Monday, 17th of October 2011 - Standards

With the use of gas AND electrics in the design of the product - it is important that all Australian safety standards are met. According to AS 2381.7 - 1989 Australian Standard for Electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres - Selection, installation and maintenance: Part 7: Intrinsic safety "i" -

"3.3.3 Insulation. The insulation of conductors of interconnecting cables shall comply with the following requirements which may be satisfied by evidence supplied by the cable manufacturer. Where the conductors of interconnecting cables are insulated with thermoplastics, elastomeric or equivalent material the insulation shall have a minimum radial thickness of - (a) 0.3 mm if the intrisically safe circuits operate at extra low voltage (<32V a.c. or <115 V d.c.); ...."

Even though the butane is contained in a sealed environment, it is important that if this were to break, there would be no way the gas could ignite from the electronics in the device. To make the product meet these standards the product:

• features a PTFE sealed printed circuit board
• power supply and connections are <24 DC (automatically meets standards)
• connections between batteries are insulated with PVC >0.3mm
• servo motor housing is sealed to a point where bearing and cable inlets are the only way gas can enter
• all materials are compatible according to chemical database management software ChemAlert

Screen shot: Chem Alert chemical compatibility program

 This will allow the product to be sold because of it's compliance with all standards.