EMC Surge Immunity Test, Setup, Equipment

Planning a Surge Immunity Test

Identify EUT and associated equipment
Place Generator close to EUT
Determine test sequence and levels
Determine ports to apply surges
Apply 5 Surges in 1 minute intervals
Determine EUT performance
The recovery time of the EUT if necessary

Keep It Simple! - Most of our customers will simply place the surge generator on a bench, ground everything, and be off and rolling. There are diagrams available that specify spacing, insulation, placement of the generator, etc... not critical for precompliance measurements when following IEC 61000-4-5. The EMC Shop can comfortable walk you through this testing effort with information on your DUT and surrounding auxiliary equipment.

Why Test to IEC 61000-4-5?

'Cause you just failed at the test lab? Just kidding...While you've properly shielded your sexy new products electronics in a housing deemed resistant to electromagnetic fields. With the increasingly crowded world of electronics, your product is likely going to be subjected to electromagnetic fields that are coupled on to power or data lines. Injecting RF noise onto these lines will allow you to test and measure the performance of your DUT.

Most current surge immunity generators for commercial products are fairly straightforward and easy to use. With adapters that allow you to plug a power cord into the wall, and your DUT into the coupling network (on the front). At least read the first couple pages of the manual! Safety instructions include proper grounding, and what not to touch or where to be when the test sequence initiates.