Power Supply Safety Standards and Compliance Agencies

This technical report details the safety standards, agencies, and marking schemes relevant to power supplies used in electrical equipment. It outlines the necessity for compliance with safety standards to protect against fire, electric shock, and injury, which is essential for selling power supplies globally. The document identifies various classes of equipment based on their safety features, such as Class I, Class II, and Class III, and explains the terminology associated with safety standards, including circuit definitions like Hazardous Voltage and Safety Extra-Low Voltage (SELV). It also discusses insulation types, including basic and reinforced insulation, and the requirements for limited current circuits. Furthermore, the report highlights major safety standards governed by organizations such as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL), emphasizing the importance of certification for compliance in different regions. The transition to IEC 62368-1 is noted as a significant development in safety standards for audio/video and information technology equipment.