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 Industrial Equipment: Generic, EN 61000-6-2 & EN 61000-6-4
Overview
Typical equipment falling under this category includes industrial controllers, engine governors or any equipment that would be used in an industrial location (see below for definition of environment)
European Union (EU) |
EN 61000-6-2, EN 61000-6-4, EN 55011, EN 61000-3-2, EN 61000-3-3 |
United States |
Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Title 47, Part 18 |
Immunity and emissions limits for industrial electronics are defined by EN 61000-6-2 and EN 61000-6-4, respectively. Both of these are generic standards. However, the emission standard EN 55011 is a product family standard (formerly CISPR 11) for industrial, scientific and medical equipment. Since product family standards take precedence over generic standards, it will, in many cases, be preferable to declare to EN 55011 for compliance with emissions.
The European Union (EU) regulates both emissions and immunity, and EMC requirements for industrial environments are defined in EN 55011 and EN 61000-6-2, respectively. Industrial environments are defined by EN 61000-6-2 (ref. Section 1 Scope and Object) as follows:
- A power network exists powered by a high or medium voltage power transformer dedicated for the supply of an installation feeding manufacturing or similar plant
- frequent switching of inductive or capacitive loads
- high currents and associated magnetic fields
In the United States, compliance of this type of equipment with federal requirements is governed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Limits are defined by the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 47, Part 18, which regulates the emissions (unintentional and intentional) from industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) products.
Sample Test Matrix [top of page]
A typical test matrix for a product being tested to EN 55011 and EN 61000-6-2 is shown in the following table.
Radiated E-field emissions, 30-1000 MHz |
EN 55011 |
Measures unintentional E-field emissions from product in normal operating mode. |
Conducted emissions, 0.15 - 30 MHz |
EN 55011 |
Measures unintentional emissions conducted back on the AC power mains. |
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) |
EN 61000-4-2 |
Performed to determine immunity of product to ESD
Contact discharge @ ±2 kV & ±4 kV
Air discharge @ ±2 kV, ±4 kV & ±8 kV
Indirect discharge via HCP & VCP @ ±2 kV & ±4 kV |
Radiated RF immunity |
EN 61000-4-3 |
Performed to determine immunity of product to fields generated by intentional transmitters (radio, TV, cell, etc.)
Electric field immunity, 10 V/m from 80 – 1000 MHz. Field is amplitude modulated with a 1 kHz sine wave to a depth of 80% |
Electrical fast transient/burst |
EN 61000-4-4 |
Performed to determine immunity of product to switching and transient noise; applicable to AC/DC input (±2 kV) and I/O cabling greater than 3 meters (±1-2 kV) |
Surge immunity |
EN 61000-4-5 |
Performed to determine immunity of product to switching and lightning-induced transients; applicable to AC input and I/O cabling which runs outside of building. Differential mode: ±0.5 kV, ±1.0 kV
Common mode: ±0.5 kV, ±1.0 kV & ±2.0 kV |
Conducted RF immunity |
EN 61000-4-6 |
Performed to determine immunity of product to low frequency fields generated by intentional transmitters (AM radio, TV, cell, etc.); applicable to AC input and I/O cabling greater than 3 meter in length; 10 Vrms from 0.15 to 80 MHz. Voltage is amplitude modulated with a 1 kHz sine wave to a depth of 80% |
Power frequency H-field immunity |
EN 61000-4-8 |
Performed to determine immunity of product to low frequency magnetic fields; 30 A/m at 50 and 60 Hz (power frequencies) on all three axes of product. |
Voltage dips and interruptions |
EN 61000-4-11 |
Performed to determine immunity of product to fluctuations on AC power input
Line @ 70% of nominal for 0.5 cycles, each polarity
Line @ 40% of nominal for 5 cycles
Line@ 40% of nominal for 50 cycles
Line @ <5% of nominal for 250 cycles |
AC power line harmonics |
EN 61000-3-2 |
Class A, B, C or D, depending on product type |
AC power line flicker |
EN 61000-3-3 |
Originally designed for household appliances; became mandatory on January 1, 2001 |
Whether a product is tested to Class A or B limits for emissions will be determined by where the product will be marketed and/or used. Class B emission limits apply to residential environments; Class A emission limits apply to commercial, industrial and all other environments.
Technical Notes Regarding Performance Criteria
[top of page] When performing immunity testing, keep in mind that the product will need to be monitored to ensure that its level of performance meets the requirement defined for the test being performed. Different tests have different performance criteria, which are summarized as follows:
Level A: The equipment shall continue to operate as intended without user intervention.
Level B: After the test, the equipment shall continue to operate as intended without user intervention.
Level C: Loss of function is allowed, provided that the product can be restored by the operation of controls (i.e., no permanent damage).
The performance criterion for each immunity test is listed in the following table.
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) |
EN 61000-4-2 |
B |
Radiated RF immunity |
EN 61000-4-3 |
A |
Electrical fast transient/burst |
EN 61000-4-4 |
B |
Surge immunity |
EN 61000-4-5 |
B |
Conducted RF immunity |
EN 61000-4-6 |
A |
Power frequency H-field immunity |
EN 61000-4-8 |
A |
Voltage dips and interruptions |
EN 61000-4-11 |
B/C |
Technical Notes Concerning I/O Cables [top of page]
Approximately 80% of EMC compliance issues are related to cables. Power and I/O cables create the “antenna structure” for a product. These unintentional antennas can both radiate electromagnetic energy generated by electronics inside the product and receive electromagnetic energy impinged upon the product. The former could result in non-compliance with regard to emissions and the latter could create an immunity problem.
Since cables are an integral part of a product’s function and configuration, clients should realize some significant factors about cables prior to testing for EMC compliance.
- For emissions testing, all I/O ports (excluding service or maintenance) should be loaded with a cable of at least 1 meter in length, per ANSI C63.4
- For immunity testing, if a cable can be greater than 3 meters in length, electrical fast transient testing via capacitive clamp applies to this cable
Non conductive cables (e.g., fiber optic or plastic tubes) are exempt from cable testing requirements.
Scheduling [top of page]
EMC Integrity generates a detailed quotation for all formal compliance testing that we perform. Our quotations state the name of the product to be tested, the standards to which the product will be tested, the individual tests that will be performed and any additional testing that may be requested by the client. Tests are listed on a line-item basis, thus clearly delineating both the scope of work and the cost of each test. An outline of our process is given below.
Overview of EMCI’s RFQ Process.
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