IEC 63522-22:2025
(Main)Electrical relays - Tests and measurements - Part 22: Limiting continuous current
Electrical relays - Tests and measurements - Part 22: Limiting continuous current
IEC 63522-22:2025 This part of IEC 63522 is used for testing along with the appropriate severities and conditions for measurements and tests designed to assess the ability of DUTs to perform under expected conditions of transportation, storage and all aspects of operational use.
This document defines a standard test method for evaluation of the limiting continuous current under specified conditions.
Relais électriques - Essais et mesurages - Partie 22: Courant limite de service continu
IEC 63522-22:2025 La présente partie de l'IEC 63522 traite des essais ainsi que des sévérités et conditions appropriées pour les mesurages et essais destinés à évaluer l'aptitude de DUT à fonctionner dans des conditions prévues de transport, de stockage, et de tous les aspects d'utilisation opérationnelle.
Le présent document définit une méthode d'essai normalisée pour l'évaluation du courant limite de service continu dans des conditions spécifiées.
General Information
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 21-Apr-2025
- Technical Committee
- TC 94 - Electrical relays
- Drafting Committee
- WG 3 - TC 94/WG 3
- Current Stage
- PPUB - Publication issued
- Start Date
- 22-Apr-2025
- Completion Date
- 28-Feb-2025
Overview
IEC 63522-22:2025 is an international standard issued by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that specifies test methods for assessing the limiting continuous current of electrical relays. This document focuses on determining the maximum current a relay contact can continuously carry under defined conditions, ensuring reliable relay operation during transportation, storage, and all operational phases. By providing uniform testing procedures, IEC 63522-22 helps manufacturers and users evaluate relay performance and durability against continuous electrical stress.
Key Topics
Purpose and Scope
- Defines a standardized test method to evaluate the limiting continuous current of relay contacts, both normally open and normally closed.
- Considers environmental and operational conditions including ambient temperature and coil energization status.
Test Procedure
- Connect relay terminals according to IEC 63522-10 guidelines.
- Energize relay coils at rated voltages to simulate operating or release conditions.
- Apply specified current loads until the relay reaches thermal equilibrium.
- Cool to ambient temperature, then perform 10 operational cycles while monitoring contact operation.
- Test conditions cover energization values, current load values for different contact types, and mounting situations.
Evaluation and Reporting
- The relay must show no malfunction during the final 10 cycles of functional testing.
- Electrical parameters such as contact-circuit resistance, dielectric strength, timing, and functionality are verified based on referenced IEC standards (63522-4, -6, -7, -8).
- Detailed test reports document the device under test (DUT), testing methods, conditions, deviations, and all relevant parameters to enable reproducibility.
Terminology
- "Limiting continuous current" is the maximum electric current a closed relay contact can carry continuously without degradation under specified conditions.
Applications
- Relay Manufacturers utilize IEC 63522-22:2025 to validate product design and ensure compliance with international quality standards, enhancing market acceptance and safety assurance.
- Quality Control and Testing Labs apply this standard to conduct rigorous, repeatable endurance and performance tests, thereby verifying relay reliability before deployment.
- System Designers and Electrical Engineers benefit from the test results to select relays capable of withstanding expected continuous load currents in critical systems spanning industrial automation, power distribution, and transportation sectors.
- Certification Bodies refer to this standard during conformity assessments to assure that relays meet performance requirements under continuous load operations.
Related Standards
IEC 63522-22 complements a broader suite of relay testing standards within the IEC 63522 series, including:
- IEC 63522-0: General testing and guidance for electrical relays.
- IEC 63522-4: Dielectric strength testing to evaluate insulation integrity.
- IEC 63522-6: Contact-circuit resistance and voltage drop testing.
- IEC 63522-7: Functional testing for relay operation verification.
- IEC 63522-8: Timing tests for relay response characteristics.
- IEC 63522-10: Heating tests to assess thermal effects during operation.
These standards collectively enable comprehensive testing and measurement protocols for electrical relays, ensuring optimal functionality, safety, and longevity under various operational conditions.
Keywords: IEC 63522-22, limiting continuous current, electrical relays, relay testing, relay measurement standards, relay durability, contact current rating, relay operation testing, IEC electrical standards, relay certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
IEC 63522-22:2025 is a standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Its full title is "Electrical relays - Tests and measurements - Part 22: Limiting continuous current". This standard covers: IEC 63522-22:2025 This part of IEC 63522 is used for testing along with the appropriate severities and conditions for measurements and tests designed to assess the ability of DUTs to perform under expected conditions of transportation, storage and all aspects of operational use. This document defines a standard test method for evaluation of the limiting continuous current under specified conditions.
IEC 63522-22:2025 This part of IEC 63522 is used for testing along with the appropriate severities and conditions for measurements and tests designed to assess the ability of DUTs to perform under expected conditions of transportation, storage and all aspects of operational use. This document defines a standard test method for evaluation of the limiting continuous current under specified conditions.
IEC 63522-22:2025 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 29.120.70 - Relays. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
IEC 63522-22:2025 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
IEC 63522-22 ®
Edition 1.0 2025-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Electrical relays – Tests and measurements –
Part 22: Limiting continuous current
Relais électriques – Essais et mesurages –
Partie 22: Courant limite de service continu
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IEC 63522-22 ®
Edition 1.0 2025-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Electrical relays – Tests and measurements –
Part 22: Limiting continuous current
Relais électriques – Essais et mesurages –
Partie 22: Courant limite de service continu
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 29.120.70 ISBN 978-2-8327-0354-0
– 2 – IEC 63522-22:2025 © IEC 2025
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Test procedure . 6
4.1 Purpose . 6
4.2 Procedure . 6
4.3 Conditions . 6
5 Evaluation . 7
5.1 General . 7
5.2 Test report . 7
Bibliography . 8
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
ELECTRICAL RELAYS –
TESTS AND MEASUREMENTS –
Part 22: Limiting continuous current
FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
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IEC 63522-22 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 94: Electrical relays. It is an
International Standard.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
94/1061/FDIS 94/1112/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 63522-22:2025 © IEC 2025
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/publications.
A list of all parts of IEC 63522 series, published under the general title Electrical relays – Tests
and measurements, can be found on the IEC website.
This International Standard is to be used in conjunction with IEC 63522-0:– .
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, or
• revised.
___________
Under preparation. Stage at the time of publication: IEC CDV 63522-0:2024.
ELECTRICAL RELAYS –
TESTS AND MEASUREMENTS –
Part 22: Limiting continuous current
1 Scope
This part of IEC 63522 is used for testing along with the appropriate severities and conditions
for measurements and tests designed to assess the ability of DUTs to perform under expected
conditions of transportation, storage and all aspects of operational use.
This document defines a standard test method for evaluation of the limiting continuous current
under specified conditions.
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 63522-0:– , Electrical relays – Tests and measurements – Part 0: Testing – General and
guidance
IEC 63522-4:– , Electrical relays – Tests and measurements – Part 4: Dielectric strength test
IEC 63522-6:– , Electrical relays – Tests and measurements – Part 6: Contact-circuit resistance
(or voltage drop)
IEC 63522-7:– , Electrical relays – Tests and measurements – Part 7: Functional tests
IEC 63522-8:– , Electrical relays – Tests and measurements – Part 8: Timing
IEC 63522-10:– , Electrical relays – Tests and measurements – Part 10: Heating
___________
Under preparation. Stage at the time of publication: IEC CDV 63522-0:2024.
Under preparation. Stage at the time of publication: IEC FDIS 63522-4:2024.
Under preparation. Stage at the time of publication: IEC FDIS 63522-6:2024.
Under preparation. Stage at the time of publication: IEC FDIS 63522-7:2024.
Under preparation. Stage at the time of publication: IEC FDIS 63522-8:2024.
Under preparation. Stage at the time of publication: IEC FDIS 63522-10:2024.
– 6 – IEC 63522-22:2025 © IEC 2025
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 63522-0 and the
following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
limiting continuous current
greatest value of electric current which a closed contact is capable of carrying continuously
under specified conditions
[IEC 60050-444:2002, 444-04-28, modified – Deletion of "of an output circuit" in the term,
deletion of "or effectively conducting output" in the definition and Note has been removed.]
4 Test procedure
4.1 Purpose
The purpose of the test is to assess the suitability of the contacts to carry the limiting continuous
current.
4.2 Procedure
The relay terminals shall be connected as given in IEC 63522-10:–, Annex A.
The coil(s) shall be energized with the rated coil voltage unless otherwise specified (testing in
operate condition), and not energized (testing in release/reset condition) for bistable relays or
break contacts only.
The test shall be performed at ambient temperature, if not otherwise specified.
NOTE 1 Temperature cycling can also apply, if specified by the manufacturer.
The contacts shall be loaded with a current as specified by the manufacturer for the contact
set, until thermal equilibrium is reached. Then the relay shall be cooled down until the ambient
temperature is reached.
...




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