IEC 63522-38:2025
(Main)Electrical relays - Testing and measurement - Part 38: Mechanical interlock
Electrical relays - Testing and measurement - Part 38: Mechanical interlock
IEC 63522-38:2025 This part of IEC 63522 is used for testing all kinds of electrical relays and for evaluating their ability to perform under expected conditions of transportation, storage and all aspects of operational use.
This document defines a standard test method for mechanical interlock.
Relais électriques - Essais et mesurages - Partie 38: Verrouillage mécanique
IEC 63522-38:2025 La présente partie de l'IEC 63522 traite des essais de tous les types de relais électriques et elle évalue leur aptitude à fonctionner dans les conditions prévues de transport, de stockage et dans tous les aspects de leur utilisation opérationnelle. Le présent document définit une méthode d'essai normalisée pour le verrouillage mécanique.
General Information
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 22-Apr-2025
- Technical Committee
- TC 94 - Electrical relays
- Drafting Committee
- WG 3 - TC 94/WG 3
- Current Stage
- PPUB - Publication issued
- Start Date
- 23-Apr-2025
- Completion Date
- 09-May-2025
Overview
IEC 63522-38:2025 is an international standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) focusing on the testing and measurement of mechanical interlock in electrical relays. This part of the IEC 63522 series provides a standardized test method to evaluate the mechanical interlocking mechanisms of various types of electrical relays, ensuring their reliable performance during transportation, storage, and operational use.
The standard applies specifically to elementary relays equipped with mechanical interlocks, such as electromechanical relays, reed relays, reed switches, solid-state relays, and time relays. Notably, this document excludes electrical interlocking from its scope, concentrating solely on mechanical interlock functionality.
Key Topics
Mechanical Interlock Definition: A mechanism that physically prevents certain relay contacts from operating simultaneously unless specific conditions are met.
Test Purpose: To verify that when one relay contact is held closed, the mechanically interlocked opposing contact will not close upon energization of its coil. This is critical for dual coil circuit relays which have two coil systems.
Test Procedure:
- Maintain one contact circuit in a closed state by applying maximum operating voltage or by mechanical means, such as locking the armature.
- Apply the maximum operating voltage to the coil of the opposing contact for 200 operating cycles.
- Each operating cycle consists of 0.5 seconds "ON" and 2.5 seconds "OFF."
- During the cycles, the opposing contact must remain open, confirming effective mechanical interlocking.
Evaluation Criteria: The opposing contact must not close during testing cycles. Any closure indicates failure of the mechanical interlock function.
Documentation: Reports must include detailed descriptions of methods used to keep the contact closed, identification of the specific contacts tested, and clear pass/fail results.
Applications
This standard is essential for manufacturers, testers, and quality assurance professionals involved in the electrical relay industry. It ensures that relays used in critical electrical systems behave safely and reliably by:
- Preventing simultaneous activation of mechanically interlocked contacts, which can cause system malfunctions or hazards.
- Confirming relay durability and performance under real-world conditions such as transportation and storage.
- Supporting compliance with safety and operational standards for electrical equipment in industrial, commercial, and utility sectors.
- Assisting in the design and verification of relays intended for complex switching operations requiring reliable mechanical interlocking.
By adhering to IEC 63522-38:2025, manufacturers enhance product quality and reliability, while end-users gain trust in relay operation, reducing risks in electrical control systems.
Related Standards
IEC 63522-0: General and Guidance – Provides overarching testing and measurement principles for electrical relays, applicable alongside Part 38.
IEC 63255-0: Terms and Definitions – Defines terminology used in relay testing, supporting consistent interpretation of mechanical interlock concepts.
Other parts in the IEC 63522 series detail additional relay testing protocols for electrical, timing, and environmental characteristics.
Keywords: IEC 63522-38, electrical relays, mechanical interlock, relay testing, dual coil circuit, relay measurement, electrical relay standards, relay performance evaluation, mechanical interlocking mechanism, IEC electrical standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
IEC 63522-38:2025 is a standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Its full title is "Electrical relays - Testing and measurement - Part 38: Mechanical interlock". This standard covers: IEC 63522-38:2025 This part of IEC 63522 is used for testing all kinds of electrical relays and for evaluating their ability to perform under expected conditions of transportation, storage and all aspects of operational use. This document defines a standard test method for mechanical interlock.
IEC 63522-38:2025 This part of IEC 63522 is used for testing all kinds of electrical relays and for evaluating their ability to perform under expected conditions of transportation, storage and all aspects of operational use. This document defines a standard test method for mechanical interlock.
IEC 63522-38:2025 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 63522-38:2025 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 63522-38 ®
Edition 1.0 2025-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Electrical relays – Testing and measurement –
Part 38: Mechanical interlock
Relais électriques – Essais et mesurages –
Partie 38: Verrouillage mécanique
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IEC 63522-38 ®
Edition 1.0 2025-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Electrical relays – Testing and measurement –
Part 38: Mechanical interlock
Relais électriques – Essais et mesurages –
Partie 38: Verrouillage mécanique
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 29.120.70 ISBN 978-2-8327-0363-2
– 2 – IEC 63522-38:2025 © IEC 2025
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Test procedure . 6
4.1 Purpose . 6
4.2 Procedure . 6
4.3 Conditions to be specified . 6
5 Evaluation . 6
5.1 General . 6
5.2 Test report . 6
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
ELECTRICAL RELAYS –
TESTS AND MEASUREMENTS –
Part 38: Mechanical interlock
FOREWORD
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IEC 63522-38 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
94/1132/FDIS 94/1146/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 63522-38:2025 © 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 38: Mechanical interlock
1 Scope
This part of IEC 63522 is used for testing all kinds of electrical relays and for evaluating their
ability to perform under expected conditions of transportation, storage and all aspects of
operational use.
NOTE 1 Examples for electrical relays in the sense of this document include electromechanical relays, reed relays,
reed contacts, reed switches, solid state relays, time relays and technology combinations of these.
This document defines a standard test method for mechanical interlock.
This test is applicable to the elementary relays which have the mechanical interlocking
mechanism.
NOTE 2 The electrical interlocking is not applicable to this test.
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: General and guidance
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 63255-0 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
opposing contact
other normally open contact of specific normally closed contact and vice versa
3.2
mechanical interlock
interlock which mechanically prevents the operation of the device under test (DUT) if certain
conditions are not met
___________
Under preparation. Stage at the time of publication: IEC CDV 6
...




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