DEKRA Product Testing
Build confidence in your product with independent Current/OS certification from DEKRA.
DEKRA Product Testing
Build confidence in your product with independent Current/OS certification from DEKRA.
Current/OS certification for DC products
Demonstrate that your DC product is safe, reliable, and interoperable
An increasing number of energy generation, storage, and electrical applications operate on direct current. As a result, there is a growing need for DC products that function safely and interoperate seamlessly within systems containing components from different manufacturers. Current/OS certification provides market participants with clarity regarding the quality and suitability of these products.
Current/OS Certification
With Current/OS certification through DEKRA, you demonstrate as a manufacturer that your DC product meets the requirements for safety, system stability and multivendor interoperability. This prepares your product for use in modern DC microgrids and future-ready energy infrastructures.
DEKRA is an official member of Current/OS and an approved certification body for Current/OS certification. We help manufacturers independently demonstrate product compliance in accordance with the Current/OS certification scheme.
Direct current systems and certification
The energy landscape is changing rapidly. Solar panels, batteries, electric vehicles, charging stations, LED lighting, data centres and building installations increasingly use direct current. This is driving demand for safe and reliable DC systems in which multiple energy sources and loads work together seamlessly.
Current/OS provides an open standard for Direct Current ecosystems.
Certification in accordance with the Current/OS standard
Current/OS certification is a Type 5 certification scheme. This means that the assessment goes beyond a one-off product test. The scheme includes product compliance, factory inspection and ongoing product surveillance.
The certification consists of three key elements:
DEKRA assesses whether your product meets the relevant Current/OS requirements. This includes its technical performance, safety and behaviour within a DC ecosystem.
The objective is to determine whether the product responds correctly within a Current/OS environment and contributes to a safe and stable system.
In addition to the product itself, the production process is assessed. The factory inspection is based on the CIG22 inspection process and associated reporting.
This verifies that the certified product is manufactured consistently and reproducibly. This is important because certification must apply not only to a single tested sample, but also to the products that are actually placed on the market.
After certification, periodic monitoring remains part of the scheme. Ongoing product surveillance verifies that products continue to meet the specified requirements.
This gives customers, installers and other market parties additional confidence that certified products will continue to operate safely and in accordance with the Current/OS rules over the long term.
From innovation to trust
DC technology is playing an increasingly important role in the energy transition. At the same time, widespread adoption requires trust. Customers want to know that products are safe. Installers want assurance that components work together properly. System integrators need clear technical rules on which to build. Manufacturers want to demonstrate that their products are ready for the next generation of energy infrastructure.
Current/OS certification through DEKRA helps bridge that gap.
With an independent certificate, you demonstrate that your product meets the requirements for safe, stable and interoperable DC systems. This strengthens your market position and contributes to the continued development of reliable Direct Current ecosystems.
Start your Current/OS certification
Would you like to know whether your DC product is eligible for Current/OS certification? DEKRA can assist you with the product assessment, the certification process and the steps towards market introduction.
Contact our experts to discover how DEKRA can help you with Current/OS certification.
FAQ
Many technologies that enable the energy transition naturally operate on direct current. Examples include PV panels, battery storage, electric vehicles, electronics and LED lighting. Nevertheless, many installations are still designed around alternating current, requiring additional conversions. This can result in energy losses, greater complexity and additional strain on the existing electricity grid.
DC microgrids offer an alternative. Within such a system, energy sources and loads can interact more directly. Devices can adapt their behaviour based on the available energy: they can use more or less power, temporarily switch off, charge, discharge or even feed energy back into the system when required.
To achieve this safely and at scale, clear technical rules are required. Products from different manufacturers must follow the same basic principles. Only then can DC systems operate reliably in buildings, charging hubs, data centres, industrial environments and other applications.
Current/OS provides this common set of rules for DC distribution.
For manufacturers of DC products, Current/OS certification is an important step towards market acceptance. The certificate demonstrates that your product not only performs properly as a standalone product, but is also suitable for use within a broader DC ecosystem.
This is essential in installations where multiple energy sources and loads operate simultaneously, such as:
- PV systems
- Battery storage systems
- EV charging stations
- DC/DC converters
- DC Distribution systems
- LED Lighting
- Electronic equipment
- Protection and awitching components
- Building installations
- Industrial DC applications
When all these components operate according to the same standard, they form a safe, stable and interoperable system. For manufacturers, this means that their products can be more easily adopted by system integrators, installers, building owners and project developers investing in DC infrastructure.
Current/OS certification is relevant for manufacturers developing products for DC ecosystems and multi-source DC applications. This includes manufacturers of components and systems for buildings, charging infrastructure, energy storage, data centres, industrial installations and smart energy distribution.
The certification is particularly relevant for manufacturers seeking to position their products in applications where safety, reliability and interoperability between multiple brands are essential.
Examples include:
- Electric vehicle charging stations
- Battery and energy storage systems
- PV-related DC components
- DC/DC converters
- Power electronics
- Distribution and security components
- DC-powered lighting
- Data center power distribution
- Building-based DC installations
- Industrial DC solutions
As an independent testing, inspection and certification organisation, DEKRA helps manufacturers build trust in new technology. This is particularly important for innovative DC applications. The market is developing rapidly, but customers, installers and system integrators need assurance before adopting new technology on a larger scale.
With Current/OS certification through DEKRA, you benefit from:
- Independent assessment: DEKRA assesses your product as an independent third party. This strengthens confidence in your product among customers, partners, installers and project developers.
- Recognition within the Current/OS ecosystem: DEKRA is an official member of Current/OS and an approved certification body. Your certification therefore aligns with the requirements and ambitions of the Current/OS ecosystem.
- Focus on safety and system stability: DC systems behave differently from traditional AC installations. Certification helps demonstrate that your product operates safely and contributes to the stability of the overall system.
- Interoperability between manufacturers: Modern DC installations combine products from different manufacturers. Current/OS certification helps demonstrate that your product is suitable for multivendor applications.
- Support for market acceptance: An independent certificate makes it easier to position your product for customers seeking assurance regarding safety, reliability and suitability for use in DC microgrids.
- Continuous quality assurance: Because the scheme also includes factory inspection and ongoing product surveillance, you demonstrate not only that your product is compliant today, but also that its quality is consistently assured.