Just to give a background to the question:
A few days ago I got a nasty shock from a output of a 12V power supply adapter (SMPS) . when I checked resistance between a mains supply pin and output pin, the resistance read about... hmmm not sure the exact values, but it was in the kilo ohm range. So I opened up the unit and checked the isolation stage. The resistance between the capacitor connecting the primary and secondary stages (where the so called Y capacitor, blue color normally), read about 12 kohms.

The capacitor was removed and checked and it read 12 kOhms. So the problem was indeed the capacitor. Later I replaced it with a similar capacitor and now things are back to working condition with isolation from mains.

My question is, why did the manufacturer use a class Y capacitor for the isolation stage. Class Y capacitors conduct at failure, this is a safety issue. Dont you think a class X capacitor should have been used so that the user would be protected in case of a failure?

 

My question is, why did the manufacturer use a class Y capacitor for the isolation stage.

Avarice, lax enforcement, ignorance (in no particular order) --- à la self-igniting CFLs

Best regards
HP

 

Failure Mode of both the X & Y caps should be open.
X caps when they fail shorted, as they are across the line, there is the fire risk.
Y caps when they fail shorted, there is risk of shock.
Y caps are impulse tested for higher voltages than X caps.

 

Failure Mode of both the X & Y caps should be open.
X caps when they fail shorted, as they are across the line, there is the fire risk.
Y caps when they fail shorted, there is risk of shock.
Y caps are impulse tested for higher voltages than X caps.

Having Um... (only now) done my 'home work', I must concur...
So... I hereby redirect my little whine (post #2) toward the component manufacturers and the relevant (internal and regulatory) compliance chain...

This to be filed under 'Shameless face-saving ploy No. 31822'

Unabashedly
HP

 

I have a shorter method. It goes like this:

Oops, missed that one.

 

Failure Mode of both the X & Y caps should be open.
X caps when they fail shorted, as they are across the line, there is the fire risk.
Y caps when they fail shorted, there is risk of shock.
Y caps are impulse tested for higher voltages than X caps.

Thanks RamaD, I did not know that both class X and class Y capacitors (should) fail by open mode only.
I was in the view that X capacitors fail by "Open" mode and class Y capacitor fail by "short circuit mode".
So was I wrong about the capacitor class ?, Does it mean that normally, class Y is safer than class X capacitors?

 

In round numbers, X caps are line-to-line, line-to-neutral, etc. Y caps are line-or-neutral-to Earth. Y caps have greater high voltage reliability requirement because a 110 VAC line can momentarily be 1000 V above Earth while still being 110 V line-to-neutral. This comes into play more with three-phase power systems, but the ideas are the same. Both classes usually are of a film construction that is called "self-healing." A momentary short burns open rather than consume enough energy to set something on fire. The caps are UL rated for fire safety, but that doesn't mean everything around them is. X and Y caps can be ceramic, but I've never seen a ceramic X cap in use because they are much larger than films for the same capacitance. Ceramic Y caps are common, as in your case. The cap bridges the isolation barrier as part of the EMI noise control. Usually a smaller value than the Y caps at the power supply input filter.

All of that was from memory. It's close to reality, but a true compliance person might chime in with some actual facts.

ak

 

AnalogKid has given the reason for Y Caps testing voltage being higher.
Again, rephrasing the words, both X & Y Caps should not fail 'shorted' is desirable. Not sure if it is certified. Again, out of memory, Y Caps of ceramic types are designed for this not to fail 'shorted' condition. Due to safety current limits of 1/4 to around 3mA in different standards, these tend to be small.

 

... X caps are line-to-line, line-to-neutral, etc. Y caps are line-or-neutral-to Earth. Y caps have greater high voltage reliability requirement ...

So basically, structurally, class X and Class Y are the same. Class X and Class Y are named based on the usage. Class Y is more safer than class X.
I think I got it. Thanks.

So I conclude : the use of class Y capacitor at isolation stage is a good design approach.
The reliability of the capacitor was the problem.
All caps should only fail by "open" condition.

Thanks.

 

Hello,

Here is a quote from the capsite:

Class X is for applications where failure could not lead to electric shock (hot to neutral). Class X1 capacitors are intended to operate safely even in the presence of spikes on the mains supply of up to 4 kV (installation category 3 or overvoltage category 3 according to IEC60664), which are normally industrial supplies, but some standards call up class X1 capacitors if they are connected directly to the mains supply upstream of the equipment fuse, irrespective of the type of mains supply. Class X2 capacitors are intended to operate safely even in the presence of spikes on the mains supply of up to 2.5 kV (installation category 2 or overvoltage category 2 according to IEC60060), which are normally residential, commercial and light industrial supplies. X capacitors can be found from 0.001 uF to at least 10 uF and are only made in film.

Class Y capacitors are for applications where failure could lead to electric shock if the ground connection were lost. This includes hot/neutral to ground, and antenna isolation capacitors. Because Y capacitors shunt current to ground, leakage-current limitations limit their size to a maximum of about 4700 pF in many commercial and industrial applications (but refer to the relevant standard for definite information) and about 470 pF in medical applications. Larger ones are available however. Y caps are available from 1000 pF to 0.1 uF and are made in both film and ceramic.

And here the full page:
http://my.execpc.com/~endlr/line-filter.html

Here are some more pages with the explanations:
http://www.justradios.com/safetytips.html
http://www.ehow.com/info_8649387_differences-x2-y1-y2-capacitors.html

Bertus

 

Hello,

Here is a quote from the capsite:


And here the full page:
http://my.execpc.com/~endlr/line-filter.html

Here are some more pages with the explanations:
http://www.justradios.com/safetytips.html
http://www.ehow.com/info_8649387_differences-x2-y1-y2-capacitors.html

Bertus

A while ago, I thought I understood everything about class X and Y caps. But it seems that this is a very complicated topic.
I did not notice in any of the above reference specific suitability of a class X or Y caps to be used between isolation stages; where galvanic isolation is required. I presume that using a capacitor between primary and secondary winding is not a correct thing to do.

Could you kindly enlighten me on this please?

 

I've seen it, especially in low power supplies, but I've never known why there is that bias. I think Power Integrations shows it in some of their app notes. In general, it is an EMI noise control technique, and because it is across the isolation barrier I assume it must require Y rated caps. It shunts secondary side high frequency spike noise from flyback transformer secondaries to the power line Neutral in supplies with no Earth Ground connection.

ak