![]() ![]() Making changes to your design as you near production is more expensive than doing so earlier in the process and the cost of early screening tests is significantly lower than that of full-scale certification testing. In reality, it does not work that way as power supplies are often the “messenger” of EMC problems, rather than the cause.Īdditionally, there is the cost element. One is the perceived difficulty of carrying out this type of testing – but there are specialist labs with all of the required equipment and staff available to help.Īnother is the commonly held misconception that power supplies are the main cause of EMC issues, and that therefore if a power supply has passed its standalone tests, the system it gets plugged into will also pass. There are many reasons why EMC testing is left until late in a project. To compensate for this uncertainty over what the combined supply and load will emit, it is best practice to allow for a margin in the power supply’s test results to account for the variations that will occur when you apply a load. Moreover, as you add load to the power supply, the system may produce further emissions. These supply topologies innately produce radiated and conducted emissions that have already been mitigated by the power supply development team. The other thing to keep in mind is that most power supplies use switching topologies. ![]() And with the circuitry of this type of power supply encased in a box, addressing EMC challenges using external components is more difficult than with board mount or chassis mount power supplies. However, if your design combines the supply unit with a load, you will need to test your complete system to ensure that it too meets EMC regulations. Wall-plug and desktop external power supplies are also designed and tested to meet regulations as standalone products. Following the power supply vendor’s recommended circuit designs can help to address this. While using a compliant power supply in your design will minimize the possibility of EMC issues when you test your full system, you cannot guarantee a problem-free ride. Many power supplies designed for internal mounting are tested to meet EMC regulations as standalone products. ![]() EMC Testing with Power Supplies: What You Need to Know Both the US and European standards set out limits for both types of emission, and apply it to the final system, including its power supply. In addition, there are separate specifications for conducted and radiated emissions. While there are separate standards for electromagnetic emissions in the US (FCC Part 15) and Europe (CISPR 22/EN 55032), the two approaches are broadly "harmonized." This means that if your equipment meets the requirements of one, it will typically satisfy the needs of the other standard as well. And though the filter components you use to mitigate their effects are similar, they typically have different electrical values. Test procedures and equipment differ slightly when measuring conducted and radiated emissions. However, these cables and conductors can conduct the RF energy through shared power sources or loads, in which these conducted emissions may begin to interfere with other electronics.Ībove 30 MHz, conducted emissions typically cease to be an issue, but the conductors and cables become antennas that have the potential to radiate RF energy and thereby can cause interference with other equipment. Radiated emissions are therefore of little concern at these frequencies. There are two main categories: conducted and radiated.Īt frequencies up to 30 MHz, cables and conductors in many electronic devices do not work well as antennas. Understanding Conducted and Radiated EmissionsĮlectromagnetic emissions are the radio frequency (RF) energy that a product emits. EMC testing is also in place to ensure that your own electronic device will continue to operate as expected around other sources of electromagnetic emissions. What is Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Testing?ĮMC testing helps minimize the possibility that radiated or conducted emissions produced by your device will interfere with other electronic products in its vicinity. This is why it is best to build EMC emissions testing in at various stages of your product design plan to ensure that you are not left scrambling at the end. In doing so, the risk of project delays and cost overruns shortly before your planned launch increases – precisely when you do not need this type of headache. Yet despite its importance, emissions testing is often left until late in a product’s design lifecycle. With EMC certification being a necessary hurdle to clear before your product goes to market, it is crucial you get this element of your design right. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing is a critical part of a product’s design journey. ![]()
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