Protected extra low voltage- In contrast to an SELV circuit, a Protected Extra Low Voltage (PELV) circuit has a protective earth (ground) connection. A PELV circuit, just as with SELV, requires a design that guarantees a low risk of accidental contact with a higher voltage. For a transformer, this can mean that the primary and secondary windings must be separated by an extra insulation barrier or by a conductive shield with a protective earth connection.