Image above: (not a NetBit PSU – NetBit has been fortunate enough not to face such issues)
What is UL 1449?
Since the initial creation of the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) in 1985, UL1449 has provided the safety standards for Surge Suppression. This was originally titled, “The Standard for Safety for transient Voltage Surge Suppressor,” which was formerly created to provide a framework for an industry that was developing rapidly. As time has elapsed, new developments and advanced technologies have become available, resulting in the need for more precise standards. In September 29th 2009, the UL acted upon this transition by creating the UL1449 3rd Edition which has now become the primary safety standard for surge protective devices (SPDs).
How Can UL 1449 Prevent House Fires?
Electronic equipment that contains transistors and integrated circuits such as: TV’s, set top boxes, modems, gateways and other customer premises equipment (CPE), are extremely vulnerable / susceptible to damage that can be caused by transient over-voltages (aka “surges”) on the AC supply mains.
An MOV (Metal Oxide Varistor) is a voltage dependent, nonlinear device that administers superior transient voltage suppression. The MOV has been specifically designed to protect electronic devices and semiconductor elements from switching and induced lighting surges.
Metal-oxide varistors (MOVs) used in CPE have been designed to clamp fast over-voltage transients in milliseconds. However, as a consequence of such speedy duration transients, MOVs inside SPD modules are open to experiencing temporary over-voltage conditions caused by the loss of neutral or by incorrect internal wiring during the installation period. Such conditions can cause stress to an MOV which results in thermal runaway and in turn, this can cause overheating, smoke and the danger of a potential fire.
UL 1449 safety standards for SPDs, define specific abnormal conditions under which devices must be tested to ensure absolute SPD safety. Robust SPD module designs will include thermal disconnects in order to protect the MOVs from thermal runaway.
How does UL 1449 relate to CPE Power Supplies?
Power Supplies for CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) applications are covered by different UL safety standards, primarily UL60590 and/or UL60065 which are now being combined into a common standard – UL62368. Whilst the vast majority of power supplies used in CPE applications will contain SPDs (MOVs) for lighting strike protection, the applicable safety standards as referenced above do not include tests to check behaviour under the same abnormal over-voltage limited current test conditions as the UL1449 standard. In practice, this can mean that even when a power supply uses an SPD (MOV) which is approved to the UL1449 standard there is still a possibility of fire, smoke and/or case deformation when the power supply is exposed to an open-neutral fault. In particular the problem manifests itself when the current sourced into the power supply is drawn through a limited impedance which in turn prohibits the power supply’s fuse from blowing in order to protect the device.
Some operators and CPE manufacturers are starting to recognise the potential for fires to occur in the home as result of this “loophole” and are now mandating that the power supplies deployed in customer premises are tested to the UL1449 standard in addition to the mandatory UL specifications. When testing in this manner the power supply itself is considered as an SPD and has to meet the “limited current abnormal overvoltage” requirements of the standard. Whilst this approach adds a small cost per unit to the power itself it can and will protect homes from fire and smoke damage and potentially save the loss of human life.
What does the future hold for removal of this risk?
NetBit is utilizing its extensive expertise in the field of CPE power to work directly with customers and operators to voluntarily adopt the application of the UL 1449 abnormal over-voltage requirements. As a result, this will help to protect the end users from the risk of potentially catastrophic and life-threatening hazards. NetBit’s prestigious portfolio of power solutions for CPE applications, offer the ability to comply with UL1449 as an additional design feature. This has been created to give customers and end-users the peace of mind that their system is protected against these types of risks.
Find out more about NetBit’s products here.
Download our white paper: Consequences Of Open Neutral Fault In The Home & UL 1449 Protection here.
