EN 60252-1:2011/A1:2013

AC motor capacitors - Part 1: General - Performance, testing and rating - Safety requirements - Guidance for installation and operation

This part of IEC 60252 applies to motor capacitors intended for connection to windings of asynchronous motors supplied from a single-phase system having a frequency up to and including 100 Hz, and to capacitors to be connected to three-phase asynchronous motors so that these motors may be supplied from a single-phase system. This standard covers impregnated or unimpregnated capacitors having a dielectric of paper, plastic film, or a combination of both, either metallized or with metal-foil electrodes, with rated voltages up to and including 660 V. Motor start capacitors are covered by IEC 60252-2. The object of this standard is a) to formulate uniform rules regarding performance, testing and rating; b) to formulate specific safety rules; c) to provide a guidance for installation and operation.

Motorkondensatoren - Teil 1: Allgemeines - Leistung, Prüfung und Bemessung - Sicherheitsanforderungen - Leitfaden für die Installation und den Betrieb

Condensateurs des moteurs à courant alternatif - Partie 1: Généralités - Caractéristiques fonctionnelles, essais et valeurs assignées - Règles de sécurité - Lignes directrices pour l'installation et l'utilisation

Kondenzatorji izmeničnih motorjev - 1. del: Splošno - Delovanje, preskušanje in ocenjevanje - Varnostne zahteve - Navodilo za namestitev in delovanje - Dopolnilo A1

Ta del IEC 60252 velja za kondenzatorje motorjev, priklop na navitja asinhronih motorjev, napajanih iz enofaznega sistema, ki imajo frekvenco do in vključno 100 Hz, in kondenzatorje za priklop na trifazne asinhrone motorje, tako da se lahko ti motorji napajajo iz enofaznega sistema. Ta standard zajema kondenzatorje, ki so ali niso impregnirani in ki imajo dielektrik iz papirja, plastičnega filma ali kombinacije obeh, z metaliziranimi elektrodami ali elektrodami iz kovinske folije in z ocenjenimi napetostmi do in vključno 660 V. Zaganjalni kondenzatorji so zajeti v IEC 60252-2. Cilj tega standarda je a) oblikovati enotna pravila glede delovanja, preskušanja in ocenjevanja, b) oblikovati določena varnostna pravila, c) zagotoviti vodilo za inštalacijo in delovanje.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2013
• Withdrawal Date: 02-Oct-2016
• ICS: 31.060.30 - Paper and plastics capacitors
• ICS: 31.060.70 - Power capacitors
• Technical Committee: CLC/SR 33 - Power capacitors
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 33 - IEC_TC_33
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 01-Nov-2013
• Completion Date: 04-Nov-2025
• Directive: 2006/95/EC - Directive 2006/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the harmonisation of the laws of Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (codified version)
• Directive: 2014/35/EU - Directive 2014/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits
• Directive: 2014/53/EU - Directive 2014/53/EU of The European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment and repealing Directive 1999/5/EC
• Ref Project: SIST EN 60252-1:2011/A1:2014 - AC motor capacitors - Part 1: General - Performance, testing and rating - Safety requirements - Guidance for installation and operation

Relations

• Amends: EN 60252-1:2011 - AC motor capacitors - Part 1: General - Performance, testing and rating - Safety requirements - Guidance for installation and operation
• Effective Date: 29-Jan-2023

Overview

The EN 60252-1:2011/A1:2013 standard, developed by the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), focuses on AC motor capacitors-specifically their performance, testing, rating, safety requirements, and guidelines for installation and operation. This amendment to EN 60252-1:2011 enhances the original document by updating testing methods and safety classifications to align with international best practices under IEC 60252-1:2010/A1:2013.

The document is essential for manufacturers, engineers, and technical professionals dealing with power capacitors in AC motors, ensuring high safety, reliability, and operational efficiency. It supports compliance with the Low Voltage Directive (LVD - 2006/95/EC) in Europe, establishing harmonized performance and safety criteria.

Key Topics

• Performance and Testing Requirements
  The standard includes detailed testing protocols for AC motor capacitors to assess operational endurance, dielectric breakdown, and failure modes. These tests cover both sequential DC and AC testing and simultaneous DC and AC testing methods, critical for evaluating capacitor durability under electrical stress.

• Safety Classifications (Class of Safety Protection)
  Capacitors are classified into four safety classes to specify their failure behavior and protection against hazards:

  • S0: No specific failure protection
  • S1: May fail open or short circuit; protected against fire and shock
  • S2: Designed to fail open only; protected against fire and shock
  • S3: Segmented film capacitors which fail with low residual capacitance and protection from hazards

• Destruction Test Procedures
  The amendment describes detailed destruction test methodologies, including:

  • Test specimen preparation and conditioning
  • DC conditioning to induce dielectric breakdown
  • AC destruction tests to simulate operational stresses
  • Evaluation criteria ensuring no fire or shock risk even in failure

• Installation and Operational Guidance
  Recommendations cover safe installation practice and operational limits, ensuring capacitors function within rated conditions to maximize lifespan and maintain safety standards.

Applications

This standard is applicable in industries where AC motors are widely used and require dependable capacitor components, including:

• Industrial Automation & Manufacturing: Capacitors in motor controllers for conveyors, pumps, and compressors
• HVAC Systems: Ensuring reliable capacitor operation in motors for fans and blowers
• Electrical Equipment Manufacturing: Design and certification of power capacitors for AC motor applications
• Renewable Energy Systems: AC motor drives in wind turbines and solar trackers
• Building Services & Utilities: Capacitors supporting elevator motors, escalators, and facility cooling systems

By adhering to EN 60252-1:2011/A1:2013, organizations enhance motor capacitor safety, reduce risk of catastrophic failure, improve system reliability, and meet regulatory compliance across Europe.

Related Standards

• IEC 60252-1:2010/A1:2013 - International Electrotechnical Commission’s equivalent for AC motor capacitors providing the base document for this amendment.
• IEC 60529:2001 (IP Code) - Defines degrees of protection provided by enclosures, referenced for mechanical and electrical safety of capacitor cases.
• ISO 4046:2002 - Vocabulary standards providing terminology used in testing and paper materials related to capacitor packaging.
• Low Voltage Directive (LVD - 2006/95/EC) - European Directive ensuring electrical equipment meets essential safety requirements, referenced regarding capacitor safety compliance.

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By following EN 60252-1:2011/A1:2013, professionals involved in the design, manufacturing, installation, and testing of AC motor capacitors can ensure devices meet rigorous safety and performance standards, helping to prevent fire hazards, electrical failures, and operational interruptions. This facilitates safer and more efficient deployment of AC motors across a broad spectrum of industrial and commercial applications.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-januar-2014
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AC motor capacitors - Part 1: General - Performance, testing and rating - Safety
requirements - Guidance for installation and operation
Motorkondensatoren - Teil 1: Allgemeines - Leistung, Prüfung und Bemessung -
Sicherheitsanforderungen - Leitfaden für die Installation und den Betrieb
Condensateurs des moteurs à courant alternatif - Partie 1: Généralités - Caractéristiques
fonctionnelles, essais et valeurs assignées - Règles de sécurité - Lignes directrices pour
l'installation et l'utilisation
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 60252-1:2011/A1:2013
ICS:
31.060.70 0RþQRVWQLNRQGHQ]DWRUML Power capacitors
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN 60252-1/A1
NORME EUROPÉENNE
November 2013
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 31.060.30; 31.060.70
English version
AC motor capacitors -
Part 1: General - Performance, testing and rating -
Safety requirements - Guidance for installation and operation
(IEC 60252-1:2010/A1:2013)
Condensateurs des moteurs à courant Motorkondensatoren -
alternatif - Teil 1: Allgemeines - Leistung, Prüfung und
Partie 1: Généralités - Caractéristiques Bemessung - Sicherheitsanforderungen -
fonctionnelles, essais et valeurs assignées - Leitfaden für die Installation und den Betrieb
Règles de sécurité - Lignes directrices pour (IEC 60252-1:2010/A1:2013)
l'installation et l'utilisation
(CEI 60252-1:2010/A1:2013)
This amendment A1 modifies the European Standard EN 60252-1:2011; it was approved by CENELEC on 2013-10-03.
CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions
for giving this amendment the status of a national standard without any alteration.

Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to
the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.

This amendment exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B - 1000 Brussels

© 2013 CENELEC - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC members.
Ref. No. EN 60252-1:2011/A1:2013 E

Foreword
The text of document 33/532/FDIS, future IEC 60252-1:2010/A1, prepared by IEC/TC 33, "Power
capacitors and their applications" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by
CENELEC as EN 60252-1:2011/A1:2013.
The following dates are fixed:
(dop) 2014-07-03
• latest date by which the document has
to be implemented at national level by
publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement
(dow) 2016-10-03
• latest date by which the national
standards conflicting with the
document have to be withdrawn
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such
patent rights.
This standard covers the Principle Elements of the Safety Objectives for Electrical Equipment
Designed for Use within Certain Voltage Limits (LVD - 2006/95/EC).
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 60252-1:2010/A1:2013 was approved by CENELEC as a
European Standard without any modification.

- 3 - EN 60252-1:2011/A1:2013
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications

The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

NOTE  When an international publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant EN/HD
applies.
Replace the reference to IEC 60529 and ISO 4046 by the following :

Publication Year Title EN/HD Year

IEC 60529 2001 Degrees of protection provided by enclosures - -
(IP Code)
ISO 4046 2002 Paper, board, pulps and related terms - - -
Vocabulary
IEC 60252-1 ®
Edition 2.0 2013-08
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
AMENDMENT 1
AMENDEMENT 1
AC motor capacitors –
Part 1: General – Performance, testing and rating – Safety requirements –

Guidance for installation and operation

Condensateurs des moteurs à courant alternatif –

Partie 1: Généralités – Caractéristiques fonctionnelles, essais et valeurs

assignées – Règles de sécurité – Lignes directrices pour l'installation et

l'utilisation
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX H
ICS 31.060.30; 31.060.70 ISBN 978-2-8322-1058-1

– 2 – 60252-1 Amend.1 © IEC:2013
FOREWORD
This amendment has been prepared by IEC technical committee 33: Power capacitors and
their applications.
The text of this amendment is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
33/532/FDIS 33/538/RVD
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 stability 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.
IMPORTANT – The 'colour inside' logo on the cover page of this publication indicates
that it contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct
understanding of its contents. Users should therefore print this document using a
colour printer.
_____________
2 Normative references
Replace the reference to IEC 60529 by the following:
IEC 60529:2001, Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code)
Replace the reference to ISO 4046 by the following:
ISO 4046:2002, Paper, board, pulps and related terms – Vocabulary
3 Terms and definitions
3.22
class of safety protection
Replace definition 3.22 by the following:

60252-1 Amend.1 © IEC:2013 – 3 –
3.22
class of safety protection
degree of safety protection identified by one of four codes to be marked on the capacitor
3.22.1
(SO) class of safety protection
degree of safety protection indicating that the capacitor type has no specific failure protection
Note 1 to entry: Formerly referred to as P0.
3.22.2
(S1) class of safety protection
degree of safety protection indicating that the capacitor type may fail in the open-circuit or
short-circuit mode and is protected against fire or shock hazard
Note 1 to entry: Compliance is verified by the test described in 5.16.3 and 5.16.5.
Note 2 to entry: Formerly referred to as P1.
3.22.3
(S2) class of safety protection
degree of safety protection indicating that the capacitor type has been designed to fail in the
open-circuit mode only and is protected against fire or shock hazard
Note 1 to entry: Compliance is verified by the test described in 5.16.3 and 5.16.5.
Note 2 to entry: formerly referred to as P2.
3.22.4
(S3) class of safety protection
degree of safety protection indicating that the capacitor is of segmented film construction as
defined in 3.6
Note 1 to entry: This capacitor type is required to fail with low residual capacitance (<1 % C ) and has protection
N
against fire and shock hazard. Compliance is verified by the test described in 5.16.4 and 5.16.6.

5.16 Destruction test
Replace Subclause 5.16 by the following:
5.16 Destruction test
5.16.1 General
This test is optional.
Refer to revised definition 3.22 for the appropriate test for each class of safety protection.
Capacitors marked
...