IEC TR 61243-6:2017

Live working - Voltage detectors - Part 6: Guidelines on non-contact voltage detectors (NCVD) for use at nominal voltages above 1 kV AC

IEC TR 61243-6:2017(E) is applicable to portable non-contact voltage detectors (NCVD) with built-in power source, to be used to indicate the presence or the absence of the operating voltage on electrical systems for nominal voltages above 1 kV AC and frequencies of 16 2/3 Hz, 50 Hz and/or 60 Hz. This document describes only devices, and their behaviour, using electric field and voltage gradient detection principles even if other principles could be used. It provides performance guidelines, recommendations for use and recommended minimum criteria for selection.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 02-Mar-2017
• ICS: 13.260 - Protection against electric shock. Live working
• ICS: 29.240.20 - Power transmission and distribution lines
• ICS: 29.240.99 - Other equipment related to power transmission and distribution networks
• Technical Committee: TC 78 - Live working
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 03-Mar-2017
• Completion Date: 03-Mar-2017

Standards Content (sample)

IEC TR 61243-6
Edition 1.0 2017-03
TECHNICAL
REPORT
colour
inside
Live working – Voltage detectors –
Part 6: Guidelines on non-contact voltage detectors (NCVD) for use at nominal
voltages above 1 kV AC
IEC TR 61243-6:2017-03(en)
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
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IEC TR 61243-6
Edition 1.0 2017-03
TECHNICAL
REPORT
colour
inside
Live working – Voltage detectors –
Part 6: Guidelines on non-contact voltage detectors (NCVD) for use at nominal
voltages above 1 kV AC
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 13.260; 29.240.20; 29.260.99 ISBN 978-2-8322-3903-2

Warning! Make sure that you obtained this publication from an authorized distributor.

® Registered trademark of the International Electrotechnical Commission
---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
– 2 – IEC TR 61243-6:2017 © IEC 2017
CONTENTS

FOREWORD ........................................................................................................................... 4

INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 6

1 Scope .............................................................................................................................. 7

2 Normative references ...................................................................................................... 7

3 Terms and definitions ...................................................................................................... 7

4 The principles of an NCVD ............................................................................................ 11

4.1 NCVD designed to work at a distance without any contact .................................... 11

4.2 NCVD designed to work with reference points ....................................................... 13

4.2.1 General ......................................................................................................... 13

4.2.2 NCVD designed to work with one reference point .......................................... 14

4.2.3 NCVD designed to work with two reference points ......................................... 15

5 Different designs of non-contact voltage detectors ......................................................... 17

6 Limitations and recommendations of use for each type of NCVD ................................... 19

6.1 Principal limitations ............................................................................................... 19

6.2 Recommendations for the selection, calibration and use of NCVD ........................ 19

6.2.1 Selection of the appropriate type of NCVD ..................................................... 19

6.2.2 Calibration of the selected device .................................................................. 20

6.2.3 Use of the selected device ............................................................................. 20

7 Recommended requirements ......................................................................................... 21

7.1 General ................................................................................................................. 21

7.2 Recommended general requirements .................................................................... 21

7.2.1 Safety ............................................................................................................ 21

7.2.2 Indication ....................................................................................................... 21

7.2.3 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) ............................................................. 21

7.3 Recommended functional requirements ................................................................ 22

7.3.1 Clear indication ............................................................................................. 22

7.3.2 Clear perceptibility ......................................................................................... 25

7.3.3 Temperature and humidity dependence of the indication ................................ 26

7.3.4 Frequency dependence ................................................................................. 26

7.3.5 Response time ............................................................................................... 26

7.3.6 Power source dependability ........................................................................... 26

7.3.7 Testing element ............................................................................................. 26

7.3.8 Non response to DC voltage (static electric field) ........................................... 27

7.3.9 Immunity to electrostatic discharges .............................................................. 27

7.3.10 Time rating .................................................................................................... 27

7.4 Electrical requirements ......................................................................................... 27

7.4.1 Insulating material ......................................................................................... 27

7.4.2 Protection against bridging for Type 3 only .................................................... 27

7.4.3 Resistance against sparking .......................................................................... 28

7.4.4 Resistive (impedance) element of Type 5 only ............................................... 28

7.5 Recommendations for mechanical performance .................................................... 28

7.5.1 General ......................................................................................................... 28

7.5.2 Design ........................................................................................................... 28

7.5.3 Dimensions and construction ......................................................................... 28

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IEC TR 61243-6:2017 © IEC 2017 – 3 –

7.5.4 Degree of protection provided by enclosure ................................................... 30

7.5.5 Grip force and deflection................................................................................ 30

7.5.6 Vibration drop and shock resistance .............................................................. 31

7.6 Markings ............................................................................................................... 31

7.7 Instructions for use ............................................................................................... 31

Annex A (informative) General considerations about voltage detection ................................ 32

A.1 General ................................................................................................................. 32

A.2 Principles of functioning of voltage detectors ........................................................ 32

A.2.1 Basic analysis................................................................................................ 32

A.2.2 Voltage detection with two contact electrodes (bi-polar detectors) ................. 32

A.2.3 Voltage detection with one contact electrode ................................................. 33

A.2.4 Voltage detection without contact electrode ................................................... 34

Annex B (informative) Instructions for use ............................................................................ 36

Annex C (informative) In-service care .................................................................................. 37

C.1 General ................................................................................................................. 37

C.2 Maintenance ......................................................................................................... 37

Annex D (informative) Suitable for live working; double triangle ........................................... 38

Bibliography .......................................................................................................................... 39

Figure 1 – NCVD working at a distance without any contact .................................................. 12

Figure 2 – Effect of the relative position of the non-contact voltage detector ......................... 13

Figure 3 – NCVD working at a distance with one reference point .......................................... 14

Figure 4 – Non-contact voltage detector with a reference point making contact with the

cable insulation covering an insulated conductor .................................................................. 15

Figure 5 – Non-contact voltage detector working with two reference points making

contact with the cap and pin of an insulator .......................................................................... 16

Figure 6 – Non-contact voltage detector working with two reference points on an

underground cable ................................................................................................................ 16

Figure 7 – Directional properties of NCVD working at distance.............................................. 25

Figure 8 – Examples of designs of NCVDs ............................................................................ 29

Figure A.1 – Bi-polar voltage detection principle ................................................................... 33

Figure A.2 – Capacitive unipolar voltage detection principle .................................................. 34

Table 1 – Types of non-contact voltage detector ................................................................... 18

Table 2 – Limitations for use ................................................................................................. 19

Table 3 – Specific recommendations for use ......................................................................... 20

Table 4 – Examples of values of the radius of the cone of detection as a function of

the directional properties angle ............................................................................................. 24

Table 5 – Climatic categories ................................................................................................ 26

Table 6 – Minimum length of the insulating element or of the insulating stick (L ) .................. 30

Table C.1 – Recommended checking points for in-service care ............................................. 37

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– 4 – IEC TR 61243-6:2017 © IEC 2017
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
LIVE WORKING – VOLTAGE DETECTORS –
Part 6: Guidelines on non-contact voltage detectors (NCVD)
for use at nominal voltages above 1 kV AC
FOREWORD

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9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of

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The main task of IEC technical committees is to prepare International Standards. However, a

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data of a different kind from that which is normally published as an International Standard, for

example "state of the art".
IEC TR 61243-6, which is a Technical Report, has been prepared by IEC technical
committee 78: Live working.
The text of this Technical Report is based on the following documents:
Enquiry draft Report on voting
78/1143/DTR 78/1162A/RVDTR

Full information on the voting for the approval of this Technical Report can be found in the

report on voting indicated in the above table.
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IEC TR 61243-6:2017 © IEC 2017 – 5 –

This document has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

Terms defined in Clause 3 are given in italic print throughout this standard.

A list of all parts of the IEC 61243 series, published under the general title Live working –

Voltage detectors, can be found on the IEC website.

The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the

stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to

the specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
A bilingual version of this publication may be issued at a later date.

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.
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– 6 – IEC TR 61243-6:2017 © IEC 2017
INTRODUCTION

With the aim of ensuring the safety of the users the purpose of a voltage detector is to give a

clear indication of the presence or absence of the operating voltage, without any need for

interpretation or analytical evaluation by the user.

IEC 61243-1, IEC 61243-2 and IEC 61243-3 apply to portable voltage detectors designed to

work correctly when they are in direct contact with the bare part of the installation to be

tested.

At HV and UHV, large distances between the user and the bare parts to be tested make the

handling of a very long insulating element or insulating stick an ergonomic and safety

concern. In such situations, it may become convenient to avoid any contact with the bare part

to be tested and to perform voltage detection at a distance.

This document provides considerations and performance guidelines for portable “non-contact”

voltage detectors and it can be used as a reference for the development of national, industry

or manufacturer's standard(s) or for the selection of a product by users.

This document has been prepared taking into consideration the provisions given in

IEC 61477.
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IEC TR 61243-6:2017 © IEC 2017 – 7 –
LIVE WORKING – VOLTAGE DETECTORS –
Part 6: Guidelines on non-contact voltage detectors (NCVD)
for use at nominal voltages above 1 kV AC
1 Scope

This part of IEC 61243, which is a Technical Report, is applicable to portable non-contact

voltage detectors (NCVD) with built-in power source, to be used to indicate the presence or

the absence of the operating voltage on electrical systems for nominal voltages above 1 kV

AC and frequencies of 16 2/3 Hz, 50 Hz and/or 60 Hz.
NOTE 16,7 Hz is often referenced.

This document applies only to devices that are not designed to be used in contact with the

bare part of the installation on which the presence or the absence of the operating voltage

has to be tested.

This document describes only devices, and their behaviour, using electric field and voltage

gradient detection principles even if other principles could be used. It provides performance

guidelines, recommendations for use and recommended minimum criteria for selection.

Devices like personal safety distance voltage detectors, distance voltage detectors for

emergency responders or machine operators are not covered by this document.

Except when otherwise specified, all the voltages defined in this document refer to phase-to-

phase voltages of three-phase systems. In other systems, the applicable phase-to-phase or

phase-to-earth (ground) voltages are used to determine the operating voltage.
2 Normative references

The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their

content constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition

cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including

any amendments) applies.

IEC 61318, Live working – Conformity assessment applicable to tools, devices and equipment

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 61318 and the

following apply.

ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following

addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
adaptor

part of an NCVD as a separate device which permits attachment of an insulating stick

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– 8 – IEC TR 61243-6:2017 © IEC 2017
3.2
application mark

mark on the NCVD to show to the user where to put the NCVD at the application point for

clear indication
Note 1 to entry: An application mark may or may not be present.
3.3
application point

specific point of the installation where the application mark (if present) of the NCVD should

correspond
Note 1 to entry: An application point may or may not be needed.
3.4
active signal

audible or visual phenomenon whose presence, absence or variation is considered as

representing information on the condition “voltage present” or “voltage not present”

Note 1 to entry: A signal indicating only that the NCVD is ready to operate is not considered as an active signal.

3.5
clear indication

unambiguous detection and indication of the voltage state of the part to be tested

3.6
clear perceptibility
case where the indication is unmistakably discernible by the user under specific
environmental conditions when the NCVD is in its operating position
3.7
contact electrode

bare conductive part of a voltage detector which establishes the electric connection to the

component to be tested
3.8
design of NCVD

different constructions of NCVDs, either as a complete device with or without an insulating

element or as a separate device intended to be equipped with an insulating stick
3.9
directional property

property whereby an NCVD detects an electrical field relative to a specific position

3.10
electrode

metallic part of an NCVD combined with one or more other metallic parts that allows to pick

up the electric field
3.11
expected voltage

maximum voltage value of the part of the installation that will or could be touched by the

NCVD
3.12
far electric field
far field

in free space, region where the distribution of the electrical field is almost independent of the

distance to the source
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IEC TR 61243-6:2017 © IEC 2017 – 9 –
3.13
hand guard

distinctive physical guard separating the handle of an NCVD as a complete device from the

insulating element

Note 1 to entry: The purpose of the hand guard is to prevent the hands from slipping and passing into contact

with the insulating element.
3.14
indicator

part of the NCVD that indicates the presence or absence of the operating voltage for the part

of the electrical equipment or installation to be tested
3.15
indoor type
NCVD designed for use in dry conditions, normally indoors
3.16
insertion depth
distance between the limit mark and the top of the NCVD as a complete device
3.17
insulating element

part of an NCVD as a complete device that provides adequate safety distance and insulation

to the user
3.18
insulating stick

insulating tool made essentially of an insulating tube and/or rod with end fittings

Note 1 to entry: For voltage detection, an insulating stick is intended to be attached to the NCVD 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.

[SOURCE: IEC 60050-651:2014, 651-22-01, modified – Note 1 to entry has been added.]

3.19
interference field

electric field due to the configuration of the installation that may

affect the electric field of the part to be tested
3.20
interference voltage

voltage picked up inductively or capacitively by the part to be tested

3.21
limit mark

distinctive visible location or mark on the NCVD to indicate to the user the physical limit to

which the NCVD could be inserted between live parts
Note 1 to entry: A limit mark may or may not be present.
3.22
medium electric field
medium field

in free space, region where the distribution of the electric field is slightly dependent on the

distance to the source
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– 10 – IEC TR 61243-6:2017 © IEC 2017
3.23
near electric field
near field

in free space, region where the distribution of the electrical field is strongly dependent on the

distance to the source
3.24
nominal distance

suitable value of distance, between the bare part of the installation to be tested and the

NCVD, associated with the nominal voltage of the NCVD for clear indication

Note 1 to entry: The nominal distance of the NCVD is a parameter associated with its clear indication. The

manufacturer can identify the nominal distance directly linked to the corresponding discrete nominal voltage.

Note 2 to entry: An NCVD may have more than one nominal distance when having more than one nominal

voltage, or one or more than one nominal voltage range. In this case, for each nominal voltage or each nominal

voltage range the manufacturer can identify at least one characteristic discrete nominal voltage. The manufacturer

can then identify the nominal distance directly linked to each corresponding discrete nominal voltage.

Note 3 to entry: For some devices, the nominal distance(s) could be defined by the NCVD reference points.

3.25
nominal voltage
suitable approximate value of voltage used to identify a system or device

Note 1 to entry: The nominal voltage of the NCVD is a parameter associated with its clear indication. An NCVD

may have more than one nominal voltage, or a nominal voltage range. Limit values of the nominal voltage range

are named U and U
n min n max

[SOURCE: IEC 60050-601:1985, 601-01-21, modified – The definition has been modified to fit

the specific context of device or equipment and Note 1 to entry has been added.]
3.26
non-contact voltage detector
NCVD

voltage detector that does not require making physical contact with the bare part of the

installation (e.g. conductor, bus bar, capacitive tap for a cable elbow or switchgear) on which

the presence or the absence of the operating voltage has to be tested
3.27
operating distance range

range of distances to the bare part to be tested declared by the manufacturer where the

NCVD will function properly when used according to the instructions for use

Note 1 to entry: For some devices, the operating distance could be defined by the NCVD reference points.

3.28
outdoor type
NCVD designed for use in wet conditions, either indoors or outdoors
3.29
operating voltage

system voltage under normal conditions at a given instant and location

Note 1 to entry: This value may be calculated or measured.
3.30
protection against bridging

protection against flashover or breakdown, when the insulation between the parts of the

installation to be tested, at different potentials, is reduced by the presence of the NCVD

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IEC TR 61243-6:2017 © IEC 2017 – 11 –
3.31
rated voltage
value of voltage to which certain operating specifications are referred

Note 1 to entry: The rated voltage of the NCVD is the voltage selected from IEC 60071-1:2006+AMD1:2010,

Table 2 and Table 3, column 1, which should either be equal to the nominal voltage (or the highest nominal voltage

of its nominal voltage range), or the next higher voltage selected from those tables.

3.32
reference point

point of an installation which is different from the bare part to be tested and which needs to be

touched in order to give an electrical reference according to the principle of functioning of

some NCVD
3.33
response time
time delay
...