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1.3 Leakage Current
1.3 Leakage Current
1.3 Leakage Current
CURRENT
WHAT IS LEAKAGE CURRENT?
Leakage current is the current that flows through the protective
ground conductor to ground. In the absence of a grounding
connection, it is the current that could flow from any conductive
part or the surface of non-conductive parts to ground if a
conductive path was available (such as a human body). There are
always extraneous currents flowing in the safety ground conductor.
Causes Of Leakage Currents
If any conductor is raised to a potential above that of
earth, some current is bound to flow from that conductor
to earth. This is true even of conductors that are well
insulated from earth, since there is no such thing as
perfect insulation or infinite impedance. The amount of
current that flows depends on:
the voltage on the conductor.
thecapacitive reactance between the conductor and
earth.
the resistance between the conductor and earth.
Type Of Leakage Current
• It can either flow from the applied parts via the patient to
earth or from an external source of high potential via the
patient and the applied parts to earth.
Patient Leakage Current Path From Equipment
Patient Leakage Current Path To Equipment
Patient Leakage Current Measurement
Measurement Of Patient Leakage Current With
Applied Parts Connected Together
Measurement Of Patient Leakage Current For
Each Applied Part In Turn
Patient Leakage Current Measurement
Applicable to B / BF /CF
▪ Patient connection shorted
within applied part for B and
Condition BF.
Normal supply ▪ Patient connection measured
Normal supply, Open Neutral separately within applied part
Normal supply, Open Earth for CF.
(class I only)
▪ Limits B / BF (AC) 0.1mA /
Reversed supply
0.5mA (SFC)
Reversed supply, Open Neutral
Reversed supply, Open Earth
▪ Limits CF (AC) 0.01mA /
(class I only) 0.05mA (SFC)
▪ Limits B / BF / CF (AC)
AC and DC reading
0.01mA / 0.05mA (SFC)
Patient F-type Leakage Measurement
Patient F-type Leakage Measurement
Applicable to BF / CF only
▪ Patient Connection shorted within
Current Limited to 5mA max
at 110% of mains Applied Part for BF
▪ Patient Connection measured
Condition separately within Applied Part for
Normal Supply, Source Normal CF
Normal Supply, Source Reversed
Reversed Supply, Source Normal
▪ Limits BF (AC) 5mA
Reversed Supply, Source ▪ Limits CF (AC) 0.05mA
Reversed
RMS reading
Patient Auxiliary Leakage Current
• The patient auxiliary current is defined as the current that normally
flows between parts of the applied part through the patient, which is
not intended to produce a physiological effect.
Patient AUX Leakage Current Measurement
Patient AUX Leakage Current Measurement
Applicable to B / BF /CF ▪ Each Patient Connection to all
Conditions other Connection shorted within
Normal supply
Applied Part.
Normal supply, Open Neutral ▪ Limits B / BF (AC) 0.1mA /
Normal supply, Open Earth (class I
0.5mA (SFC)
only) ▪ Limits CF (AC) 0.01mA /
Reversed supply 0.05mA (SFC)
Reversed supply, Open Neutral ▪ Limits B / BF / CF (AC)
Reversed supply, Open Earth 0.01mA / 0.05mA (SFC)
(class I only)
AC and DC reading
Summary of Type Leakage Current
Measurement (IEC60601)
Earth Leakage Current
Patient Auxiliary Leakage Current measure the leakage current through each
applied part or lead and selected combination of lead connections (all other or
between two)
Summary of Leakage Current
Measurement (IEC62353)
Leakage Current Measurement
(IEC62353)