Standards Development

Scope

This clause of Part 1 is replaced by:

This part of IEC 60669 applies to electronic control devices, a general term to cover electronic switches, home and building electronic systems (HBES) / building automation and control systems (BACS) switches and electronic extension units.

It applies to electronic switches and to HBES/BACS switches, for alternating current (AC) only with a rated switching voltage not exceeding 250 V and a rated current not exceeding 16 A, intended for household and similar fixed electrical installations, either indoors or outdoors.

It also applies to electronic extension units with a rated supply voltage not exceeding 250 V AC and 120 V DC, such as sensors and push buttons.

This document also applies to electronic remote control switches (RCS) and electronic time delay switches (TDS). Particular requirements are given in Annex FF.

Switches including only passive components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, positive temperature coefficient (PTC) and negative temperature coefficient (NTC) components, varistors, printed wiring boards and connectors are not considered as electronic control devices.

This document also applies to electronic switches and HBES/BACS switches of which the control is realized by an electronic signal for the operation of lighting equipment circuits and the control of the brightness of lighting equipment (dimmers) as well as the control of the speed of motors (for example, those used in ventilating fans) and for other purposes (for example, heating controls).

The operation and/or control as mentioned above can be transmitted by an electronic signal via several media, for example, powerline (mains), twisted pair, optical fibre, radio frequency, infrared, etc. and are performed:

–        intentionally by a person via an actuating member, a key, a card, etc., via a sensing surface or a sensing unit, by means of touch, proximity, turn, optical, acoustic, thermal;

–        by physical means, for example, light, temperature, humidity, time, wind velocity, presence of people;

–        by any other influence.

This document also applies to electronic control devices which include integrated radio receivers and transmitters. 

This document also applies to specific boxes for switches. The specific boxes are considered as part of the enclosure.

NOTE 1 General purpose boxes for switches and other accessories are covered by IEC 60670-1.

Requirements for general purpose mounting boxes are given in the relevant part, if any, of IEC 60670.

This document applies to electronic control devices for use at ambient temperature not normally exceeding 25 °C but occasionally reaching 35 °C with a lower limit of the ambient air temperature of −5 °C.

NOTE 2 For lower temperatures, see Annex E.

Functional safety aspects are not covered by this document. Functional safety requirements are covered by the standards of the controlled devices.

In locations where special conditions prevail, such as in ships, vehicles and the like and in hazardous locations, for example where explosions are liable to occur, special construction and/or additional requirements may be required.

This document is not intended to cover devices which are designed to be incorporated in appliances or are intended to be delivered together with a specific appliance and which are within the scope of IEC 60730 (all parts) or IEC 61058-1.

Examples of designs of electronic switches and HBES/BACS switches and functions are shown in Annex AA.

Electrical interface specification for phase-cut dimmer used in phase-cut dimmed lighting systems are given for information only in Annex EE.