Topic:
- What is the UL approbation/certification of maxon products?
Solution:
General
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is a leading independent organisation in the USA that carries out tests on the flammability of plastics in electronic equipment and current-carrying parts, such as printed circuit boards. Generally speaking, UL certification is only required for importation into the USA. Depending on an appliance’s field of usage, a flammability rating is required which the components must comply with.
Certification
A product or its components may be inspected in several European countries, namely Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Holland, England and Denmark, but not Switzerland. If a product is certified, the manufacturing company is inspected up to 4 times a year. For inspections in Switzerland, UL provides trained professionals from the SEV (Swiss Electronic Association).
Electro motors < 15 watts
UL certification is not required for electro motors with a nominal output < 15 watts, even if the finished product has to be UL-certified. However, if a motor has a nominal output above 15 watts, the complete motor should be certified even if all of its relevant components are already UL-listed. The initial motor certification costs US$ 20,000 – 30,000 and takes 3 – 4 months.
UL certification at maxon motor ag
There are no plans to adopt any UL-certified motors into our standard program, as even a simple change of flex cables invalidates an existing certification.
The unassembled PCBs of the maxon controllers are UL certified. The respective UL file number can be found in the corresponding Hardware Reference document.
However, we could apply for UL inspection if the costs involved were passed onto the customer.
Cross Reference:
Comments
2 comments
Thank you for this expanation. It is very helpful.
Could you indicate the source that states that 15 Watts is the threshold for UL certification?
Many thanks in advance
Dear Mr. Kadafer,
Can I assume that your statement regarding UL approbation is based on the UL 1004-1 standard?
If so, this standard states: "A risk of fire is considered to exist if the open-circuit voltage between any two points is equal to or greater than 2500 volts peak, or if power of more than 15 watts can be delivered into an external resistor connected between the two points"
What happens to the motor when a single fault condition (e.g. short circuit) results in an input of more than 15 watts?
Article is closed for comments.