Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use – Part 031: Safety requirements for hand-held and hand-manipulated probe assemblies for electrical test and measurement

1 Scope and object

1.1 Scope

1.1.1 Probe assemblies included in scope This part of IEC 61010 specifies safety requirements for hand-held and handmanipulated probe assemblies of the types described below, and their related accessories. These probe assemblies are for direct electrical connection between a part and electrical test and measurement equipment. They may be fixed to the equipment or be detachable accessories for the equipment.

a)            Type A: low-voltage and high-voltage, non-attenuating probe assemblies. Nonattenuating probe assemblies that are RATED for direct connection to voltages exceeding 30 V r.m.s., 42,4 V peak, or 60 V d.c., but not exceeding 63 kV. They do not incorporate components which are intended to provide a voltage divider function or a signal conditioning function, but they may contain non-attenuating components such as fuses (see Figure 1.)

b)            Type B: high-voltage attenuating or divider probe assemblies. Attenuating or divider probe assemblies that are RATED for direct connection to secondary voltages exceeding 1 kV r.m.s. or 1,5 kV d.c. but not exceeding 63 kV r.m.s. or d.c. The divider function may be carried out wholly within the probe assembly, or partly within the test or measurement equipment to be used with the probe assembly (see Figure 2).

c)            Type C: low-voltage attenuating or divider probe assemblies. Attenuating or divider probe assemblies for direct connection to voltages not exceeding 1 kV r.m.s. or 1,5 kV d.c. The signal conditioning function may be carried out wholly within the probe assembly, or partly within the test or measurement equipment intended to be used with the probe assembly (see Figure 3).

d)            Type D: low-voltage attenuating, non-attenuating or other signal conditioning probe assemblies, that are RATED for direct connection only to voltages not exceeding 30 V r.m.s., or 42,4 V peak, or 60 V d.c., and are suitable for currents exceeding 8 A (see Figure 4).

1.1.2 Probe assemblies excluded from scope This standard does not apply to current sensors within the scope of IEC 61010-2-032 ( Handheld and hand-manipulated current sensors), but may apply to their input measuring circuit leads and accessories.

1.2 Object

1.2.1 Aspects included in scope

The purpose of the requirements of this standard is to ensure that HAZARDS to the OPERATOR and the surrounding area are reduced to a tolerable level. Requirements for protection against particular types of HAZARDS are given in Clauses 6 to 13, as follows:

a) electric shock or burn (see Clauses 6, 10 and 11);

b) mechanical HAZARDS (see Clauses 7, 8 and 11);

c) excessive temperature (see Clause 9);

d) spread of fire from the probe assembly (see Clause 9);

e) arc flash (see Clause 13).

Additional requirements for probe assemblies which are designed to be powered from a low-voltage mains supply, or include other features not specifically addressed in this standard are in other parts of IEC 61010. NOTE Attention is drawn to the possible existence of additional requirements regarding the health and safety of labour forces.

1.2.2 Aspects excluded from scope

This standard does not cover:

a) reliable function, performance, or other properties of the probe assembly;

b) effectiveness of transport packaging