IEC 61557-17:2021

IEC 61557-17 ®
Edition 1.0 2021-11
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Electrical safety in low voltage distribution systems up to 1 000 V AC and
1 500 V DC – Equipment for testing, measuring or monitoring of protective
measures –
Part 17: Non-contact AC voltage indicators
Sécurité électrique dans les réseaux de distribution basse tension au plus égale
à 1 000 V C.A. et 1 500 V C.C. – Dispositifs de contrôle, de mesure ou de
surveillance de mesures de protection –
Partie 17: Indicateurs de tension alternative sans contact
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IEC 61557-17 ®
Edition 1.0 2021-11
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Electrical safety in low voltage distribution systems up to 1 000 V AC and
1 500 V DC – Equipment for testing, measuring or monitoring of protective
measures –
Part 17: Non-contact AC voltage indicators
Sécurité électrique dans les réseaux de distribution basse tension au plus égale
à 1 000 V C.A. et 1 500 V C.C. – Dispositifs de contrôle, de mesure ou de
surveillance de mesures de protection –
Partie 17: Indicateurs de tension alternative sans contact
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 17.220.20; 29.080.01; 29.240.01 ISBN 978-2-8322-1017-7
– 2 – IEC 61557-17:2021 © IEC 2021
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Requirements . 7
4.1 General . 7
4.2 Influencing quantities – Operating uncertainty (B), percentage operating
uncertainty (B [%]) . 7
4.3 Rated operating conditions . 7
4.4 Battery test facility . 7
4.5 Safety . 7
4.6 Electromagnetic compatibility . 8
4.6.1 Immunity . 8
4.6.2 Emission . 8
4.7 Indication . 8
5 Marking and operating instructions . 8
6 Tests . 9
6.1 General . 9
6.2 Test of mechanical strength . 9
6.3 Test of indication (type test) . 9
6.4 Test of visibility of optical indication (type test) . 11
6.5 Safety tests . 11
6.6 EMC tests . 12
6.7 Marking and operating instructions . 12
Bibliography . 13

Figure 1 – Non-contact AC voltage indicator . 8
Figure 2 – Test configuration to determine the trigger point of indication (front view) . 10
Figure 3 – Test configuration to determine the trigger point of indication (side view) . 11

IEC FDIS 61557-17 © IEC 2021 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
ELECTRICAL SAFETY IN LOW VOLTAGE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
UP TO 1 000 V AC AND 1 500 V DC – EQUIPMENT FOR TESTING,
MEASURING OR MONITORING OF PROTECTIVE MEASURES –

Part 17: Non-contact AC voltage indicators

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote international
co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To this end and
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indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of patent
rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
IEC 61557-17 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 85: Measuring equipment for
electrical and electromagnetic quantities. It is an International Standard.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
85/790/FDIS 85/803/RVD
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.

– 4 – IEC 61557-17:2021 © IEC 2021
A list of all parts of the IEC 61557 series, published under the general title Electrical safety in
low voltage distribution systems up to 1 000 V AC and 1 500 V DC – Equipment for testing,
measuring or monitoring of protective measures, can be found on the IEC website.
This International Standard is to be used in conjunction with IEC 61557-1:2019.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/standardsdev/publications.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
IEC FDIS 61557-17 © IEC 2021 – 5 –
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this document is to specify the minimum construction and performance
requirements of the non-contact AC voltage indicator in normal use and in case of reasonably
foreseeable misuse to reduce the risk of hazard during and after the voltage test.
The most reasonably foreseeable misuse of the non-contact AC voltage indicator is that the
operator uses it to check the absence of hazardous voltages followed by an unsafe
interpretation of the negative indication with respect to the current situation.
The assessment of the absence of hazardous live voltage is performed by using a 2-pole
low-voltage detector in compliance with IEC 61243-3.

– 6 – IEC 61557-17:2021 © IEC 2021
ELECTRICAL SAFETY IN LOW VOLTAGE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
UP TO 1 000 V AC AND 1 500 V DC – EQUIPMENT FOR TESTING,
MEASURING OR MONITORING OF PROTECTIVE MEASURES –

Part 17: Non-contact AC voltage indicators

1 Scope
This part of IEC 61557 defines minimum performance requirements for non-contact AC voltage
indicators to reduce the risk of electric shock for the testing person and bystanders caused by
the wrong interpretation of the indication.
Products designed and manufactured in accordance with this document are for use by
(electrically) skilled persons only. Non-contact AC voltage indicators are not designed for
testing the absence of the operating voltage.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies.
For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 61010-031:2015, 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
IEC 61010-031:2015/AMD1:2018
IEC 61326-1:2020, Electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use – EMC
requirements – Part 1: General requirements
IEC 61557-1:2019, Electrical safety in low voltage distribution systems up to 1 000 V a.c. and
1 500 V d.c. – Equipment for testing, measuring or monitoring of protective measures – Part 1:
General requirements
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 61557-1 and the
following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
____________
A consolidated version of this document exists, comprising IEC 61010-31:2015 and
IEC 61010-31:2015/AMD1:2018.
IEC FDIS 61557-17 © IEC 2021 – 7 –
3.1
non-contact AC voltage indicator
hand-held and battery-powered probe without direct contact with the live part, indicating the
potential between the live part and the human body, which is usually close to the earth potential
3.2
protective fingerguard
part of the enclosure that indicates the limit of safe access and reduces the risk of the operator
touching hazardous live parts
[SOURCE: IEC 61010-031:2015, 3.1.3]
3.3
sensitivity range
range of voltage where the non-contact AC voltage indicator is triggering
4 Requirements
4.1 General
The requirements of IEC 61557-1:2019, Clause 4 and the following requirements apply.
4.2 Influencing quantities – Operating uncertainty (B), percentage operating
uncertainty (B [%])
IEC 61557-1:2019, 4.2 does not apply.
4.3 Rated operating conditions
The following rated operating conditions shall apply:
a) ambient temperature range from: −10 °C to +45 °C;
b) maximum relative humidity 95 % at temperatures up to 31 °C, decreasing linearly to 50 %
relative humidity at 45 °C;
c) distance through air between live conductor and probe tip: ≤ 2 mm;
d) position within a solid angle of 30° around the vertical axis between probe tip and conductor;
e) capacitance greater than or equal to 100 pF between the hand-held part and reference
earth, see Figure 2.
4.4 Battery test facility
In addition to IEC 61557-1:2019, 4.4, the following applies.
Non-contact AC voltage indicators shall have a self-test capability. As a minimum, the self-test
function shall confirm correct operation of the batteries and of the voltage indication.
4.5 Safety
The requirements in accordance with IEC 61557-1:2019, 4.5, do not apply. The following
requirements shall apply instead.
All electrical safety aspects are covered by IEC 61010-031.
The hand-held parts of the non-contact AC voltage indicator and the probe tip shall be separated
by a protective fingerguard, see Figure 1.

– 8 – IEC 61557-17:2021 © IEC 2021
The clearance and creepage distance between the outmost tip of the probe and the hand-held
part of the fingerguard shall fulfil the requirements for double or reinforced insulation in
accordance with IEC 61010-031.
The probe tip shall be insulated by double or reinforced insulation from the handheld parts. The
insulation shall fulfil the relevant requirements of IEC 61010-031.
Non-contact AC voltage indicators shall be designed for measurement category III at a minimum
and for a minimum rated voltage to earth of 300 V.
The design of the protective fingerguard shall fulfil the requirements of IEC 61010-031.

Key
1 probe-tip
2 protective fingerguard
3 hand-held part
Figure 1 – Non-contact AC voltage indicator
4.6 Electromagnetic compatibility
4.6.1 Immunity
For immunity requirements, IEC 61326-1:2020, Table 2 shall apply.
4.6.2 Emission
For emissions, either class A or class B limits in accordance with IEC 61326-1:2020, 7.2 shall
apply.
4.7 Indication
The presence of voltage on a conductor within the specified sensitivity range of the non-contact
AC voltage indicator shall be indicated visually. Additional means of indication, for example
acoustic means or vibration, are permitted.
5 Marking and operating instructions
The requirements of IEC 61557-1:2019, Clause 5 do not apply. The following requirements shall
apply instead.
The non-contact AC voltage indicator shall be marked in accordance with IEC 61010-031:2015,
Table 1, with symbol 5 and symbol 7, and at least with the rated voltage to earth and
measurement category, the rated frequency and the specified range of sensitivity.
The operating instructions shall be in accordance with the requirements of IEC 61010-031 and,
the following information shall be provided in the operating instructions:

IEC FDIS 61557-17 © IEC 2021 – 9 –
a) a clear warning that a non-contact AC voltage indicator shall not be used to test the absence
of voltages;
b) a clear warning that non-contact AC voltage indicators shall be used by skilled persons only;
c) information about influencing factors on the sensitivity of indication (for example wearing
protective gloves and/or shoes, presence of other energized conductors in the close
neighbourhood);
d) a statement that disassembling and repair of non-contact AC voltage indicators shall be
done by skilled persons only;
e) information about the type of energy source to be used;
f) the obligation to carry out a sensitivity test at the next applicable socket-outlet with live
voltages before starting the work.
6 Tests
6.1 General
The requirements of IEC 61557-1:2019, Clause 6 do not apply. The following requirements shall
apply instead.
6.2 Test of mechanical strength
Compliance with IEC 61557-1:2019, 4.7 shall be tested (type test).
A vibration test shall be carried out in accordance with IEC 61557-1. A drop test shall be carried
out in accordance with IEC 61010-031. After these tests, the non-contact AC voltage indicator
shall show no damages or cracks which could cause a hazard and shall show no loss of function
and sensitivity.
Compliance shall be tested as follows:
a) visual inspection (type test and routine test);
b) verification of clearances and creepages;
c) test of dielectric strength of solid insulation between probe tip and hand-held parts;
d) test of indication in accordance with 6.3 (type test and routine test);
e) functional test of battery test facility and self-test (type test and routine test).
6.3 Test of indication (type test)
The sensitivity of the non-contact AC voltage indicator shall be tested at the lower level of the
specified sensitivity range under the worst combination of operating conditions.
The test shall be carried out on an uninsulated cylindrical conductor with a cross section of
nominally 1,5 mm and a length of nominally 100 mm after the tests for mechanical strength.
During the test, the reference AC voltage of the live conductor shall be held at the specified
frequency and shall be adjusted from 85 % to 100 % of the specified lower level of the voltage
range to check the trigger point of the indication. The uncertainty of the voltage source should
be considered.
An earthed source and test configuration in accordance with Figure 2 and Figure 3 shall be
used for the test of indication.

– 10 – IEC 61557-17:2021 © IEC 2021

Key
1 the distance is greater than 100 mm
2 the capacitance is 100 pF ±10 pF
3 metallic foil
4 device under test
5 the distance is approximately 50 mm
6 insulation plate of approximately 100 x 100 x 20 mm
7 the distance is 2 mm up to 2,4 mm
8 conductor at test voltage
9 metallic plate
Figure 2 – Test configuration to determine the trigger point of indication
(front view)
IEC FDIS 61557-17 © IEC 2021 – 11 –

Key
1 the distance is greater than 100 mm
2 the capacitance is 100 pF ±10 pF
3 metallic foil
4 device under test
5 the distance is approximately 50 mm
...