What You Should Know About the New IEC 62368-1 Safety Standard

Technology is all about change, and the design standards for IT and AV equipment are changing with the times as well. IT and AV devices share many similarities, so the International Electrotechnical Commission replaced its longstanding IEC 60950-1 IT equipment safety standard and IEC 60065 AV standard with the new IEC 62368-1 safety standard.

This single standard is a dramatic shift in compliance requirements for IT and AV equipment designers. Here’s a brief overview

 of just some of the many facets of IEC 62368-1:

• It’s a hazard-based standard. IEC 62368-1 is a hazard-based, rather than a prescriptive, approach to compliance, with an emphasis on protecting users who come into contact with equipment during operation, installation or maintenance. OEMs must identify potential sources of injury and safeguards that can reduce the likelihood of pain, injury, fire and other incidents.
• The focus extends beyond products. Not only does IEC 62368-1 cover IT and AV products, but it also covers components and subsystems. Designers purchasing power supplies, components built into equipment or standalone power supplies and adapters should verify the products comply with IEC 62368-1.
• It has future energy sources in mind. As technology advances, so do energy sources. That’s why IEC 62368-1 requires engineers to identify energy sources and label them as Class 1, 2 or 3 based on a source’s effect on the body, as well as its effect on combustible materials. Engineers must also identify the existing safeguards for each energy source and determine their efficacy.
• IEC 62368-1 has arrived. IEC 62368-1 superseded IEC 60950‐1 and IEC 60065 on December 20, 2020. Going forward, OEMs have to certify that their new IT and AV equipment satisfies the IEC/UL 62368 standard in order to access major markets.

IEC 62368-1-Compliant DC/DC Converters for Railway Applications

The Polytron Devices division of Daburn Electronics is committed to helping OEMs ensure compliance, starting with a new line of 200-watt DC/DC converters. The HWC200 Series half-brick DC/DC converter offers a 10:1 ultra wide input range to accommodate a broad range of power systems typically found in railway environments. Other features include:

• A hold-up function
• 3,000V AC reinforced insulation
• Primary pulse output
• Remote ON/OFF
• Over voltage, over current, short-circuit and over temperature protection

The 10:1 ultra wide input makes the HWC200 well-suited for railway applications because it can accommodate a broad range of power systems. In addition to meeting IEC/UL/EN 62368-1, this RoHS and REACH-compliant DC/DC converter carries the CE mark and meets EN50155 and EN45545-2 standards for railways, as well as EN55032 and EN50121-3-2 for EMC in railway environments.

Meet the Latest Global Safety Standards

When selecting DC/DC converters for new IT and AV equipment, make sure they meet the latest global safety standards. Our HWC200 Series DC/DC converters are IEC/UL/EN 62368-1 certified and also satisfy various railway standards. And, we can furnish the applicable documentation upon request.

For more information about the HWC Series of IEC 62368-1-compliant DC/DC converters, visit our product page.