IEC 62271-102:2018 applies to alternating current disconnectors and earthing switches, designed for indoor and outdoor installations for nominal voltages above 1 000 V and for service frequencies up to and including 60 Hz.

This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2001, Amendment 1:2011 and Amendment 2:2013. This edition constitutes a technical revision.

This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
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new numbering according to IEC 17/ 1025/ RQ to harmonize with ISO/ IEC Directives, Part 2, and IEEE Std. C37.100.1

clause numbering has been aligned with IEC 62271-1:2017

the Scope has been extended to cover all indoor and outdoor installations. Consideration of switching devices having disconnecting and/ or earthing switch functionalities, apart from other functions, are also covered by this document

ratings have been moved from Annexes B, C and E to Clause 5 the order of the subclauses now corresponds to the order of subclauses in Clause 7

new rating values for bus-transfer current and bus-transfer voltage have been assigned

new class of mechanical endurance for earthing switches has been added (M1)

subclause " Rated values of electrical endurance for earthing switches" is now called " Classification of earthing switches for short-circuit making capability"

new subclause with ratings for ice-coating has been added

new subclause with classification of bus-charging switching capability has been added

new withstand requirements for interlocking devices have been added

the way to comply with the requirements of the isolating distance of disconnectors has been modified

design and construction requirements for position-indicating devices have been modified, aligning the requirements for position indication and signalling

the value of the operating force has been changed

the test procedures and validation criteria have been revised and modified where necessary

requirements for applied voltage during single-phase test on non-simultaneous closing earthing switches have been changed

non-verifiable requirements have been deleted

a new subclause has been added for testing mechanical interlocking devices

the high- and low-temperature test is mandatory if the temperature limits for the service conditions of the apparatus (defined by the manufacturer) are above +40 °C or below −5 °C, and a more detailed testing procedure is given

the testing procedure to verify the proper functioning of the position-indicating device allows a more practicable testing for every technology used

a new Annex B has been added with title: " Current-switching capability required of disconnectors and earthing switches"

a new Annex C has been added with title: " Tolerances on test quantities for type tests"

a new Annex E has been added with title: " Extension of validity of type tests" .