scope:

Scope and object

This part of IEC 60871 is applicable to both capacitor units and capacitor banks intended to be used, particularly, for power-factor correction of a.c. power systems having a rated voltage above 1 000 V and frequencies of 15 Hz to 60 Hz.

This part of IEC 60871 also applies to capacitors intended for use in power filter circuits. Additional definitions, requirements, and tests for filter capacitors are given in annex B.

Additional requirements for capacitors protected by internal fuses as well as requirements for the internal fuses are given in IEC 60871-4.

Requirements for capacitors to be protected by external fuses, as well as requirements for the same, are given in annex C.

This part of IEC 60871 is not applicable to high-voltage capacitors composed of low-voltage capacitors of the self-healing type. Additional definitions, requirements and tests for selfhealing capacitors can be found in IEC 60831.

The following capacitors are excluded from this part of IEC 60871:

- capacitors for inductive heat-generating plants operating at frequencies between 40 Hz and 24 000 Hz (IEC 60110);

- series capacitors for power systems (IEC 60143);

- capacitors for motor applications and the like (IEC 60252);

- coupling capacitors and capacitor dividers (IEC 60358);

- shunt capacitors of the non-self-healing type for a.c. systems having a rated voltage up to and including 1 000 V (IEC 60931);

- small a.c. capacitors to be used for fluorescent and discharge lamps (IEC 61048 and IEC 61049);

- capacitors to be used in power electronic circuits (IEC 61071);

- capacitors for microwave ovens (IEC 61270);

- capacitors for suppression of radio interference (under consideration);

- capacitors intended for use with d.c. voltage superimposed on the a.c. voltage.

Accessories such as insulators, switches, instrument transformers, external fuses, etc. shall be in accordance with the relevant IEC standards.

The object of this part of IEC 60871 is:

a) to formulate uniform rules regarding performances, testing and rating;

b) to formulate specific safety rules;

c) to provide a guide for installation and operation.