IEC 61810-10:2019

Overview

IEC 61810-10:2019 is an international standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that specifies additional functional aspects and safety requirements for high-capacity electromechanical elementary relays. This standard supplements IEC 61810-1 and focuses on relays with high breaking capacities, short-circuit resistance, and specialized insulation designs used in low-voltage equipment. The relays covered are typically all-or-nothing, non-specified time relays, engineered for demanding applications requiring enhanced safety and performance features.

The standard addresses special design considerations such as magnetic blow-out mechanisms or gas-filled contact chambers to ensure electric arc extinction and insulation reliability. It also includes rigorous safety assessments beyond the scope of general relay standards.

Key Topics

• Scope and Application: IEC 61810-10 applies to high-capacity relays designed for applications involving significant current and voltage stresses requiring robust safety and functional performance.
• Functional Requirements: Defines operating characteristics, heating limits, dielectric strength, electrical and mechanical endurance, and contact performance under demanding load conditions.
• Safety Standards: Includes detailed assessments for insulation coordination, clearances, creepage distances, heat and fire resistance, sealing, and terminal robustness.
• Special Testing: Requires type testing procedures for verifying compliance with extreme operational scenarios such as short circuit endurance, special inductive and resistive loads, and environmental stresses.
• Documentation and Marking: Specifies necessary data for relay identification, performance ratings, and safety information for reliable integration into systems.
• Annexes: Provide normative and informative guidance on relay load testing, mechanical properties, sealing evaluations, risk assessment, and application-specific tests for photovoltaic systems and road vehicles.

Applications

IEC 61810-10:2019 is particularly relevant for industries and systems that rely on high-capacity electromechanical relays for switching and protection purposes, including:

• Smart Grids: Ensuring safe and reliable switching in advanced electric power networks.
• Electrical Energy Storage (EES) Systems: Managing charge and discharge switching with high current loads.
• Solar Photovoltaic Energy Systems: Protecting solar installations with reliable relay performance under variable conditions.
• Electric Vehicles (EV) and Industrial Electric Trucks: Providing robust relay operations in battery management and propulsion systems.
• Power Electronic Systems: Supporting high-capacity switching and safety in power conversion and control.
• Secondary Cells and Batteries: Ensuring safety in energy storage devices with high load capacity.
• Road Vehicles: Addressing specific requirements for relay operation under automotive electrical and environmental stresses.

Related Standards

• IEC 61810-1:2015 – Electromechanical elementary relays – Part 1: Generic definitions and requirements. IEC 61810-10 supplements this with additional requirements specific to high-capacity relay types.
• IEC 60068 Series – Environmental testing procedures relevant for assessing relay mechanical and climatic endurance.
• IEC 61984 – Connectors – Safety requirements and tests, relevant for relay terminal and connection assessments.
• ISO 16750 Series – Road vehicles – Environmental conditions and testing for electrical and electronic equipment, applicable for automotive relay applications.
• IEC 60335 Series – Safety standards for electrical appliances that may incorporate relays conforming to these criteria.

Keywords: IEC 61810-10, high-capacity relays, electromechanical elementary relays, relay safety requirements, relay functional aspects, low-voltage equipment, smart grid relays, electric vehicle relays, photovoltaic system relays, electrical energy storage relays, relay type testing, breaking capacity, insulation coordination.