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There is no single discharge-resistor value or discharge time that applies to every X-capacitor circuit. The requirement depends on the finished equipment’s safety standard, how it is connected, who may encounter it, and the markets where it will be sold. For equipment covered by IEC 62368-1, clause 5.5.2.2 sets post-disconnection measurement times and requires the accessible voltage to meet the applicable limits; it does not prescribe one resistor value for all designs.

Start with the finished equipment and its applicable standard

An X capacitor is used in a mains-connected circuit, but its component classification does not by itself establish that the complete product is safe after disconnection. First identify the product category, connection method, intended users, installation, and target jurisdiction. Those facts determine which product safety standard and national adoption or certification scheme apply.

IEC 62368-1:2023, corrected version 2025-08, covers audio/video and information and communication technology equipment within its scope. IEC describes its approach as classifying energy sources and specifying safeguards against them. A different type of product may be governed by another safety standard, so the IEC 62368-1 timing rule should not be applied automatically to every appliance or electronic device.

What IEC 62368-1 says about accessible voltage after disconnection

The indexed text of IEC 62368-1:2023 clause 5.5.2.2 addresses capacitor voltage that becomes accessible when a connector is disconnected, including a mains connector. It gives these measurement times:

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Equipment or connector condition Measurement point after disconnection
Pluggable equipment type B 5 seconds
Disconnection of any other connector 2 seconds

At the applicable measurement point, the accessible voltage must comply with the standard’s specified ES limits. The relevant criteria depend on whether the person is ordinary or instructed, and on normal-operation or single-fault conditions. The publicly indexed excerpt does not provide all definitions, test details, or limit tables, so it is not enough to determine a specific allowable voltage. Use the official licensed standard and the applicable certification process for a compliance decision.

How the capacitor and filter standards fit in

Component and filter standards address different parts of the safety question from the complete-equipment requirement.

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Standard What it covers What it does not establish by itself
IEC 62368-1:2023, corrected version 2025-08 Safety of audio/video and ICT equipment within scope, including safeguards for energy sources and accessible voltage after connector disconnection. It does not mean every product category or market uses this standard; applicability must be confirmed for the equipment.
IEC 60384-14:2023+AMD1:2025 CSV Qualifying capacitors and resistor-capacitor combinations connected to AC mains up to 1,000 V RMS and nominal frequency up to 100 Hz, with stated conditions for DC supplies up to 1,500 V DC. The IEC publication describes ratings, quality-assessment procedures, tests, and general performance requirements. Approval of an X capacitor or RC combination does not alone demonstrate that the finished equipment meets its accessible-voltage safeguard.
IEC 60939-3:2024 Certain passive filter units within its stated supply limits; it includes X-capacitor considerations and points to IEC 60384-14 for AC mains capacitors. Whether a particular filter assembly is in scope depends on its construction and application.
IEC 60384-14-1:2025 Approval-schedule matters for its assessment level, including design declarations for safety-relevant parameters, lot conformance tests, and requalification tests. It is not a substitute for assessing the finished equipment’s discharge behavior.

What to assess in the discharge path

Do not choose a resistor by treating a typical value or a generic “discharge time” as a universal compliance rule. The design must be evaluated against the applicable equipment standard’s measurement conditions and fault requirements. The IEC 62368-1 indexed clause also describes allowances for qualifying discharge resistors or resistor groups; qualification and application need to be checked in the official standard.

  • Confirm which product standard, edition, national adoption, and certification scheme apply to the equipment.
  • Identify the connector or plug conditions that can make the capacitor voltage accessible, and the measurement point required by the applicable rule.
  • Evaluate the complete discharge path with relevant component tolerances and the equipment’s specified mains conditions.
  • Check switch and connector states, including the conditions relevant to normal operation and applicable single faults.
  • Assess discharge-component failure behavior and whether any claimed resistor or resistor-group allowance is permitted by the standard.
  • Use the prescribed measurement method and the standard’s applicable limits; do not infer a voltage threshold from the timing excerpt alone.
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What information is needed before selecting a resistor

A defensible resistor selection requires the equipment category and applicable standard, the capacitor and circuit arrangement, mains conditions, accessible connection states, component tolerances, and the relevant normal-operation and fault tests. Without those inputs, neither a resistor value nor a claim of compliance can be established. Select an X-class capacitor for its circuit position, mains conditions, capacitance, voltage rating, and required safety approvals, then assess the complete product separately.

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