Hello,
I want to make a device with a plastic enclosure and an earth connection.
The device needs an earth connection because it will switch mains power to loads that have an earth, for example a metal-cased fan and a pneumatic valve.
My question is, what device class is it?
According to the wiki for double-insulated (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_insulated) this would be a class 0 device, but these 'will eventually disappear... in favour of Class II devices'.
I could make it a class I device, with a metal chassis and earth connection, but I want to avoid this because it is heavier to ship and the enclosure is more expensive.
I can't make a class II device, because these aren't allowed to have an earth connection. (Why is it that a class II device *must not* have an earth connection? What is the danger?)
I see many devices around (such as common powerboards and light timers) that have
a) plastic enclosure
b) earth connection
but they are not labelled as class II/double insulated, and they can't be be class 0 because the world would end if powerboards were phased out. What class are these?
Thanks,
David