IEC 61243-1:2003/AMD1:2009

IEC 61243-1 ®
Edition 2.0 2009-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
AMENDMENT 1
AMENDEMENT 1
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 2.0 2009-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
AMENDMENT 1
AMENDEMENT 1
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
Q
CODE PRIX
ICS 29.240.99 ISBN 978-2-88910-450-5
– 2 – 61243-1 Amend.1 © IEC:2009
FOREWORD
This amendment has been prepared by IEC technical committee 78: Live working.
The text of this amendment is based on the following documents:
CDV Report on voting
78/751/CDV 78/794/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• withdrawn,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.
_____________
2 Normative references
Replace the existing reference to IEC 60071-1:1993 by the following:
IEC 60071-1:2006, Insulation co-ordination – Part 1: Definitions, principles and rules
Replace the existing reference to IEC 61318:2003 by the following:
IEC 61318:2007, Live working – Conformity assessment applicable to tools, devices and
equipment
3 Terms and definitions
Replace the first sentence by the following:
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 61318:2007 and the
following apply.
3.1
voltage detector
Replace the existing definition and note by the following:
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]

61243-1 Amend.1 © IEC:2009 – 3 –
3.4
family of voltage detectors
Replace the existing definition by the following:
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
3.10
insulating stick
Replace the existing definition by the following:
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.
3.29
type test
Delete the definition.
3.30
routine test
Delete the definition.
3.31
sampling test
Delete the definition.
3.32
acceptance test
Delete the definition.
4.2 Functional requirements
4.2.1 Clear indication
Replace the existing text by the following:
The voltage detector shall give an unambiguous indication of the presence and/or the
absence of the system operating voltage as a function of the nominal voltage or nominal
voltage range of the voltage detector, and its nominal frequency or nominal frequencies.
Indication may not be reliable in the vicinity of large conductive parts that create equipotential
zones.
When the voltage detector is used in accordance with instructions for use, the presence of an
adjacent live or earthed part shall not affect its indication.
When used in accordance with instructions for use, the voltage detector shall not indicate
"voltage present" for usual values of interference voltages.

– 4 – 61243-1 Amend.1 © IEC:2009
4.2.1.1 Continuous indication
The voltage detector shall give continuous indication when in direct contact with a live part.
4.2.1.2 Threshold voltage
4.2.1.2.1 General
The user shall not have access to the threshold voltage setting.
The indication “voltage present” shall appear if the voltage to earth on the part to be tested is
greater than 45 % of the nominal voltage.
NOTE 1 45 % of the nominal voltage corresponds to 0,78U 3 .
n
The indication "voltage present" shall not appear if the voltage to earth on the part to be
tested is equal to or less than 10 % of the nominal voltage.
NOTE 2 10 % of the nominal voltage corresponds to 0,17U 3 and is the maximum phase to earth induced
n
voltage normally encountered in the field.
To fulfil the above requirements, the threshold voltage U shall satisfy the following
t
relationship:
0,10 U max< U ≤ 0,45 U min
n t n
For voltage detectors with only one nominal voltage, U max. equals U min.

n n
NOTE 3 There is a theoretical limit of 4,5 to the ratio between U max. and U min. to achieve clear indication of

n n
the voltage detector. This value corresponds to the division of 0,45 by 0,1.
NOTE 4 It may happen that the induced voltage level on a specific network is higher than 10 % of the nominal
voltage or of the maximum nominal voltage of the range.
It may also happen that the variations of the nominal voltage network are such that the 0,45 U or 0,45 U max. is
n n
not the lowest possible value.
Moreover, when is it expected that the voltage detector will be used in the vicinity of large conductive parts that
create equipotential zones (see 4.2.1), the customer may specify a low value of the threshold voltage.
In all these cases, manufacturer and customer should reach an agreement to set the appropriate value for the
threshold voltage, while keeping it within the range specified above. The setting of the threshold voltage is further
limited by the requirements for clear indication which shorten the range of possible values, and the relevant tests
(clear indication) have to be passed.
4.2.1.2.2 Particular case of voltage detectors to be used on networks with low values
of interference voltage
In some cases, the customer may wish to take advantage of a network with low values of
interference voltage by reducing the lower limit of the threshold voltage below 0,10 U max.
n
NOTE 1 This particular case could help to deal with the use of the voltage detector in the vicinity of large
conductive parts. In spite of this change of the threshold voltage for a lower value, the theoretical limit of 4,5 for
the ratio between U max. and U min. still remains valid, and the relevant tests (clear indication) have to be

n n
passed.
In such case, the voltage detector shall have a special marking and a warning shall be
included in the instructions for use to inform the users of the modification brought to the
threshold voltage.
NOTE 2 The special marking should be the result of an agreement between the manufacturer and the client.

61243-1 Amend.1 © IEC:2009 – 5 –
4.2.3 Temperature and humidity dependence of the indication
Replace the existing fourth paragraph by the following:
In these cases, the threshold voltage shall satisfy 4.2.1.2.

4.4.2 Dimensions, construction
Replace the existing Table 2 and the notes by the following:
Table 2 – Minimum length of the insulating element (L )
i
of a voltage detector as a complete device
U L
r i
kV
mm
1 < U ≤ 7,2 320
r
7,2 < U ≤ 12 360
r
12 < U ≤ 17,5
r
17,5 < U ≤ 24
r
24 < U ≤ 36 520
r
36 < U ≤ 72,5 830
r
72,5 < U ≤ 123 1 300
r
1 700
123 < U ≤ 170
r
2 300
170 < U ≤ 245
r
3 600
245 < U ≤ 420
r
420 < U ≤ 525 4 300
r
525 < U ≤ 765 6 600
r
NOTE 1 The nominal voltage U is used when the parameters to be specified are related to the installation
n
dimensioning or to the functional performance of the voltage detector, while the rated voltage U is used when
r
insulation performance of the voltage detector is concerned.
NOTE 2 The L values of Table 2 correspond to the minimum distance in air (obtained from Tables 1 and 2 of
i
IEC 61936-1) plus an additional safety distance.
NOTE 3 The L values of Table 2 can be used as a guidance to determine the length of the insulating stick used
i
with a voltage detector as a separate device. However, the length of the insulating stick for live working can be
shortened for voltage detectors as a separate device taking into account the minimum approach distances or in
accordance with national or regional regulations.
Replace the second paragraph by the following:
For L equal to or greater than 520 mm, conductive parts not exceeding 200 mm (in total),
i
measured from the limit mark towards the handle, are allowed within the minimum length of
the insulating element if they are completely externally insulated.
4.5 Markings
In the list of items of marking, add the following item after the second existing item:
– special marking for low interference voltage, when relevant;
Replace the last item of the existing list of markings by the following:
– number of the relevant IEC standard immediately adjacent to the symbol, (IEC 61243-1).

– 6 – 61243-1 Amend.1 © IEC:2009
Add the following new paragraphs at the end of the existing subclause:
To be marked with the number of this IEC standard, the product shall satisfy all the
requirements specified herein.
With every voltage detector or with every batch of voltage detectors to be delivered, the
manufacturer shall provide information related to the number of the IEC standard with the
year of publication.
6.1 General
...