UL 9990:2017 Outline of Investigation for Information and Communication Technology.
1.1 This Outline of Investigation covers the power handling capabilities of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) cable assemblies when used for powering or charging applications. The signal transmission performance of the cable assemblies is not within the scope of these requirements.
1.2 These cable assemblies are intended to be used only in the output of a power source class 2 (PS2)
and electrical energy source class 1 (ES 1), or a limited power source, as determined in accordance with
the Standard for Safety for AudioNideo, Information, and Communication Technology Equipment — Part
1: Safety Requirements, UL 62368-1. These circuits do not exceed 60 V DC, 8.0 amperes and 100 watts.
Note: These circuits are sometimes referred to as “low voltage, limited-power circuits”, “low voltage, limited-energy circuits” or “NEC® Class 2 circuits”.
1.3 ICT cable assemblies may also be required to comply with industry specifications applicable to their particular configuration and use. Compliance with these specifications is not within the scope of these requirements.
2 Reference Publications
Any undated reference to a code or standard appearing in the requirements of this Outline shall be interpreted as referring to the latest edition of that code or standard.
ASTM
ASTM E230/E230M
Standard Specification and Temperature-Electromotive Force (emf) Tables for Standardized
Thermocouples
EIA
E IA-364-38
Cable Pull-Out Test Procedure for Electrical Connectors
EIA-364-41
Cable Flexing Test Procedure for Electrical Connectors
UL (Underwriters Laboratories Inc.)
UL13
Power-Limited Circuit Cables
UL 444
Communications Cables
UL 758
Appliance Wiring Material
UL 746C
Polymeric Materials — Use in Electrical Equipment Evaluations
3 Units of Measurement
3.1 Values stated without parentheses are the requirement. Values in parentheses are explanatory or
approximate information.
4 Definitions
4.1 For the purpose of this Outline, the following definitions apply.
4.2 MARKED CABLE ASSEMBLY — A cable assembly that uses physical characteristics of the connectors, shorted or open conductors, or active or passive circuit components within the cable to provide information about the cable’s power handling characteristics to the power source, the powered device (load), or both. The “marking” is electronically detected by the devices (power source and/or load) on either or both ends of the cable assembly.
4.3 CHEATER CABLES — Cable assemblies provided with inappropriate markers, connections, shorts, physical configurations, etc. that are designed to “trick” the connected devices into unintended modes of operation or disable or interfere with the intended system operation. An example of this would be shorting the data pins in a charging cable to force a power source into a high current, quick charge mode.
CONSTRUCTION
5 Cable Assemblies
5.1 Cables shall comply with the Standard for Safety for Communications Cables, UL 444, the Standard for Safety for Power-Limited Circuit Cables, UL 13, or the Standard for Safety for Appliance Wiring Material, UL 758, rated VW-1, jacketed and determined to be suitable for the application.UL 9990 pdf download.