Why Leakage Current Matters in Medical Power Supplies.

  www.delta-emea.com

In medical equipment, safety isn’t optional — it’s critical. That’s why the IEC60601-1 Edition 3.2 standard sets strict limits on leakage current to protect both patients and operators from electric shock.
What Is Leakage Current — And Why Is It Dangerous?

Leakage current is any unintended current that escapes a power circuit — often due to parasitic capacitance, imperfect insulation, or EMC filtering. In medical settings, even tiny currents can be dangerous, especially for vulnerable patients. A current as low as 50mA for just two seconds can cause heart fibrillation. That’s why leakage is tightly regulated.

The Three Types of Leakage Current

• Earth Leakage Current

Flows from mains to protective earth

• Touch Current

Flows from exposed parts to earth via a person

• Patient Leakage Current

Flows through patient-applied parts

Delta's Solution: Safer by Design
Delta’s medical-grade power supplies are engineered with ultra-low leakage current, exceeding safety requirements for IEC60601-1. With features like:

• Reinforced 2x MOPP insulation
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• Low EMI and acoustic noise
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• Compact, high-density designs up to 2000W

Delta helps simplify medical device certification while ensuring reliable, patient-safe operation.

Explore our medical power supply range:
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📄 To learn more, download our detailed whitepaper on leakage current considerations in medical power supplies.