetres...
it sounds ridiculous that something like this need a 61metre or even
60.9cm clearance... :p

4) In the case of Antec, I see (bottom of page) the True480 and
True550 lumped together with only one set of results. Does this mean
the 480 model is capable of the same level of output as the 550
despite Antec's official ratings being lower for the 480?

Added
5) I found this after dumping in the names of locally available stuff
one after another. Quite a few didn't appear but this one did.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?U64B21CC6

The reason I noted it is because it carries a warning at the bottom
about hazardous energy levels. How is it significant and is it any
cause for concern?



Thanks!

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I

Isaac

Jan 1, 1970
0
http://makeashorterlink.com/?M13132CC6 (Enermax)
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Q44122CC6 (Antec)

1) How do I tell from these things what exactly are they certified
for? There are no code or reference to say UL-xxxxx standard.
Searching on the web reveals that power supplies are normally
certified to UL-1950 standards. But that number doesn't appear at all,
unless QQGQ8 is some kind of encoded reference?

The QQGQ8 number may provide information as to what standard is used.
The "8" on the end indicates that the product was recognized for use
in Canada. Most likely there is also a QQGQ2 recognition implying
conformance to US requirements.

You should be able to research the QQGQ8 on UL's website to see what
standards were used to evaluate products in that category.
2) Are there really no different "levels" of certification for safety?

No, but manufacturers may chose different paths to comply and some
paths may result in safer products than others. Products may be
certified for different pollution degrees, different insulation classes,
different degrees of resistance to water and weathering, etc.

Isaac
 
G

Guest

Jan 1, 1970
0
Can't answer everything, but

3), the 60950 is a European version of UL1950, the general standard for
power supplies.

4) maybe
 
J

John Woodgate

Jan 1, 1970
0
I read in sci.engr.electrical.compliance that [email protected]
3), the 60950 is a European version of UL1950, the general standard for
power supplies.

Bass ackwards. IEC 60950 is the **International Standard** for the
safety of ICT and office machines. UL 1950 is a US/UL approximation to
the International Standard. UL 60950 is a closer approximation.

EN 60950 is the European version of IEC 60950, and is technically
identical AFAIK.
 
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