IEC 61243-1:2003+AMD1:2009 CSV

IEC 61243-1
®
Edition 2.1 2009-06
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Live working – Voltage detectors –
Part 1: Capacitive type to be used for voltages exceeding 1 kV a.c.

Travaux sous tension – Détecteurs de tension –
Partie 1: Type capacitif pour usage sur des tensions alternatives de plus de 1 kV
IEC 61243-1:2003+A1:2009

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IEC 61243-1
®
Edition 2.1 2009-06
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Live working – Voltage detectors –
Part 1: Capacitive type to be used for voltages exceeding 1 kV a.c.

Travaux sous tension – Détecteurs de tension –
Partie 1: Type capacitif pour usage sur des tensions alternatives de plus de 1 kV

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CR
CODE PRIX
ICS 29.240.99 ISBN 978-2-88910-451-2
® Registered trademark of the International Electrotechnical Commission
Marque déposée de la Commission Electrotechnique Internationale

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– 2 – 61243-1 © IEC:2003+A1:2009
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.4
INTRODUCTION.6
1 Scope.7
2 Normative references .7
3 Terms and definitions .8
4 Requirements .12
4.1 General requirements.12
4.1.1 Safety.12
4.1.2 Indication.12
4.2 Functional requirements .12
4.2.1 Clear indication .12
4.2.2 Clear perceptibility.13
4.2.3 Temperature and humidity dependence of the indication .14
4.2.4 Frequency dependence .14
4.2.5 Response time .14
4.2.6 Power source dependability.14
4.2.7 Testing element.14
4.2.8 Non-response to d.c. voltage .15
4.2.9 Time rating .15
4.3 Electrical requirements.15
4.3.1 Insulating material .15
4.3.2 Protection against bridging .15
4.3.3 Resistance against sparking .15
4.4 Mechanical requirements.15
4.4.1 Design.15
4.4.2 Dimensions, construction.16
4.4.3 Grip force and deflection .17
4.4.4 Vibration resistance.17
4.4.5 Drop resistance .17
4.4.6 Shock resistance .17
4.5 Markings .17
4.6 Instructions for use.18
5 Specific requirements .18
5.1 For insulating element of a voltage detector as a complete device.18
5.1.1 Dielectric strength .18
5.1.2 Leakage current .18
5.2 For indicator casing of voltage detector as a separate device.18
6 Tests .18
6.1 General .18
6.1.1 Tests under wet conditions .19
6.1.2 Type test .19

6.1.3 Test methods.20

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61243-1 © IEC:2003+A1:2009 – 3 –
6.2 Function tests.20
6.2.1 Clear indication .20
6.2.2 Clear perceptibility of visual indication.23
6.2.3 Clear perceptibility of audible indication.24
6.2.4 Frequency dependence .25
6.2.5 Response time .26
6.2.6 Power source dependability.26
6.2.7 Check of testing element .26
6.2.8 Non-response to d.c. voltage .27
6.2.9 Time rating .27
6.3 Dielectric tests .27
6.3.1 Protection against bridging for indoor/outdoor type voltage detector .27
6.3.2 Protection against bridging for outdoor type voltage detector.29
6.3.3 Spark resistance.30
6.4 Mechanical tests .31
6.4.1 Visual and dimensional inspection .31
6.4.2 Grip force and deflection (only applicable for voltage detector
as a complete device).31
6.4.3 Vibration resistance.32
6.4.4 Drop resistance .32
6.4.5 Shock resistance .32
6.4.6 Climatic dependence .33
6.4.7 Durability of markings .33
7 Specific tests.34
7.1 Leakage current for voltage detector as a complete device.34
7.1.1 Leakage current under dry conditions .34
7.1.2 Leakage current under wet conditions (for outdoor type only) .34
8 Conformity assessment of voltage detectors having completed
the production phase .35


Annex A (normative) Suitable for live working; double triangle .51
Annex B (normative) Instructions for use .52
Annex C (normative) Chronology of type tests .53
Annex D (normative) Classification of defects and tests to be allocated .55
Annex E (normative) Mechanical shock tests – Pendulum method .57
Annex F (Deleted).59
Annex G (informative) In-service care .60

Bibliography.62

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INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________

LIVE WORKING – VOLTAGE DETECTORS –

Part 1: Capacitive type to be used for voltages
exceeding 1 kV a.c.



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
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4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
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between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
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5) IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with an IEC Publication.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
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.
International Standard IEC 61243-1 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 78: Live
working.
This edition includes the following major technical changes from the previous edition:
a) the Scope has been extended to cover the use on electrical systems for voltages up to
765 kV a.c.;
b) the notion of family of voltage detectors which are identical in terms of design and
dimensions and only differ by their nominal voltages (or nominal voltage ranges) has been
included;
c) the classification in terms of the setting of the threshold voltage to give a clear indication
has been eliminated;
d) a new test set-up with bars has been introduced. Depending on the nominal voltage of the
voltage detector, it is required or becomes an alternative test set-up for checking the
influence of interference fields, the influence of interference voltages, the protection
against bridging and the spark resistance;

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61243-1 © IEC:2003+A1:2009 – 5 –
e) the revision of specific dielectric tests has been included;
f) some test procedures (clear perceptibility of audible indication, drop resistance, climatic
dependence) have been improved and completed.
This consolidated version of IEC 61243-1 consists of the second edition (2003) [documents
78/527/FDIS and 78/537/RVD], its amendment 1 (2009) [documents 78/751/CDV and
78/794/RVC] and its corrigendum of October 2005.
The technical content is therefore identical to the base edition and its amendment and has
been prepared for user convenience.
It bears the edition number 2.1.
A vertical line in the margin shows where the base publication has been modified by
amendment 1.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
IEC 61243 consists of the following parts, under the general title Live working – Voltage
detectors:
Part 1: Capacitive type to be used for voltages exceeding 1 kV a.c.
Part 2: Resistive type to be used for voltages of 1 kV to 36 kV a.c.
Part 3: Two-pole low-voltage type
Part 5: Voltage detecting systems (VDS)
The committee has decided that the contents of the base publication and its amendments will
remain unchanged until the maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under
"http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to the specific publication. At this date,
the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.

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INTRODUCTION
This International Standard has been prepared according to the requirements of IEC 61477,
where applicable.

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61243-1 © IEC:2003+A1:2009 – 7 –
LIVE WORKING – VOLTAGE DETECTORS –

Part 1: Capacitive type to be used for voltages
exceeding 1 kV a.c.



1 Scope
This part of IEC 61243 is applicable to portable voltage detectors, with or without built-in
power sources, to be used on electrical systems for voltages of 1 kV to 765 kV a.c., and
frequencies of 50 Hz and/or 60 Hz.
This part applies only to voltage detectors of capacitive type used in contact with the part to
be tested, as a complete device including its insulating element or as a separate device,
adaptable to an insulating stick which, as a separate tool, is not covered by this standard
(see 4.4.1 for general design).
Other types of voltage detectors are not covered by this part of the standard.
Some restrictions on their use are applicable in the case of factory-assembled switchgear and
on overhead systems of electrified railways (see Annex B, instructions for use).
NOTE Except where otherwise specified, all the voltages defined in this standard refer to values of phase-to-
phase voltages of three-phase systems. In other systems, the applicable phase-to-phase or phase-to-earth
(ground) voltages should be used to determine the operating voltage.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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 60060-1:1989, High-voltage test techniques – Part 1: General definitions and test
requirements
IEC 60068-1, Environmental testing -Part 1: General and guidance
IEC 60068-2-6:1995, Environmental testing – Tests – Test Fc and guidance: Vibration
(sinusoidal)
IEC 60068-2-14:1984, Environmental testing – Tests – Test N: Change of temperature
Amendment 1 (1986)
IEC 60068-2-32:1975, Environmental testing – Tests – Test Ed: Free fall

Amendment 2 (1990)
IEC 60071-1:2006, Insulation co-ordination – Part 1: Definitions, principles and rules
1
IEC 60417-DB:2002 , Graphical symbols for use on equipment
IEC 60942, Electroacoustics – Sound calibrators
IEC 61260:1995, Electroacoustics – Octave-band and fractional-octave-band filters
___________
1
“DB” refers to the IEC on-line database.

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IEC 61318:2007, Live working – Conformity assessment applicable to tools, devices and
equipment
IEC 61477:2001, Live working – Minimum requirements for the utilization of tools, devices and
equipment
2
Amendment 1 (2002)
IEC 61672-1:2002, Electroacoustics – Sound level meters – Part 1: Specifications
ISO 286-1:1988, ISO system of limits and fits – Part 1: Bases of tolerances, deviations and
fits
ISO 286-2:1988, ISO system of limits and fits – Part 2: Tables of standard tolerance grades
and limit deviations for holes and shafts
ISO 3744:1994, Acoustics – Determination of sound power levels of noise sources using
sound pressure – Engineering method in an essentially free field over a reflecting plane
CIE (International Commission on Illumination) 15.2:1986, Colorimetry
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 61318:2007 and the
following apply.
3.1
voltage detector
device used to provide clear evidence of the presence or the absence of the operating voltage
NOTE For example, voltage detectors can be described as capacitive type or resistive type.
[Definition 11.2.5 of IEC 60743, modified, and IEV 651-10-04, modified]
3.2
voltage detector of capacitive type
device whose operation is based on the current passing through the stray capacitance to
earth (ground)
NOTE The term voltage detector is used in this document for voltage detector of capacitive type.
3.3
designs of voltage detectors
different constructions of voltage detectors, either as a complete device with or without
contact electrode extension, or as a separate device intended to be equipped with an
insulating stick, with or without contact electrode extension
NOTE Some parts such as the contact electrode, the contact electrode extension (if existing), or the insulating
element of a voltage detector as a complete device may be dismantled.
3.4
family of voltage detectors
for testing purposes, a group of voltage detectors, delimited by a minimum and a maximum
rated voltage, that are identical in design (including dimensions) and only differ by their
nominal voltages or nominal voltage ranges
___________
2
There exists a consolidated edition 1.1 (2002) that includes edition 1 and its amendment.

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61243-1 © IEC:2003+A1:2009 – 9 –
3.5
contact electrode
bare conductive part of the conductive element which establishes the electric connection to
the component to be tested
[IEV 651-10-09]
3.6
contact electrode extension
externally insulated conductive element between the indicator and the contact electrode,
intended to achieve the correct position of the indicator relative to the installation being tested
3.7
indicator
part of the voltage detector which indicates the presence or absence of the operating voltage
at the contact electrode
[IEV 651-10-08, modified]
3.8
adaptor
part of a voltage detector as a separate device which permits attachment of an insulating stick
3.9
insulating element
part of a voltage detector as a complete device that provides adequate safety distance and
insulation to the user
3.10
insulating stick
insulating tool essentially made of an insulating tube and/or rod with end fittings
[Definition 2.5.1 of IEC 60743 and IEV 651-02-01]
NOTE For voltage detection, an insulating stick is intended to be attached to a voltage detector as a separate
device in order to provide the length to reach the installation to be tested and adequate safety distance and
insulation to the user.
3.11
limit mark
distinctive location or mark to indicate to the user the physical limit to which the voltage
detector may be inserted between live parts or may touch them
3.12
hand guard
distinctive physical guard separating the handle from the insulating element
NOTE Its purpose is to prevent the hands from slipping and passing into contact with the insulating element.
3.13
testing element
built-in or external device, by means of which the functioning of the voltage detector can be
checked by the user
[IEV 651-10-11, modified]
3.14
accessories
items used to lengthen the handle or the contact electrode, to improve the efficiency of the
contact electrode or to enable the contact electrode to reach the part to be tested

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3.15
nominal voltage
U
n
suitable approximate value of voltage used to identify a system or device
[IEV 601-01-21, modified]
NOTE The nominal voltage of the voltage detector is the parameter associated with its clear indication. A voltage
detector may have more than one nominal voltage, or a nominal voltage range. Limit values of the nominal voltage
range are named U min and U max.
n n
3.16
operating voltage (in a system)
value of the voltage under normal conditions, at a given instant and a given point of the
system
NOTE This value may be expected, estimated or measured.
[IEV 601-01-22]
3.17
threshold voltage
U
t
minimum voltage between the live part and earth (ground) required to give a clear indication
corresponding to specific conditions as defined in the corresponding test
NOTE As defined in this part of IEC 61243, threshold voltage is related to specific test conditions. Users should be
aware that their requirements for threshold voltage for field operation need to be related to the test conditions in
the standard.
3.18
rated voltage
U
r
value of voltage generally agreed upon by manufacturer and customer, to which certain
operating specifications are referred. The rated voltage of the voltage detector is the voltage
selected from IEC 60071-1, Tables 2 and 3, column 1, which should either be equal to the
nominal voltage (or the highest nominal voltage of its nominal voltage range), or the next
higher voltage selected from those tables
3.19
interference voltage
voltage picked up inductively or capacitively by the part to be tested
3.20
interference field
superposed electric field which may affect the indication. It may result from the part to be
tested or other adjacent parts, and may have any phase relationship
NOTE The extreme cases for the tests are:
– an in-phase interference field exists when a small change of potential in the direction of the voltage detector
axis results in an incorrect indication. This occurs as a result of the dimensions and/or configuration of the part
of installation to be tested (or of adjacent parts of the installation having voltages in the same phase);
– an interference field in phase opposition exists when a strong change of potential
...