Glossary
Extra-low voltage
What is Extra-low voltage?
Voltage up to 50 volts AC or 120 volts DC. 12- and 24-volt on-board systems fall into this category — which is why different requirements apply to them than to the 230-volt side.
What matters about Extra-low voltage in practice?
Extra-low voltage does not mean harmless. The voltage does not endanger people, but the current certainly can: in a short circuit a battery bank delivers currents in the thousands of amps, and the energy is enough to set a cable on fire within seconds.
Since 2020 the standard for extra-low-voltage DC installations on board has been ISO 13297 — it replaced the previously applicable ISO 10133, which was withdrawn at the end of 2020. It mainly covers protection, cable routing and connection technology.
Still unclear?
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