IEC 60320-2-4:2005/AMD1:2009

IEC 60320-2-4 ®
Edition 1.0 2009-10
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
AMENDMENT 1
AMENDEMENT 1
Appliance couplers for household and similar general purposes –
Part 2-4: Couplers dependent on appliance weight for engagement

Connecteurs pour usages domestiques et usages généraux analogues –
Partie 2-4: Connecteurs à connexion par gravité

IEC 60320-2-4:2005/A1:2009
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IEC 60320-2-4 ®
Edition 1.0 2009-10
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
AMENDMENT 1
AMENDEMENT 1
Appliance couplers for household and similar general purposes –
Part 2-4: Couplers dependent on appliance weight for engagement

Connecteurs pour usages domestiques et usages généraux analogues –
Partie 2-4: Connecteurs à connexion par gravité

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
L
CODE PRIX
ICS 29.120.20 ISBN 978-2-88910-122-1
– 2 – 60320-2-4 Amend.1 © IEC:2009

FOREWORD
This amendment has been prepared by subcommittee 23G: Appliance couplers, of IEC

technical committee 23: Electrical accessories.

The text of this amendment is based on the following documents:

CDV Report on voting
23G/290/CDV 23G/291/RVC
Full information on the voting for the approval of this amendment can be found in the report
on voting indicated in the above table.
The committee has decided that the contents of this amendment and the base publication 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• withdrawn,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.
_____________
1 Scope
Replace the existing NOTE 2 as follows:
NOTE 2 Appliance couplers dependent on appliance weight for engagement may be subject to spillage of liquid in
normal use. They are classified according to whether protection against liquid spillage is provided, when installed
in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
2 Normative references
Add the following new references to the list:
IEC/TR 60083, Plugs and socket-outlets for domestic and similar general use standardized

in member countries of IEC
IEC 60112, Method for the determination of the proof and the comparative tracking indices
of solid insulating materials
IEC 60730 (all parts), Automatic electrical controls for household and similar use
IEC 61058-1, Switches for appliances – Part 1: General requirements
Modify the following references:
IEC 60320-1, Appliance couplers for household and similar general purposes – Part 1:
General requirements
60320-2-4 Amend.1 © IEC:2009 – 3 –

IEC 60335-1, Household and similar electrical appliances – Safety – Part 1: General

requirements
IEC 60664-1, Insulation coordination for equipment within low voltage systems − Part 1:

Principles, requirements and tests

5 General notes on tests
5.2
Replace the third paragraph as follows:
For those clauses requiring the tests to be carried out on weight-engaged connectors and
weight-engaged appliance inlets installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions,
representative appliances or appliance parts shall be supplied.
5.5
Replace the second dashed item in the second paragraph by the following:
− set 2 of three specimens is subjected to the tests of Clauses 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21 and
25.101 (including the repetition of Clause 16).
Replace the third paragraph as follows:
For weight-engaged connectors which are declared as providing protection against liquid
spillage, three additional specimens are required, which are subjected to the test of 14.2.
7 Classification
7.1.1
Replace the existing text with the following new text:
According to whether or not protection against liquid spillage is provided when the connector
is installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
7.1.5
Add the following text to the note:

A cycle is two strokes as defined in Clause 19; that is one connection followed by one disconnection.
Add the following new Subclauses 7.1.6 to 7.1.6.7:
7.1.6 The following information is recorded to cover required tests.
7.1.6.1 According to the specified minimum cross-sectional area of cord.
7.1.6.2 According to the maximum allowable terminal temperature rise.
7.1.6.3 According to the maximum allowable termination temperature rise.
7.1.6.4 According to the maximum allowable contact temperature rise.
7.1.6.5 According to the minimum appliance weight required for correct engagement.

– 4 – 60320-2-4 Amend.1 © IEC:2009

7.1.6.6 According to the minimum base weight required for correct disengagement.

7.1.6.7 According to maximum pin temperature at the base of the pins of the corresponding

appliance inlet:
– appliance couplers for cold conditions (pin temperature not exceeding 70 °C);

– appliance couplers for hot conditions (pin temperature not exceeding 120 °C);

– appliance couplers for very hot conditions (pin temperature not exceeding

155 °C).
NOTE Temperature rise limits apply to both the inlet and connector, and can be specified separately if required.

8 Marking
8.101
Replace the existing subclause as follows:
Instructions for installation and use shall be supplied with weight-engaged appliance couplers.
These instructions shall contain the information necessary to ensure compliance with this
standard and shall contain the classifications declared by the manufacturer according to
Clause 7.
For weight-engaged couplers intended to be exclusively delivered to the equipment
manufacturer, the instruction sheet may be replaced by a leaflet, letter, or drawing, etc. It is
not necessary for each coupler to be accompanied by such a document.
10 Protection against electric shock
10.1
Replace the existing paragraph with the following:
Appliance couplers shall be so designed that live parts of the appliance inlets are not
accessible when the connector is in partial or complete engagement.
Weight-engaged appliance connectors shall be so designed that the live parts and parts
connected thereto are not accessible when the connector is properly assembled and wired as
in normal use.
Note 2 is not applicable.
Add the following new paragraph:
10.2 This clause of IEC 60320-1 applies amended as follows.
NOTE To be assessed when incorporated in the end product.
Add the following new subclause:
10.101 Test probe 13 of IEC 61032 is applied without appreciable force through openings in
appliance connectors.
NOTE “Without appreciable force” is considered to be a force not exceeding 1 N.
It shall not be possible to touch live parts with the test probe.

60320-2-4 Amend.1 © IEC:2009 – 5 –

11 Provision for earthing
11.2
Replace the existing text with the following new text:

The note of this subclause is not applicable.

12 Terminals and terminations
Replace the second line as follows:

“Replace the first two paragraphs as follows:”
Add the following new subclause:
12.3 This subclause of IEC 60320-1 does not apply.
13 Construction
13.1
Replace the existing text with the following:
The note of this subclause is not applicable.
13.4
Replace the first paragraph as follows:
Pins of weight-engaged appliance inlets shall
• be securely retained,
• have adequate mechanical strength,
• not be possible to remove without the aid of a tool, and
• live parts shall be surrounded by a shroud.
13.12
Replace the first three paragraphs as follows:
Fuses, relays, thermostats and thermal cut-outs incorporated in weight-engaged connectors
and weight-engaged appliance inlets shall comply with the relevant IEC standards.
Switches or energy regulators incorporated in weight-engaged connectors or weight-engaged
appliance inlets shall comply with IEC 61058 and IEC 60730 respectively.
Where an weight-engaged appliance inlet is integrated in or incorporated in an appliance or
equipment, then that part which can be identified as the appliance inlet shall comply with the
requirements of this standard.

– 6 – 60320-2-4 Amend.1 © IEC:2009

14 Moisture resistance
14.2
Replace the existing text with the following new text:

14.2 Weight-engaged connectors which are declared as providing protection against liquid

spillage shall be constructed so that, when installed into a representative power base, in

accordance with manufacturer’s installation instructions, the connector is not affected by

liquid.
Compliance is checked by the following test:
The power base is placed on a horizontal surface and 30 ml of de-ionised water containing
approximately 1 % NaCl is poured over the appliance connector through a vertical tube
30 mm long and having an internal diameter of 8 mm. The outlet of the tube is located
200 mm above the upper surface of the connector and the saline solution is poured steadily
over a period of 2 s. For connectors having multiple contact apertures spaced more than
30 mm apart this test is repeated on clean samples of the power base over each contact
aperture or aperture group.
The representative power base and connector installation shall then withstand the electric
strength test of 15.3, the voltage for reinforced insulation however, being reduced to
2 500 V.
The test is performed using the apparatus of Annex CC.
Delete the NOTE.
15 Insulation resistance and electric strength
15.3
Replace the first paragraph as follows:
Immediately after the test of 15.2 the insulation is subjected for 1 min to a voltage of
substantially sine-wave form and having a frequency of 50 Hz to 60 Hz. The values of the test
voltage are shown in Table 101.
Add, after the third paragraph, the following:
Weight-engaged connectors are tested when in engagement with a weight-engaged appliance
...