Power Inverters: What Do the Different Levels of NEBS Certification Mean?

In the 1970s, Bell Labs created a set of standards for electricity conduction equipment that is used in a Regional Bell Operating Company (RBOC) Central Office (CO). The standards comprise what is known as Network Equipment-Building System (NEBS) certification. Power inverters and other electricity conduction equipment can attain one of the following types of certification: level one, level two, and level three. Below is an overview of each level of NEBS certification.

Level 1 Certification

Inverters that have level one NEBS certification meet the personnel and equipment safety requirements of GR-63-CORE and GR-1089-CORE. Because level one certification does not address equipment operability requirements, equipment that has this certification is primarily used for getting inverter prototypes scheduled for lab trials. Meeting the requirements of GR-63-CORE and GR-1089-CORE makes an inverter safe for researchers to examine and test.

Level 2 Certification

Inverters that have level two NEBS certification meet the personnel and equipment safety requirements of GR-63-CORE and GR-1089-CORE. They are also designed to operate in a specific type of controlled environment that doesn’t place much stress on the equipment, such as a data center. Because operability requirements for level two inverters can be ambiguous, many manufacturers of electricity conduction equipment avoid using the certification for their products.

Level 3 Certification

Inverters that have level three NEBS certification meet all requirements of GR-63-CORE and GR-1089-CORE, and have strict specifications regarding the conditions under which they can operate. Unlike equipment that has a level one certification or a level two certification, equipment that comes with a level 3 certification can operate efficiently under several adverse conditions, such as: high temperatures, unusual acoustics, heavy vibration, and airborne contaminants.

Need power inverters with NEBS certification?

If so, Exeltech is the company to call. We have over a decade of experience manufacturing power converters and power inverters that have level three NEBS certification. Designed to perform under a variety of adverse operating conditions, our NEBS certified equipment is perfect to use in environments in which standard equipment would have trouble operating. For more information about our products and services, call us today at (800) 886-4683, or use our contact form.