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Power-Supply-CB-Certification-Process-and-Testing-Standards
CB certification under the IECEE CB Scheme provides a globally recognized test report that simplifies market access across 50+ member countries. This guide covers the CB certification process for power supplies, testing standards, and strategies for maximizing the value of a CB report.
CB Scheme Overview for Power Supplies
The IECEE CB Scheme is an international system for mutual acceptance of test reports and certificates for electrical equipment. For power supplies, the CB certification process involves:
- Testing at a CBTL (CB Testing Laboratory) per IEC 62368-1
- Issuance of CB Test Report (CBTR) by an NCB (National Certification Body)
- CBTR can be used for national certification in member countries with only national difference testing required
Applicable IEC standard: IEC 62368-1 (Audio/video, information and communication technology equipment — Safety requirements). Power supplies with medical applications follow IEC 60601-1 instead.
CB Testing Requirements
Power supply CB certification testing per IEC 62368-1 covers:
- Energy source classification:Primary side circuits classified as ES3 (hazardous energy), requiring protection against electric shock and fire
- Insulation verification:Creepage, clearance, and dielectric strength for basic, supplementary, and reinforced insulation
- Temperature testing:Component and enclosure temperatures under normal and abnormal conditions at rated input voltage
- Abnormal operation:Output overload, short circuit, fan failure, single-fault conditions
- Fire hazard assessment:Flame retardancy of enclosures and PIS (Potential Ignition Sources) evaluation
Practical Insight:A 350W open-frame power supply failed the IEC 62368-1 PIS (Potential Ignition Source) assessment. Under single-fault conditions (output rectifier diode short), the secondary side transformer current increased significantly, causing the transformer bobbin to soften and the windings to short. The PIS analysis required a V-1 rated fire enclosure, but the open-frame design had no enclosure. The solution was to add a V-0 rated insulation sleeve around the transformer and a thermal fuse in the primary winding, eliminating the PIS classification.
National Differences and Conversion Strategy
When converting a CB report to national certifications, each country has specific national differences:
- EU (CE):EN 62368-1 differences minimal — CB report with EU national differences typically accepted directly
- USA (UL):Significant differences in component requirements, wiring practices, and enclosure requirements. Additional testing often needed
- China (CCC):GB 4943.1 differences include additional EMC testing and mandatory factory inspection
- Japan (PSE):J62368-1 differences include voltage rating (100V AC) and plug requirements
Strategic recommendation: Request the CBTL to test against multiple national differences simultaneously when possible, reducing the need for additional testing during conversion.
CB Certification Process
- ①Apply to NCB:Submit application to a National Certification Body participating in the CB Scheme
- ②Documentation:Provide product specifications, circuit diagrams, BOM, thermal design documentation
- ③Testing at CBTL:Full IEC 62368-1 safety testing with requested national differences
- ④CBTR issuance:NCB issues the CB Test Report and CB Test Certificate
Timeline: approximately 4-8 weeks for testing. The CB certificate is valid for 3 years. GTG Group provides power supply CB certification testing and multi-market conversion consulting services.
This article is AI-assisted and for reference only. It does not constitute any certification commitment or legal advice. Please refer to the latest official regulations.
Contact: 13925591357 | net04@gtggroup.com