How Much Leakage Current Should be Allowed to Flow?

A bit of context would help.

DEAR,

Any good quality insulation of electrical equipment should not allow more than 2-12 micro Amps. during HV test. ( not at rated voltage) There are not any guide lines for the leakege current apermitted while taking HV test, but various equipments I have tested, & found as

415 V motors - 2 mA

Cables - 33 KV / 11 kv / 22 KV - 2-4 Micro Amp

Distribution Transformers - 500 KVA - 11KV - 6 mA

- 1650 KVA - 33KV - 7 mA

But, general saying is ....for human safety, leakege current should be < 30 mA.

The leakage current starts affecting the body above 11mA.

So, in any case, for safety reasons, at rated voltage, leakage current should not be allowed more than 6 mA.

Thank You.

Apart from HV test what are the permitted leakage currents for home/office/workshop equipment like computers,electric hand drills,hair driers,shavers,copiers,fax machines, electric cookers etc at rated voltage?. If you connect a device with more than 6mA leakage current in to a GFCI receptacle it will trip . Similarly if you connect 15 computers each with 2mA leakage current in a sub circuit protected by a 30mA RCD it too will trip.

From safety point of view what is the maximum leakage current allowed in any equipment?.

Dear pnaban,

As per Indian Electricity Rules, 1956, clause no. 49 (2) (b), maximum leakage current allowable is one five- thousandth part of maximum current supplied to the consumer's installation. If the leakage current exceeds the above limit, supply of electrical energy must be discontinued for safety reason.

I need the maximum leakage current allowed in each device used by adults,babies etc as stupilated by manufacturer's or Govt standards/Regulations.

I can tell you that for medical equipment and devices they are subject to the UL 60601-1 regulation or a maximum case leakage of 100 uA. That would be for an open ground, open neutral. You can Google that. It is to provide contact safety. However, this does not apply to non medical. It is stringent. An isolation transformer properly specified completely eliminates any problems and will usually keep it under 50 uA easy if not 20 uA.

Thanks for providing the solution I have the correct values or the leakage current