WCO Explanatory Notes reproduced for reference. © World Customs Organization. Verify against official WCO publication.
85.04 - Electrical transformers, static converters (for example, rectifiers) and inductors. - Ballasts for discharge lamps or tubes - Liquid dielectric transformers : 8504.2 1 - - Having a power handling capacity not exceeding 650 kVA 8504.10 8504.22 - - Havin 8504.23 - - Having a power handling capacity exceeding 10,000 kVA a ower handling capacity exceeding 650 kVA but not exceeding 1O,OO% k ? ~ - Other transformers : - - Having a power handling capacity not exceeding 1 kVA 8504.32 - - Having a power handling capacity exceeding 1 kVA but not exceeding 8504.31 16 kVA 8504.33 - - Havin a power handling capacity exceeding 16 kVA but not exceeding soo ~ Q A - - Having a power handling capacity exceeding 500 kVA 8504.40 - Static converters 8504.50 - Other inductors 8504.90 - Parts 8504.34 (I) ELECTRICAL TRANSFORMERS Electrical transformers are apparatus which, without having any moving parts, transform, by means of induction and using a preset or adjustable system, an alternating current into another alternating current of different voltage, impedance, etc. These usually consist of two or more coils of insulated wire wound in various confi ations on laminated iron cores, although in some cases (e.g., radio-frequency transformers) ere may be no magnetic core, or the core ma be of agglomerated iron dust, ferrite, etc. An AC in one coil (the primary circuit) induces an A usually at different values of current and voltage in the others (the secondary circuit). In certain cases (auto transformers) there is only a single coil, part of the winding of which is common to the primary and secondary circuits. In shell type transformers, there is a shell of laminated iron round the transformer. 8F E Certain transformers are designed for particular p oses, e-g., matching transformers for matching the impedance of one circuit with that of ano er, and instrument transformers (current or voltage transformers, combined insfxument transformers) used to step down or step up voltages or currents to the level of the connected equipment, e.g., measuring instruments, electricity meters or protective relays. %' for the control of the amount of The power-handling capacity of a transformer is the kilovolt-ampere (kVA) ou ut based on continual use at the rated secondary voltage (or amperage, when applicable) an at the rated frequency without exceeding the rated temperature limitations. !' Transformers for electric weldin equipment presented separately without their welding heads or welding a pliances are c assified in this heading. However, they are excluded (heading 85.157 when presented together with their welding heads or welding appliances. f The headin also covers induction coils, a kind of transformer in which an intermittent or induces a corresponding current in the secondary. They recticurrent in the pri fluctuating % can be used either to step up the vo tage to a higher value or, in the case of tele hony, to reproduce in the secondary circuits a small fluctuating current corresponding to the ff'uctuation imposed on a steady DC in the primary. The heading covers induction coils of all kinds, other than ignition equipment for internal combustion engnes (heading 85.11). ""Y (11) ELECTRICAL STATIC CONVERTERS The ap aratus of this group are used to convert electrical ener in order to ada t it for further use. T!I ey incorporate converting elements (e.g., valves) of%fferent types. h e y may also incorporate various auxiliary devices (e.g., transformers, induction coils, resjstors, command regulators, etc.). Their operation is based on the principle that the converting elements act alternately as conductors and non-conductors. The fact that these apparatus often incorporate auxiJiary circuits to re late the voltage of the r oes the fact that they are emerging current does not affect their classification zn this group, nor C sometimes referred to as voltage or current regulators. This group includes : (A) Rectifiers by which alternatin current (single or polyphase) is converted to direct current, generally accompanied by a (B) Inverters by which direct current is converted to alternating current. (C) Alternating current converters and cycle converters by which alternating current (single or polyphase) is converted to a different fiequency or voltage. (D) Direct current converters by which direct current is converted to a different voltage. Electrical static converters may be divided into the following principal categories according to the type of converting element with which they are equipped : (1) Semiconductor converters based on the one-way conductivity between certain crystals. Such converters consist of a semiconductor as the converting element and various other devices (e.g., coolers, tape conductors, drives, regulators, control circuits). These include : (a) Monocrystalline semiconductor rectifiers using, as a converting element, a device containing silicon or germanium crystals (diode, thyristor, transistor). (b) Polycrystalline semiconductorrectifiers using a selenium disc. (2) Gas discharge converters, such as : (a) Mercury arc rectifiers. Their converting element consists of a glass envelope or a metal tank having a vacuum and containing a mercury cathode and one or more anodes through which the current to be rectified passes. They are equipped with auxiliary devices, e.g., for priming, charging, cooling, and sometimes to maintain the vacuum. There are two categories of gas discharge rectifiers identifiable according to the mechanism of the primer, viz., " excitrons " (with charging anodes) and " ignitrons " (with igniters). (b) Thermo-ionic rectifiers with incandescent cathodes. Their converting element (e.g., a thyratron) is similar to that of mercury arc rectifiers except that it contams an incandescent cathode in place of the mercury cathode. (3) Converters with a mechanical converting element based on the one-way conductivity of various contacts, such as : (a) Contact rectifiers (e.g., those using camshafts) with a device whose metal contacts open and close in synchronisation with the frequency of the alternating current to be rectified. @) Mercury-jet turbine rectifiers with a rotating jet of mercury, synchronised with the frequency of the alternating current, which stnkes a fixed contact. (c) Vibrator rectifiers with a thin metal tongue, oscillating at the frequency of the alternating current, which touches a contact so placed that the current IS drawn from the source. (4) EIectrolytic rectifiers based on the principle that the combination of certain roducts used as electrodes in combination with certain liquids used as electrolytes wi 1 only allow current to flow in a single direction. P Electrical static converters may be used for different purposes, e.g. : (1) Converters to supply electricity to drive stationary machines or electric traction vehicles (e.g., locomotives). (2) Supply converters, such as accumulator char ers (which consist essentially of rectifiers with associated transformer and current contro apparatus), converters for galvanising and electrolysis, emergency power packs, converters for installations which su ply high-tension direct current, converters for heating purposes and for the current supp y to electro-magnets. P Also classified here are converters known as high-tension generators (used particularly with radio apparatus, emission tubes, microwave tubes, ion-beam tubes) which convert the current from any source, usually the mains, into the direct high-tension current necessary for feeding the equipment concerned by means of rectifiers, transformers, etc. This heading also includes stabilised suppliers (rectifiers combined with a regulator), e-g., uninterruptible power supply units for a range of electronic equipment. However, hi h-tension generators (or transformers) s ecifically desi ed for suppl ing radiological apparatus falfiin heading 90.22. Automatic voltage regu ators are classi? f ed in heading 66.32. P These consist essentially of a sin le coil of wire which, inserted in an AC circuit, limits or prevents by its self-induction the ow of the AC. They vary from small chokes used in wireless circuits, instruments, etc., to large coils often mounted in concrete, used in power circuits (e.g., for limiting the flow of current in the event of a short circuit). Inductors or inductances obtained in the form of individual components by a printing process remain classifiable in this heading. Deflection coils for cathode-ray tubes are classified in heading 85.40. PARTS Sub'ect to the general provisions regarding the classification of parts (see the General Exp anatory Note to Section XVI), parts of the goods of this heading are also classified here. In particular, metal tank mercury arc rectifiers, vvlth or without a pump, are always classified as parts. I However, most of the electric components of the devices of this heading are to be found in other headings of the Chapter, for example : (a) Various switches of heading 85.36 (for example, those used with multiple contact transformers). a (b) Vacuum or mercury va our rectifying tubes and valves (other than the metal tank type) and thyratrons (heading 85.4 ). (c) Semiconductor diodes, transistors, and thyristors (heading 85.41). (d) Articles of heading 85.42.
Notes. 1.- This Chapter does not cover : (a) Electrically warmed blankets, bed pads, foot-muffs or the like; electrically warmed clothing, footwear or ear pads or other electrically warmed articles worn on or about the person; (b) Articles of glass of heading 70.11; (c) Machines and apparatus of heading 84.86; (d) Vacuum apparatus of a kind used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences (heading 90.18); or (e) Electrically heated furniture of Chapter 94. 2.- Headings 85.01 to 85.04 do not apply to goods described in heading 85.11, 85.12, 85.40, 85.41 or 85.42. However, metal tank mercury arc rectifiers remain classified in heading 85.04. 3.- For the purposes of heading 85.07, the expression “electric accumulators” includes those presented with ancillary components which contribute to the accumulator’s function of storing and supplying energy or protect it from damage, such as electrical connectors, temperature control devices (for example, thermistors) and circuit protection devices. They may also include a portion of the protective housing of the goods in which they are to be used. 4.- Heading 85.09 covers only the following electro-mechanical machines of the kind commonly used for domestic purposes : (a) Floor polishers, food grinders and mixers, and fruit or vegetable juice extractors, of any weight; (b) Other machines provided the weight of such machines does not exceed 20 kg. The heading does not, however, apply to fans or ventilating or recycling hoods incorporating a fan, whether or not fitted with filters (heading 84.14), centrifugal clothes-dryers (heading 84.21), dish washing machines (heading 84.22), household washing machines (heading 84.50), roller or other ironing machines (heading 84.20 or 84.51), sewing machines (heading 84.52), electric scissors (heading 84.67) or to electro-thermic appliances (heading 85.16). 5.- For the purposes of heading 85.17, the term "smartphones” means telephones for cellular networks, equipped with a mobile operating system designed to perform the functions of an automatic data processing machine such as downloading and running multiple applications simultaneously, including third-party applications, and whether or not integrating other features such as digital cameras and navigational aid systems. 6.- For the purposes of heading 85.23 : (a) “Solid-state non-volatile storage devices” (for example, “flash memory cards” or “flash electronic storage cards”) are storage devices with a connecting socket, comprising in the same housing one or more flash memories (for example, “FLASH E2PROM”) in the form of integrated circuits mounted on a printed circuit board. They may include a controller in the form of an integrated circuit and discrete passive components, such as capacitors and resistors; (b) The term “smart cards” means cards which have embedded in them one or more electronic integrated circuits (a microprocessor, random access memory (RAM) or read-only memory (ROM)) in the form of chips. These cards may contain contacts, a magnetic stripe or an embedded antenna but do not contain any other active or passive circuit elements. 7.- For the purposes of heading 85.24, “flat panel display modules” refer to devices or apparatus for the display of information, equipped at a minimum with a display screen, which are designed to be incorporated into articles of other headings prior to use. Display screens for flat panel display modules include, but are not limited to, those which are flat, curved, flexible, foldable or stretchable in form. Flat panel display modules may incorporate additional elements, including those necessary for receiving video signals and the allocation of those signals to pixels on the display. However, heading 85.24 does not include display modules which are equipped with components for converting video signals (e.g., a scaler IC, decoder IC or application processer) or have otherwise assumed the character of goods of other headings. For the classification of flat panel display modules defined in this Note, heading 85.24 shall take precedence over any other heading in the Nomenclature. 8.- For the purposes of heading 85.34 “printed circuits” are circuits obtained by forming on an insulating base, by any printing process (for example, embossing, plating-up, etching) or by the “film circuit” technique, conductor elements, contacts or other printed components (for example, inductances, resistors, capacitors) alone or interconnected according to a pre-established pattern, other than elements which can produce, rectify, modulate or amplify an electrical signal (for example, semiconductor elements). The expression “printed circuits” does not cover circuits combined with elements other than those obtained during the printing process, nor does it cover individual, discrete resistors, capacitors or inductances. Printed circuits may, however, be fitted with non-printed connecting elements. Thin- or thick-film circuits comprising passive and active elements obtained during the same technological process are to be classified in heading 85.42. 9.- For the purpose of heading 85.36, “connectors for optical fibres, optical fibre bundles or cables” means connectors that simply mechanically align optical fibres end to end in a digital line system. They perform no other function, such as the amplification, regeneration or modification of a signal. 10.-Heading 85.37 does not include cordless infrared devices for the remote control of television receivers or other electrical equipment (heading 85.43). 11.-For the purposes of heading 85.39, the expression “light-emitting diode (LED) light sources” covers : (a) “Light-emitting diode (LED) modules” which are electrical light sources based on light-emitting diodes (LED) arranged in electrical circuits and containing further elements like electrical, mechanical, thermal or optical elements. They also contain discrete active elements, discrete passive elements, or articles of heading 85.36 or 85.42 for the purposes of providing power supply or power control. Light-emitting diode (LED) modules do not have a cap designed to allow easy installation or replacement in a luminaire and ensure mechanical and electrical contact. (b) “Light-emitting diode (LED) lamps” which are electrical light sources containing one or more LED modules containing further elements like electrical, mechanical, thermal or optical elements. The distinction between light-emitting diode (LED) modules and light-emitting diode (LED) lamps is that lamps have a cap designed to allow easy installation or replacement in a luminaire and ensure mechanical and electrical contact. 12.-For the purposes of headings 85.41 and 85.42 : (a) (i) “Semiconductor devices” are semiconductor devices the operation of which depends on variations in resistivity on the application of an electric field or semiconductor-based transducers. Semiconductor devices may also include assembly of plural elements, whether or not equipped with active and passive device ancillary functions. “Semiconductor-based transducers” are, for the purposes of this definition, semiconductor- based sensors, semiconductor-based actuators, semiconductor-based resonators and semiconductor-based oscillators, which are types of discrete semiconductor-based devices, which perform an intrinsic function, which are able to convert any kind of physical or chemical phenomena or an action into an electrical signal or an electrical signal into any type of physical phenomenon or an action. All the elements in semiconductor-based transducers are indivisibly combined, and may also include necessary materials indivisibly attached, that enable their construction or function. The following expressions mean : (1) “Semiconductor-based” means built or manufactured on a semiconductor substrate or made of semiconductor materials, manufactured by semiconductor technology, in which the semiconductor substrate or material plays a critical and unreplaceable role of transducer function and performance, and the operation of which is based on semiconductor properties including physical, electrical, chemical and optical properties. (2) “Physical or chemical phenomena” relate to phenomena, such as pressure, acoustic waves, acceleration, vibration, movement, orientation, strain, magnetic field strength, electric field strength, light, radioactivity, humidity, flow, chemicals concentration, etc. (3) “Semiconductor-based sensor” is a type of semiconductor device, which consists of microelectronic or mechanical structures that are created in the mass or on the surface of a semiconductor and that have the function of detecting physical or chemical quantities and converting these into electric signals caused by resulting variations in electric properties or displacement of a mechanical structure. (4) “Semiconductor-based actuator” is a type of semiconductor device, which consists of microelectronic or mechanical structures that are created in the mass or on the surface of a semiconductor and that have the function of converting electric signals into physical movement. (5) “Semiconductor-based resonator” is a type of semiconductor device, which consists of microelectronic or mechanical structures that are created in the mass or on the surface of a semiconductor and that have the function of generating a mechanical or electrical oscillation of a predefined frequency that depends on the physical geometry of these structures in response to an external input. (6) “Semiconductor-based oscillator” is a type of semiconductor device, which consists of microelectronic or mechanical structures that are created in the mass or on the surface of a semiconductor and that have the function of generating a mechanical or electrical oscillation of a predefined frequency that depends on the physical geometry of these structures. (ii) “Light-emitting diodes (LED)” are semiconductor devices based on semiconductor materials which convert electrical energy into visible, infra-red or ultra-violet rays, whether or not electrically connected among each other and whether or not combined with protective diodes. Light-emitting diodes (LED) of heading 85.41 do not incorporate elements for the purposes of providing power supply or power control; (b) “Electronic integrated circuits” are : (i) Monolithic integrated circuits in which the circuit elements (diodes, transistors, resistors, capacitors, inductances, etc.) are created in the mass (essentially) and on the surface of a semiconductor or compound semiconductor material (for example, doped silicon, gallium arsenide, silicon germanium, indium phosphide) and are inseparably associated; (ii) Hybrid integrated circuits in which passive elements (resistors, capacitors, inductances, etc.), obtained by thin- or thick-film technology, and active elements (diodes, transistors, monolithic integrated circuits, etc.), obtained by semiconductor technology, are combined to all intents and purposes indivisibly, by interconnections or interconnecting cables, on a single insulating substrate (glass, ceramic, etc.). These circuits may also include discrete components; (iii) Multichip integrated circuits consisting of two or more interconnected monolithic integrated circuits combined to all intents and purposes indivisibly, whether or not on one or more insulating substrates, with or without leadframes, but with no other active or passive circuit elements. (iv) Multi-component integrated circuits (MCOs) : a combination of one or more monolithic, hybrid, or multi-chip integrated circuits with at least one of the following components : silicon-based sensors, actuators, oscillators, resonators or combinations thereof, or components performing the functions of articles classifiable under heading 85.32, 85.33, 85.41, or inductors classifiable under heading 85.04, formed to all intents and purposes indivisibly into a single body like an integrated circuit, as a component of a kind used for assembly onto a printed circuit board (PCB) or other carrier, through the connecting of pins, leads, balls, lands, bumps, or pads. For the purpose of this definition : 1. “Components” may be discrete, manufactured independently then assembled onto the rest of the MCO, or integrated into other components. 2. “Silicon based” means built on a silicon substrate, or made of silicon materials, or manufactured onto integrated circuit die. 3. (a) “Silicon-based sensors” consist of microelectronic or mechanical structures that are created in the mass or on the surface of a semiconductor and that have the function of detecting physical or chemical phenomena and transducing these into electric signals, caused by resulting variations in electric properties or displacement of a mechanical structure. “Physical or chemical phenomena” relates to phenomena, such as pressure, acoustic waves, acceleration, vibration, movement, orientation, strain, magnetic field strength, electric field strength, light, radioactivity, humidity, flow, chemicals concentration, etc. (b) “Silicon based actuators” consist of microelectronic and mechanical structures that are created in the mass or on the surface of a semiconductor and that have the function of converting electrical signals into physical movement. (c) “Silicon based resonators” are components that consist of microelectronic or mechanical structures that are created in the mass or on the surface of a semiconductor and have the function of generating a mechanical or electrical oscillation of a predefined frequency that depends on the physical geometry of these structures in response to an external input. (d) “Silicon based oscillators” are active components that consist of microelectronic or mechanical structures that are created in the mass or on the surface of a semiconductor and that have the function of generating a mechanical or electrical oscillation of a predefined frequency that depends on the physical geometry of these structures. For the classification of the articles defined in this Note, headings 85.41 and 85.42 shall take precedence over any other heading in the Nomenclature, except in the case of heading 85.23, which might cover them by reference to, in particular, their function. Subheading Notes. 1.- Subheading 8525.81 covers only high-speed television cameras, digital cameras and video camera recorders having one or more of the following characteristics : - writing speed exceeding 0.5 mm per microsecond; - time resolution 50 nanoseconds or less; - frame rate exceeding 225,000 frames per second. 2.- In respect of subheading 8525.82, radiation-hardened or radiation-tolerant television cameras, digital cameras and video camera recorders are designed or shielded to enable operation in a high-radiation environment. These cameras are designed to withstand a total radiation dose of at least 50 × 103 Gy(silicon) (5 × 106 RAD (silicon)), without operational degradation. 3.- Subheading 8525.83 covers night vision television cameras, digital cameras and video camera recorders which use a photocathode to convert available light to electrons, which can be amplified and converted to yield a visible image. This subheading excludes thermal imaging cameras (generally subheading 8525.89). 4.- Subheading 8527.12 covers only cassette-players with built-in amplifier, without built-in loudspeaker, capable of operating without an external source of electric power and the dimensions of which do not exceed 170 mm x 100 mm x 45 mm. 5.- For the purposes of subheadings 8549.11 to 8549.19, “spent primary cells, spent primary batteries and spent electric accumulators” are those which are neither usable as such because of breakage, cutting- up, wear or other reasons, nor capable of being recharged.