Leakage Current Testers

Leakage Current Testers

A Leakage Current Testers primary objective is to measure leakage current before it becomes a danger to the operator or patient (medical use). Leakage Current (Touch Current) can be dangerous! Electrical devices are typically designed with sufficient insulation, so that operators do not experience electrical shock. However, insulation may deteriorate over time. One of the largest applications for a Leakage Current Tester is in the medical industry. Patient and operator safety and health, especially in a Medical environment, includes requiring leakage current testing on most equipment.

Equipment manufacturers and those doing repairs must adhere to for Leakage Current Standards. These Standards are in accordance with IEC, UL, JIS, ANSI, VDE, etc.

Markets for Leakage Current Testers

• Medical
• Industrial
• Residential
• Consumer Electronics
• Service
• Laboratory
• Production

Leakage Current Tester applications

• General Industrial Electrical Use
• Medical Standard Equipment
• Medical Emergency Equipment
• Computers
• Residential Appliances
• Electrical Toys and Monitors

The test is performed by applying a voltage across the conductor or circuit, where a leakage current is measured across the insulation. For Medical Electrical Test and Monitoring Equipment, it is recommended to always use an isolation transformer when measuring leakage current. Medical-use electrical devices use a step-up isolation transformer or similar component operating at 110% of the rated supply voltage as the power supply for the device under test.

Key features to consider for selection of Leakage Current Testers

• As a class, they are an economical tester to comply with standards governing electrical devices
• Capability for required standards IEC, JIS, UL, DIN VDE, ANSI, etc.
• Selectable test current
• Polarity switching reduces cycle time
• Rated currents to meet new Standards
• Touch panel for interactive operation.
• Complete communications functionality
• External I/O Support
• Automatic testing for production line applications
• Memory storage of programmed tests
• Memory storage of test results
• Report function capability
• Measure housing leakage current
• Single phase or three phase capability
• Capable of 120VAC or 240 VAC appliance testing
   

The safety of human life and personnel is always the first concern when using any electrical device. These devices are designed to meet many, if not all, of these safety requirements.

Electrical Safety Test Methods for Equipment

Powered equipment from hand tools, appliances, industrial equipment, and instruments to medical devices and more are tested for electrical safety to various global standards.

For example, IEC 60990 Standard discusses the safety involving the flow of leakage or touch current through the human body. The effect of electric current on a human body can be extremely dangerous. It provides measuring methods for the four body responses:
JIS T 0601-1 is the Japanese modification of the existing IEC 60601-1 Safety Standard. IEC 60601-1 is the accepted standard for safety testing of all medical equipment. Both consider safety to be the primary concern.

Here are more standards to consider. Note: It is a partial list. Also, if a test instrument we offer does not specifically list a particular test method, that does not necessarily mean it cannot be used. Since there are so many test methods, the litereture may not enumerate them all. Please contact us with the specific method and we can research it for you.

ANSI / AAMI EC11	Diagnostic Electrocardiographic Devices	U.S.
ANSI / AAMI EC13	Cardiac Monitors, Heart Rate Meters, and Alarms	U.S.
ANSI / AAMI EC53	ECG Cables and Leadwires	U.S.
ANSI / IEEE C37.60	High-voltage Switchgear and Controlgear	U.S.
ANSI A92.2	Vehicle Mounted Elevating and Rotating Work Platforms	U.S.
BS EN 61557	Electrical safety in low voltage distribution systems up to 1000VAC and 1500VDC	British
BS 7671	Requirements for Electrical Installations, IEE Wiring Regulations	British
DIN VDE 0701-0702	0701 Repair, Modification, and Inspection of Electrical Equipment. 0702 Periodic Testing of Electrical Equipment	German
EN 55024	Information Technology Equipment	Europe
GR-1089	Electromagnetic Compatibility and Electrical Safety - Generic Criteria for Network Telecommunication Equipment	U.S.
IEC 384-14, Annex A, Table VXI	Capacitors	Europe
IEC 50144 BS EN 50144	Safety of Hand-held Electric Motor Operated Tools	Europe/ British
IEC 60065	Audio, Video, and Similar Electronic Apparatus - Safety Requirements	Europe
IEC 60204-1	Safety of Machinery	Europe
IEC 60335-1	Safety of Electrical Household Appliances	Europe
IEC 60601-1	Medical Electrical Equipment - Part 1: General Requirements for Basic Safety and Essential Performance	Europe
IEC 60601-2	Medical Electrical Equipment - Part 2: Particular Requirements for the Basic Safety and Essential Performance of Gamma Beam Therapy Equipment	Europe
IEC 60745	Safety of Hand-operated Motor-driven Electric Tools	Europe
IEC 60950-1	Safety of Information Technology Equipment	Europe
IEC 60990	Methods of Measurement of Touch Current and Protective Conductor Current	Europe
IEC 61010-1	Safety Requirements for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control, and Laboratory Use	Europe
IEC 61029	Safety of Transportable Motor-Operated Electric Tools	Europe
IEC 61730-2	Photovoltaic (PV) Module Safety Qualification - Part 2 Requirements for Testing	Europe
IEC 61813	Live Working - Care, Maintenance and In-service testing of Aerial Devices with Insulating Booms	Europe
IEC 62052-11	Electricity Metering Equipment (AC) - General Requirements, Tests, and Test Conditions	Europe
IEC 62353	Medical Electrical Equipment - Recurrent Test and Test After Repair of Medical Electrical Equipment	Europe
IEC 62446	Grid Connected Photovoltaic Systems - Minimum requirements for System Documentation, Commissioning Tests and Inspection	Europe
ITU-T K.20	Resistibility of Telecommunication Equipment Installed in a Telecommunications Centre to Overvoltages and Overcurrents	Europe
ITU-T K.21	Resistibility of Telecommunication Equipment Installed in Customer premises to Overvoltages and Overcurrents	Europe
JIS B8561	Vending Machines - Test Method	Japan
JIS C9250	Microwave Ovens	Japan
JIS T 0601-1	Electrical Safety Standard for Medical Devices	Japan
TE-001, Para. 17	Telephone Surge Test Equipment: For the Lightning Protection Tests	South Africa
TIA/EIA/IS-968	Telecommunications Telephone Terminal Equipment Technical Requirements for Connection of Terminal Equipment to the Telephone Network. (formerly known as FCC Part 68)	U.S.
uL 492	Power-operated Radio Receiving Appliances	U.S.
uL 746E	Polymeric Materials - Industrial Laminates, Filament Wound Tubing, Vulcanized Fibre, and Materials Used In Printed-Wiring Boards (Section 19 covers requirements for conformal coatings used instead of electrical spacings to increase the dielectric withstand voltage between traces on a printed-wiring board.)	U.S.
uL 2231-1	Standard for Safety for Personnel Protection Systems for Electric Vehicle (EV) Supply Circuits: General Requirements	U.S.
uL 2231-2	Standard for Safety for Personnel Protection Systems for Electric Vehicle (EV) Supply Circuits: particular Requirements for Protection Devices for Use in Charging Systems	U.S.