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What's the difference between Class 2 and Class II Power Supplies?
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The biggest problem is that people don’t realise that Class 2 and Class II are 2 entirely different things!
So what’s the difference?
Class 2 Power Supply
This has to do with electrical safety compliance in the USA and affects industrial power supplies.
Class 2 classification that appears in the National Electric Code (NEC).
When it comes to AC-DC power supplies, it calls for the output to be limited to 100 Watts.
This is to prevent electrical cable overheating and causing an electrical fire.
Power supplies that conform to Class 2 are usually certified to UL1310. MEAN WELL does not offer a power supply that meets UL1310.
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MEAN WELL NGE100
Class II Power Supply
Class II concerns power supplies that are likely to be in contact with members of the public.
For example:
- LED Drivers
- Power Adapters
- Battery Chargers
Class II power supplies don’t need an earth connection to protect against electric shock. So, they are typically supplied with a 2-pin Australian power plug rather than a 3-pin one.
MEAN WELL does offer several Class II rated power supplies.
Both the MEAN WELL catalogue and the product data-sheet will indicate if a power supply has Class II isolation, and all will display the symbol on the power supply’s label:
If you have any questions concerning Class II power supplies, please contact Power Supplies Australia.
