Insulation class refers to the insulation performance index of electrical equipment, which is usually used to evaluate the safety performance of electrical equipment. The standardization of insulation class is of great significance to ensure that electrical equipment produced by different manufacturers is comparable in terms of insulation performance, and also to provide an important reference for the design and selection of electrical equipment. Here we will introduce the international standard of insulation level in detail.
International standards
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has developed international standards on insulation levels, the most commonly used of which is the IEC60038 standard. The standard specifies that the insulation level of electrical equipment is categorized into the following levels:
Level 0
Level 0 insulation level indicates that the electrical equipment does not have any insulation protection, which means that the conductors of the equipment are directly exposed, which can easily lead to electric shock accidents, and therefore, the electrical equipment with level 0 insulation level is no longer used.
Level 1
Level 1 insulation means that electrical equipment has a basic layer of insulation protection between the conductor and the ground, and is usually insulated with materials such as paper, rubber, or plastic etc. Level 1 insulation is suitable for low-voltage applications, such as household electrical appliances and lighting equipment.
Level 2
Level 2 insulation level indicates that the electrical equipment has two layers of insulation protection between the conductor and the ground, and two different materials are usually used as insulating materials to increase the strength of the insulation.Level 2 insulation level of electrical equipment is suitable for medium-voltage occasions, such as power tools, motors and so on.
Level 3
Level 3 insulation level indicates that the electrical equipment is protected by three layers of insulation between the conductor and the ground, and three different materials are usually used as insulating materials to further improve the insulation strength.Level 3 insulation is suitable for high voltage applications, such as power generators, transformers etc.
Level 4
Level 4 insulation level indicates that the electrical equipment is protected by four or more layers of insulation between the conductor and the ground, and usually uses a variety of different materials as insulating materials to provide higher dielectric strength and better protection.Level 4 insulation level is suitable for special occasions, such as nuclear power plants, high-speed trains, etc.
Operating steps
When using electrical equipment, you need to choose the appropriate safety measures according to the insulation level of the equipment to ensure personal safety and normal operation of the equipment. The following are some common operating steps:
1. Select the appropriate electrical equipment, according to the insulation level of the equipment and the use of occasions.
2. Before using the electrical equipment, check whether the insulation of the equipment is normal, if broken or aging phenomenon should be replaced in a timely manner.
3. When using electrical equipment, follow the instruction manual of the equipment and do not exceed the rated voltage and current of the equipment.
4. When operating electrical equipment, insulated gloves, shoes and other protective gear should be worn to reduce the occurrence of electric shock accidents.
5. When maintaining electrical equipment, it should be maintained in accordance with the maintenance requirements of the equipment, and the insulation of the equipment should be checked regularly to see if it is normal.