AMETEK CTS 3.0 - Manual (Page 20)

Compliance Test System 3.0 User Manual
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2. IEC Testing
2.1 About This Chapter
This chapter provides some background information on the various IEC test standards that apply
to AC powered products. It also reviews some of the test equipment requirements that are
important when testing for IEC compliance. Note that this information is subject to change as IEC
standards change over time. This overview is by no means comprehensive and is only provided
for reference. If the reader is not familiar with IEC test requirements for AC powered products, we
strongly recommend consulting information on this subject that is available through other sources.
References are provided at the end of this chapter.
The standards covered in this chapter include those, which the CTS system is capable of testing,
specifically:
IEC 61000-3-2 Quasi Static and Transitory Harmonics
IEC 61000-3-3 Flicker
IEC 61000-4-11 Voltage Dips and Variations (requires option -411 and EOS1 or EOS3)
IEC 61000-4-13 Interharmonics and Harmonics Immunity Test [Draft standard] (requires
option -413)
IEC 61000-4-14 Voltage Fluctuations
IEC 61000-4-17 DC Ripple
IEC 61000-4-27p AC Voltage Unbalance (pre-compliance)
IEC 61000-4-28 Frequency Variations
IEC 61000-4-29p DC Voltage Dips and Variations (pre-compliance)
2.2 The EMC Directive
As the world population grows and the overall energy consumption increases, industrialized
nations have become increasingly concerned with the future availability of energy. Reducing
energy consumption by using more energy efficient lighting and motor drive systems is one
approach being taken by European, US and Japanese governments. The need of more efficient
electrical systems however typically requires the use of sophisticated semi-conductor based
electronic circuits that produce current harmonics. This in turn effects power quality which is an
increasing problem on public utility networks. As lighting systems with electronic ballasts and
equipment with switching power supplies such as computers, TV‟s, fax machines and printers
proliferate, power quality deteriorates. The same is true for PWM controller motor drives. The
International Electrical Committee (IEC) has released standards dealing with the low frequency
public supply system. Initial standards were 555.2 (Harmonics) and 555.3 (Flicker) which have
since been refined and are now available as IEC 61000-3-2 and IEC 61000-3-3 respectively.
Effective January 1, 1996, most electrical devices sold within the member countries of the
European Union (EU) must meet these standards as governed by the EMC directive.