IEC 61557-13-2023 PDF

Full title and description

Electrical safety in low voltage distribution systems up to 1 000 V AC and 1 500 V DC — Equipment for testing, measuring or monitoring of protective measures — Part 13: Hand-held and hand-manipulated current clamps and sensors for measurement of leakage currents in electrical distribution systems. This document defines special performance and testing requirements for portable current clamps and sensors used to measure leakage/earth-fault currents in electrical distribution systems, taking into account influence from high external low-frequency magnetic fields and other influencing quantities.

Abstract

IEC 61557-13:2023 is the second edition (technical revision) of Part 13 of the IEC 61557 series. It updates and tightens performance, display and immunity requirements for hand-held and hand-manipulated current clamps and sensors used to measure leakage currents in low-voltage distribution systems. The revision clarifies display vs. measuring ranges, adds DC/peak indication options, defines a test frequency for low-frequency magnetic-field sensitivity and aligns the document structure with the rest of the IEC 61557 series.

General information

• Status: Current / Active
• Publication date: August 25, 2023
• Publisher: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
• ICS / categories: 17.220.20, 29.080.01, 29.240.01
• Edition / version: Edition 2.0 (2023)
• Number of pages: 41

Key bibliographic and edition details are taken from the IEC publication record and national catalogues.

Scope

Specifies special performance requirements, tests and classification for hand-held and hand-manipulated current clamps and sensors intended for measurement of leakage currents in electrical distribution networks up to 1 000 V AC and 1 500 V DC. The standard addresses measurement ranges and display behaviour, resolution, required immunity to external low-frequency magnetic fields, frequency response, and minimum load-current capability. It explicitly excludes current clamps/sensors used in combination with insulation-fault-location equipment covered by IEC 61557-9 unless the manufacturer specifies otherwise. Examples of measurement applications are given in Annex A.

Key topics and requirements

• Performance and classification for hand-held and hand-manipulated leakage-current clamps and sensors.
• Required display (indication) ranges and definition of displayed DC, RMS and optional peak values; measuring/display ranges clarified compared to the previous edition.
• Resolution requirements (typical minimum resolution 0.1 mA for many ranges; recommendations for finer resolution when testing appliances).
• Frequency response requirements covering mains fundamental and harmonics (minimum 40 Hz to the third harmonic of the rated mains frequency; recommendations for wider ranges for industrial and railway applications).
• Operating classes defined by sensitivity to low-frequency magnetic fields and immunity testing in accordance with IEC 61000‑4‑8.
• Mechanical and electrical design requirements including a specified minimum load current (design for at least 60 A load current unless otherwise specified).
• Conformance with general requirements of IEC 61557-1 and relevant safety standards for current sensors (for example IEC 61010-2-032 referenced for sensor safety).
• Annex A provides illustrative measurement applications; the edition also documents notable technical changes versus the 2011 edition.

Typical use and users

Used by electrical installation and maintenance engineers, safety inspectors, test & measurement equipment manufacturers, calibration laboratories and installers performing leakage-current verification, commissioning and periodic testing of distribution systems and appliances. Also relevant for specialists in industrial, commercial and railway electrical systems where leakage-current measurement under varying frequencies and magnetic-field environments is required.

Related standards

IEC 61557-1 (general requirements for equipment for testing protective measures), IEC 61557-9 (insulation fault location equipment — note exclusion), IEC 61010-2-032 (safety requirements for handheld current sensors), IEC 61000-4-8 (low-frequency magnetic-field immunity), and the other parts of the IEC 61557 series. The part is also adopted in regional/EN variants as EN IEC 61557-13.

Keywords

Leakage current, current clamp, current sensor, hand-held, low-voltage distribution, IEC 61557, insulation monitoring, RMS, DC, peak, magnetic-field immunity, IEC 61000-4-8, IEC 61010-2-032.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC 61557-13:2023 is Part 13 of the IEC 61557 series; it sets performance and test requirements for hand-held and hand-manipulated current clamps and sensors used to measure leakage currents in low-voltage distribution systems.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers measurement/display ranges and resolution, frequency response, immunity to low-frequency magnetic fields (operating classes), minimum load-current capability, and related tests and classifications. It also gives examples of measurement applications in an annex and specifies exclusions (notably sensors combined with insulation-fault-location equipment covered by IEC 61557-9 unless stated by the manufacturer).

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Electrical testers, installers, maintenance engineers, product designers and manufacturers of current clamps/sensors, safety and compliance engineers, and calibration laboratories involved in leakage-current measurement and verification.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: Current. IEC 61557-13:2023 is the second edition published in 2023 and cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2011 (technical revision). Publication date: August 25, 2023.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes. It is Part 13 of the IEC 61557 series, which covers equipment for testing, measuring or monitoring protective measures in low-voltage distribution systems. Other related parts set general requirements (61557-1) and address specific measurement equipment (for example 61557-9 for insulation fault location).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Leakage current, current clamp, current sensor, hand-held, RMS, DC, peak, low-frequency magnetic-field immunity, IEC 61557.