New Iec 62955 Standard

The new IEC 62955 product standard for residual current protection devices in charging devices for electric vehicles came into effect in March.

The Doepke DFS residual current circuit-breakers with an EV design are based on the DIN EN 61008-1 standard that applies to residual current circuit-breakers. They also have an active additional function, meaning they can be relied upon to detect smooth DC residual currents and isolate them at a maximum of 6 mA. As a result, they comply fully with the requirements for residual direct current protective devices (RDC-PD) as set out in the IEC 62955 standard. Our EV switches will therefore now be granted VDE certification in line with the new standard. To provide you with some background information, the installation regulations for electromobility charging points – DIN VDE 0100-722 – specify that every socket used to charge an electric vehicle must be protected by its own residual current device (RCD). Mode 3 charging points must include protection against smooth DC residual currents. This protection can be provided by electrical separation (isolating transformer) or Type B residual current operated protective device or Type A + 6 mA DC detection (RDC-DD). Requirements for RDC-DD protection devices for Mode 3 charging, are detailed in the new Standard IEC62955 for residual current protection (single- or multi-phase charging with alternating current).

The IEC 62955 standard includes residual direct current protective devices (RDC-PD) and residual direct current monitoring devices (RDC-MD) under the umbrella term RCD-DD. Residual direct current monitoring devices consist, for example, of a monitoring module (RDCM-module) for detecting smooth DC residual currents and a switching device that may or may not have an isolation feature. When working with this particular combination, the person or company responsible for the installation must, however, always carefully follow the switch-off criteria required in the event of a fault and a Type A or F residual current operated protective device must always be provided. Alternatively, they can use a single residual direct current protective device (RDC-PD) as a convenient means of protection for each of the charging device’s sockets provided that it detects DC residual currents and isolates at a maximum of 6 mA. Our DFS residual current circuit-breakers with an EV design would be ideal for this purpose.