National Instruments NI PCI-5911 User Manual

Page 9

About This Manual

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Pollution Degree 3 means that conductive pollution occurs, or dry,
nonconductive pollution occurs that becomes conductive due to
condensation.

You must insulate signal connections for the maximum voltage for which
the device is rated. Do not exceed the maximum ratings for the device. Do
not install wiring while the device is live with electrical signals. Do not
remove or add connector blocks when power is connected to the system.
Avoid contact between your body and the connector block signal when hot
swapping devices.

Remove power from signal lines before connecting them

to or disconnecting them from the device.

Operate the device at or below the installation category

marked on the

hardware label. Measurement circuits are subjected to working voltages

and transient stresses (overvoltage) from the circuit to which they are
connected during measurement or test. Installation categories establish
standard impulse withstand voltage levels that commonly occur in
electrical distribution systems. The following is a description of installation
categories:

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Installation Category I is for measurements performed on circuits not
directly connected to the electrical distribution system referred to as
MAINS

voltage. This category is for measurements of voltages from

specially protected secondary circuits. Such voltage measurements
include signal levels, special equipment, limited-energy parts of
equipment, circuits powered by regulated low-voltage sources, and
electronics.

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Installation Category II is for measurements performed on circuits
directly connected to the electrical distribution system. This category
refers to local-level electrical distribution, such as that provided by a
standard wall outlet (for example, 115 AC voltage for U.S. or 230 AC
voltage for Europe). Examples of Installation Category II are
measurements performed on household appliances, portable tools, and
similar devices.

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Installation Category III is for measurements performed in the building
installation at the distribution level. This category refers to
measurements on hard-wired equipment such as equipment in fixed
installations, distribution boards, and circuit breakers. Other examples
are wiring, including cables, bus bars, junction boxes, switches, socket

Installation categories, also referred to as measurement categories, are defined in electrical safety standard IEC 61010-1.

Working voltage is the highest rms value of an AC or DC voltage that can occur across any particular insulation.

MAINS is defined as a hazardous live electrical supply system that powers equipment. Suitably rated measuring circuits may

be connected to the MAINS for measuring purposes.