Creepage distance for PCBs handling line voltage AC? - Electrical Eng... http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/22796/creepage-distanc...

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Creepage distance for PCBs handling line voltage AC?

What is the required creepage (e.g. trace-to-trace) distance for PCBs handling 240VAC rms? What about 120VAC?

This is for UL and CE certification.

The standards for PCB Creepage (e.g. the distance across the surface of a PCB between high-voltage connections) are locked up in
propietary, pay-only IEC standards (specifically, IEC Report 664/664A ).

This is troubling, as following these standards is a good way to ensure safety, even if you never intend to actually get your project
UL or CE certified.

Can we get a nice summary of what trace-trace spacing should be maintained for common voltages (e.g. 120V, 240V), with common
materials (e.g. FR4, etc...)?

ac high-voltage line-power

asked Nov 27 '11 at 6:22

Connor Wolf
17.9k 2 29 70

what is a pollution degree in layout? har Oct 19 '13 at 11:56

4 Answers

Brings back memories. not all good ones.

Herewith potpourri / hodgepodge - some value.

Useful online calculator covering subset of question.

They say

Insulation Calculator

This program is based on Table 2G and Figure 2F of IEC 60950. Select the circuits that
bridge the insulation to be determined by using the drop down lists. For example, a
Primary Circuit to a Primary Circuit requires Functional Insulation. The Insulation
Calculator will automatically determine the insulation. Notes are also provided as called
out in Table 2G. Acknowledgement

The author thanks the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for permission
to reproduce Section 2.9 "Insulation", Section 2.10 "Clearances, creepage distance and
distances through insulation", and Section 5.2 "Electric Strength" from its International
Standard IEC 60950. All such extracts are copyright of IEC, Geneva, Switzerland. All
rights reserved. Consult with IEC 60950 for all final design decisions.

Useful summary page

Includes

From DIN EN 60664-1 (VDE 0110-1), creepage.

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From DIN EN 60664-1 (VDE 0110-1), clearance

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Creepage distance for PCBs handling line voltage AC? - Electrical Eng... http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/22796/creepage-distanc...

And again from here not much else useful on this exact topic but MANY OTHER SIMILAR
pages with links to portions of relevant standards.

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Small but useful extract from (Extract DIN VDE 0110-04.97*)

They say:

This standard is a technical adaptation of IEC Report 664/664A and specifies, in

general, the minimum insulation distances for equipment. It can be used by committees
to protect persons and property in the best possible way from the effects of electrical
voltages or currents (e.g. fire hazard) or from functional failure of the equipment by
providing adequate dimensioning of clearances and creepage distances in equipment.)

Useful subset

Interesting comment from here:

IEC 60601-1 Third Edition: Creepage Distance and Clearance Requirements July 04,
2011

It's simple: Engineers must be aware of the design for each medical device. The
awareness of what is most critical is important. But why? The isolation required
between parts with different operating voltages, to prevent against unacceptable risk, is
the primary reason for the importance of creepage and clearance distances.
Specifically, creepage is the shortest distance between the path of two conductive parts
of a medical device and is measures along the surface of insulation. The clearance is
similar, but very different. It [clearance] is the shortest distance between two conductive
parts, measured through air. In IEC 60601-1 Third Edition, there are requirements for
creepage distance and clearance, which follows the IEC "Modern Standard" approach.
This approach though requires the use of six different tables for spacings and the
introduction of five additional requirements to be included as part of the evaluation. But
what if your company has already begun to address these requirements established by
Second Edition? "If your product meets Second Edition's creepage and clearance, then
the medical product will be in compliance with the requirements for Third Edition,"
said Todd Konieczny, North American Medical Technical Leader. "The Third Edition
requirements for creepage and clearance require less stringent parameters for operator
protection which, ultimately, allows companies to build a smaller product."

edited Jun 4 '13 at 14:31 answered Nov 27 '11 at 11:31

Dave Tweed Russell McMahon
31.7k 4 39 64 65.5k 2 49 123

A lot of this is fairly easy to find. While it is useful, it is couched in pretty obscure terminology (really, IEC? "Board
Pollution Level"?). What would be much more useful is a couple of examples, say 120V and 240V, with a break down of
what creepage distance you want, and what the contributing factors r.e. IEC codes are that result in the desired creepage
distance. Connor Wolf Nov 27 '11 at 12:08

Be my guest :-) Russell McMahon Nov 27 '11 at 12:43

I would if I had any of the actual IEC documents. I asked the question to supplement my knowledge with experience
from someone who actually has access to the real IEC codes. Basically, I want to idiot-check my own work.
Connor Wolf Nov 27 '11 at 12:48

As a first pass, I try to keep line voltage isolated circuitry separated by 5 mm. That will do. If
that's too much, then you have to consult the details in the spec.

answered Nov 27 '11 at 12:38

Olin Lathrop
101k 7 105 231

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Pollution degree 2 applies to the vast majority of ITE (information technology equipment) -
degree 3 is for stuff that is subjected to significant external contamination.

www.creepage.com has handy calculation tools. (I hate that viewing this site on an iOS
device doesn't show the usual editing links...)

answered Nov 27 '11 at 16:06

Madmanguruman
20.2k 20 51

Here is a useful link Acetronics. The 60950 standard is available as AS/NZ or International
(IEC) and costs around $239 in pdf form or $266 in hardcopy from saiglobal.com SAI
Global 60950

answered Nov 27 '11 at 21:24

ESDN
11

Welcome to Electrical Engineering! While your link may theoretically answer the question, it would be preferable to
include the essential parts of the answer here, and provide the link for reference. Also, while SAI Global may sell the
spec, the question author specified that they weren't looking for the spec. If you are affiliated with either site, please
declare so in your answers. Thanks! Kevin Vermeer Nov 28 '11 at 1:24

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