Electrical engineering products and their applications are not harmonized internationally

The greatest differences to the IEC world are in North America, i.e. the USA and Canada. For many newcomers to the export business, it is initially surprising to experience the very different approaches and solutions.

Special components, such as handles for main switches that can only be operated with intentional switching of an additional handle when the control panel door is opened, may be partly required for export to North America. Or the European motor-protective circuit-breaker is only accepted with an upstream protective device or with larger air and creepage distances on the input terminals. Eaton is the competent partner of choice for export-related issues here.

Qualified information is a vital key to success

Reliable information relating to the approvals for export components to North America is available to the machine and panel builders in the Eaton main catalogue for the Moeller series. Each of these pages contains a selection page with details such as the corresponding Product Standard, the E-File Number, the Category Control Number or the CSA Class Number. Many customers incorporate this information into their BOMs to ensure that they are ideally prepared for the acceptance procedure at the manufacturing location or on site in North America.

Also information concerning the application possibilities of the components, such as suitability for use in feeder or in branch circuits, the max. application voltage or the North American degree of protection, e.g. UL / CSA Type 4X, are listed here. Up to 13 data elements are available for each product. The main catalogue also contains a glossary of terms incorporating the American terminology.

In the Eaton approvals database, you will find the approvals or classifications for the type. This provides an overview of the existing certificates, or depending on the authority involved, the product report. The same information is also available in the databases of the authorities.

Specialist publications on the issue of "Export to North America"

Anyone not interested in some negative experiences should utilize the large number of publications available from Eaton on the issue of export to North America. Here the implementation of the Codes & Standards and the diverging practices are explained.

These specialist technical articles can be downloaded as a PDF or can be ordered free-of-charge in the Info Center.