Regarding the voltage and current limits of intrinsically safe circuits
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Could some expert please give some guidance? I know that intrinsically safe circuits have limitations on voltage and current； But is there a limit value, for example, a certain voltage or current level below which no sparks will be generated at all? I’m not sure if this concept exists; I need help!
Intrinsic safety mainly means that the sparks generated will not cause accidents, with restrictions primarily on maximum power. It also depends on the usage environment. Generally, the maximum safe spark power is used, with a certain safety factor taken into account; the supply voltage is usually 24 volts, and the current should generally be kept below 100 milliamps. If the voltage is high, the current should be lower.
In intrinsically safe systems, what is restricted is power; it’s not just the voltage and current that are considered, but also the energy storage components – inductors and capacitors. For details, refer to standard GB3836