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A Practical Guide for EN 61000-4-8: Power-frequency

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 A P r a c tic a l G u id e fo r E N 6 1 0 0 0 -4 -8

P o w e r -fr e q u e n c y m a g n e tic fie ld

im m u n ity te s t
T e s tin g a n d m e a s u r e m e n t te c h n iq u e s

R E O IN D U C T IV E C O M P O N E N T S A G
B r u e h le r S tra s s e 1 0 0 , D - 4 2 6 5 7 S o lin g e n , G e r m a n y
T e l: 0 0 4 9 -(0 ) 2 1 2 -8 8 0 4 -0
F a x : 0 0 4 9 -(0 ) 2 1 2 -8 8 0 4 -1 8 8

R E O U S A
8 4 3 2 E a s t 3 3 r d S tr e e t, In d ia n a p o lis
IN 4 6 2 2 6 -6 5 5 0 , U S A
T e l: 0 0 1 3 1 7 8 9 9 1 3 9 5 F a x : 0 0 1 3 1 7 8 9 9 1 3 9 6

R E O (U K ) L T D U n its 8 - 1 0 L o n g L a n e In d u s tr ia l E s ta te ,
C r a v e n A rm s , S h ro p s h ir e S Y 7 8 D U U K
T e l: 0 1 5 8 8 6 7 3 4 1 1 F a x 0 1 5 8 8 6 7 2 7 1 8 R E O U K L T D
E m a il: s a le s @ re o .c o .u k W e b s ite : w w w .re o .c o .u k
C o n te n ts P o w e r -fr e q u e n c y m a g n e t ic fie ld s

1 2
P o w e r -fr e q u e n c y m a g n e tic fie ld s
W h a t to te s t?
S h ie ld in g is u s u a lly im p r a c tic a l o r c o s tly
W h a t le v e ls o f p o w e r -fr e q u e n c y m a g n e tic fie ld s o c c u r ?
F u lly c o m p lia n t 5 0 H z m a g n e tic fie ld im m u n ity te s ts
D o -it-y o u r s e lf p o w e r -fr e q u e n c y m a g n e tic fie ld im m u n ity te s tin g
O n -s ite te s tin g o f p o w e r -fr e q u e n c y m a g n e tic fie ld im m u n ity
A lte r n a tiv e te s t g e n e r a to r s
C o n v e r s io n fa c to r s
R e fe re n c e s
T h e A u th o r
T h e b a s ic p o w e r - fr e q u e n c y m a g n e tic
fie ld im m u n ity te s t m e th o d is IE C 6 1 0 0 0 -
2 4 - 8 [1 ]. T h is h a s b e e n a d o p te d a s th e
h a r m o n is e d E u r o p e a n s ta n d a r d E N
6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 , w h ic h is o fte n c a lle d u p a s a
b a s ic te s t m e th o d b y im m u n ity s ta n d -
3
a r d s lis te d u n d e r th e E le c tr o m a g n e tic
C o m p a tib ility ( E M C ) D ir e c tiv e [2 ].
5 T h is h a n d b o o k d e s c r ib e s h o w to a p p ly
E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 . U n lik e m a n y E M C
t e s t s , it is e a s y a n d lo w - c o s t t o 'd o - it -
y o u r s e lf '.
6
S in c e m a g n e tic fie ld s c a n in te r fe r e w ith a
v a r ie ty o f e le c tr ic a l a n d e le c tr o n ic
7 d e v ic e s , e q u ip m e n t a n d s y s te m s ( c a lle d
p r o d u c ts in th e r e s t o f th is h a n d b o o k ) , it
m a k e s s e n s e to te s t th e m to e n s u re th e y
w ill w o r k c o r r e c tly in th e ir in te n d e d
1 4 o p e r a tin g e n v ir o n m e n t. T h is is e s p e c ia lly
im p o r ta n t in s a fe ty - r e la te d e le c tr o n ic
a p p lic a tio n s .
1 5 M a g n e tic fie ld s a t p o w e r - lin e fr e q u e n c y
( 5 0 o r 6 0 H z ) a r e u b iq u ito u s , w ith h ig h
fie ld s tr e n g th s e x p e r ie n c e d c lo s e to
1 5 p o w e r c a b le s , tr a n s fo r m e r s , e le c tr ic
m o to r s , o r c lo s e to h e a v y p o w e r
d is tr ib u tio n o r u s e ( e .g . u n d e r n e a th
o v e r h e a d d is tr ib u tio n c a b le s ) . L o a d
1 6 s w it c h in g c a u s e s s t e p - c h a n g e s ( 'p u ls e s ')
in th e le v e ls o f p o w e r - fr e q u e n c y
m a g n e tic fie ld s , a n d e le c tr ic a l fa u lts c a n
c a u s e m u c h h ig h e r fie ld s tr e n g th s to
1 7
e x is t u n til a fu s e o r c ir c u it- b r e a k e r o p e n s
to p r o te c t th e a ffe c te d c ir c u it fr o m
d a m a g e .
1 8
M o s t a p p lic a tio n s a r e a ls o e x p o s e d to
m a g n e tic fie ld s a t o th e r fr e q u e n c ie s , o r
w ith o th e r p u ls e c h a r a c te r is tic s . F o r
e x a m p le , e le c tr o n ic e q u ip m e n t a n d
h o u s e h o ld a p p lia n c e s o fte n c o n s u m e
h a r m o n ic c u r r e n t fr o m th e m a in s s u p p ly
- le a d in g to s ig n ific a n t le v e ls o f m a g n e tic
fie ld s a t h a r m o n ic s o f th e m a in s
fr e q u e n c y , e m itte d b y th e
e q u ip m e n t/a p p lia n c e s a n d th e m a in s
d is tr ib u tio n th a t s u p p lie s th e m . In s o m e
e n v ir o n m e n ts th e le v e ls o f fie ld s a t th e
th ir d h a r m o n ic c a n b e b e tw e e n 3 0 a n d
1 1 5 % o f th e le v e ls a t th e fu n d a m e n ta l
fr e q u e n c y [5 ]. S o m e e n v ir o n m e n ts c a n
s u ffe r fr o m p o w e r fu l m a g n e tic fie ld s a t
fr e q u e n c ie s u p to 1 M H z ( e .g . in d u c tio n
h e a tin g , h ig h - s tr e e t s h o p th e ft p r o te c tio n
s y s te m s ), a n d s o m e p ro d u c ts a re
e x p o s e d to h ig h le v e ls o f p u ls e d
m a g n e tic fie ld s fr o m lig h tn in g s tr ik e s to
b u ild in g lig h tn in g p r o te c tio n s y s te m s
( w ith r is e - tim e s o f 1 µ s o r le s s ) .
H o w e v e r a p a rt fro m p ro fe s s io n a l a u d io
e q u ip m e n t a n d s y s te m s th e re a re n o IE C
o r E N b a s ic te s t m e th o d s fo r im m u n ity to
m a g n e tic fie ld s o th e r th a n a t th e
fu n d a m e n ta l p o w e r - lin e fre q u e n c y .
P r o fe s s io n a l a u d io e q u ip m e n t a n d
s y s te m s a re o fte n e x p o s e d to p o w e rfu l
m a g n e tic fie ld s a t a u d io fr e q u e n c ie s ,
o fte n fr o m lo u d s p e a k e r a m p lifie r s a n d
th e ir le a d s . T h e ir p r o d u c t fa m ily . E M C
im m u n ity s ta n d a r d E N 5 5 1 0 3 - 2 [3 ] u n d e r
th e E M C D ir e c tiv e u s e s a te s t m e th o d
d e r iv e d fr o m a m ilita r y E M C s ta n d a r d to
te s t fo r im m u n ity to m a g n e tic fie ld s fr o m
1 0 H z to 1 0 k H z .
T h e E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 -4 -8 o r E N 5 5 1 0 3 -2
m e th o d s c o u ld b e u s e d to te s t p r o d u c ts
w ith m a g n e tic fie ld s a t m u c h h ig h e r
fr e q u e n c ie s , a s lo n g a s th e ir in d u c tio n
c o il d ia g o n a l o r d ia m e te r is le s s th a n
o n e - tw e n tie th o f th e w a v e le n g th . H ig h
fie ld s tr e n g th s a t h ig h fr e q u e n c ie s a r e
lim ite d in p r a c tic e b y th e h ig h le v e ls o f
v o lta g e d r iv e th a t w o u ld b e r e q u ir e d .
W h a t to te s t?

3 4
E x a m p le s o f ite m s th a t a r e s e n s itiv e B u t it is n o t o n ly m a g n e tic a lly s e n s itiv e V o lta g e s in d u c e d in a P C B C ir c u it b y a n S ta te m e n ts a b o u t b o th o f th e s e a re
to e x te r n a l m a g n e tic fie ld s p a r ts w h ic h c a n s u ffe r in te r fe r e n c e fr o m e x te r n a l A C m a g n e tic fie ld r e q u ir e d o n th e D e c la r a tio n o f
p o w e r-fre q u e n c y m a g n e tic fie ld s . A ll C o n fo r m ity w h ic h is s ig n e d b y a
O s c illo s c o p e s , m e d ic a l c o m p a n y 's T e c h n ic a l D ir e c to r (o r
m o n ito r s , e tc ( u s in g C R T
s ig n a l c u r r e n ts tr a v e l in lo o p s , a n d th e s e
lo o p s e n c lo s e a n a r e a w h ic h w ill p ic k u p s o m e o n e w ith s im ila r a u th o r ity ).
d is p la y s )
m a g n e tic fie ld s in th e ir e n v ir o n m e n t to
c r e a te in te r fe r in g v o lta g e s . T h e E M C c o n fo rm ity a s s e s s m e n t is
u s u a lly a c h ie v e d b y a p p ly in g a ll o f th e
P C m o n ito rs A n im p o r ta n t e x a m p le c o n c e r n s p r in te d r e le v a n t s ta n d a r d s lis te d u n d e r th e E M C
(tra d itio n a l C R T ty p e s ) c ir c u it b o a r d ( P C B ) la y o u ts . F o r D ir e c tiv e . A lis tin g u n d e r th e E M C
P C h a rd d is c d r iv e s
P C flo p p y d is c d r iv e s
e x a m p le , if th e c u r r e n t p a th o f a w a n te d D ir e c tiv e m e a n s th a t c o m p ly in g w ith th a t
s ig n a l e n c lo s e d a lo o p a r e a o f 1 0 0 c m 2 s ta n d a r d p r o v id e s a 'p r e s u m p t io n o f
( e .g . a s q u a r e 1 0 c m o n e a c h s id e ) c o n fo r m ity ' fo r th e E M C is s u e s it c o v e rs .
e x p o s u r e to a 5 0 H z m a g n e tic fie ld o f N o is e ( in te r f e r e n c e ) v o lta g e ( I n d u c e d in s e r ie s w ith th e s ig n a l
b y th e e x te r n a l m a g n e t ic f ie ld p a s s in g th r o u g h it s c u r r e n t lo o p a r e a )
3 A /m w ill a d d a n o is e v o lta g e o f 1 .2 µ V to T h e a r e a e n c lo s e d b y t h e s ig n a l's c u r r e n t p a t h ( lo o p )
B u t a 'p r e s u m p t io n o f c o n f o r m it y ' is o n ly
M o v in g c o il m ic r o p h o n e s a p r e s u m p tio n a n d n o t a g u a r a n te e o f
a n d e a r p h o n e s
th e w a n te d s ig n a l. T h is s m a ll v o lta g e is T h e s ig n a l's c u r r e n t p a t h ( lo o p )
e n o u g h to c o m p r o m is e lo w - le v e l s ig n a ls A n e x te r n a l a .c . m a g n e tic fie ld p a s s in g th r o u g h th e P C B
c o n fo r m ity . T h e E M C P r o te c tio n
- e s p e c ia lly if a h ig h s ig n a l- to - n o is e R e q u ir e m e n ts r e q u ir e th a t a p r o d u c t
s p e c ific a tio n is r e q u ir e d . T h e le v e ls o f d o e s n o t c a u s e o r s u ffe r fro m
p o w e r - fr e q u e n c y m a g n e tic fie ld s th a t c a n L e s s c o m m o n ly o c c u r r in g e q u ip m e n t u n a c c e p ta b le in te r fe r e n c e w h e n u s e d in
T V 's ( t r a d it io n a l C R T t y p e ) s u c h a s e le c tr o n m ic r o s c o p e s , a n d
b e c a u s e d b y a d ja c e n t ite m s in a r a c k o r its in te n d e d e n v ir o n m e n t. E M C
te s t e q u ip m e n t h a v e s o m e tim e s b e e n c e r ta in ty p e s o f m e d ic a l in s tr u m e n ta tio n , s ta n d a r d s o n ly c o v e r a lim ite d r a n g e o f
fo u n d to c a u s e m o d u la tio n s id e b a n d s in c a n b e v e r y s e n s itiv e to p o w e r - fr e q u e n c y in t e r f e r e n c e t y p e s a n d 't y p ic a l'
th e o u tp u ts o f s ig n a l g e n e r a to r s , a n d m a g n e tic fie ld s . F o r in s ta n c e , e n v ir o n m e n ts , a n d s o m e o f th e
s p u r io u s to n e s in th e d e m o d u la te d m e a s u r e m e n ts o f e v o k e d p o te n tia ls s ta n d a r d s a r e w e ll- k n o w n to b e
V id e o & ta p e re c o rd e rs s ig n a ls fr o m F M /P M m o d u la tio n ( s o m e tim e s c a lle d e v o k e d r e s p o n s e s ) in in a d e q u a te fo r th e m o d e r n e n v ir o n m e n t,
a n d p la y e r s n e r v e s w o u ld b e im p o s s ib le in th e 1 A /m
a n a ly s e r s . s o th e r e is a lw a y s th e p o s s ib ility th a t
fie ld w h ic h is th e lo w e s t te s t le v e l s im p ly m e e tin g a ll th e r e le v a n t
E le c tr ic g u ita r s S im ila r c a lc u la tio n s c a n b e a p p lie d to th e e m p lo y e d b y E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 . T h is is s ta n d a r d s w ill n o t c r e a te a c o m p lia n t
lo o p a r e a e n c lo s e d b y a s ig n a l c o n d u c to r b e c a u s e th e c a b le s to th e ir p a tie n t p r o d u c t. T h is is s u e is s p e c ific a lly
in a c a b le a n d its a s s o c ia te d r e tu r n , a n d e le c tr o d e s c a n n o t b e tw is te d a lo n g th e ir r e c o g n is e d in th e u p c o m in g 2 n d E d itio n
is th e r e a s o n w h y tw is te d - p a ir c a b le s a re fu ll le n g th ; s o n e c e s s a r ily e n c lo s e la r g e E M C D ir e c tiv e , w h ic h w ill r e q u ir e
s o o fte n r e c o m m e n d e d fo r a u d io a n d a r e a s ( a t le a s t 0 .1 m 2 ) ; a n d a ls o b e c a u s e m a n u f a c t u r e r s t o p e r f o r m a n 'E M C r is k
lo w - le v e l s ig n a ls - th e r e g u la r tw is tin g n e r v e s ig n a ls a r e m e a s u r e d in µ V a n d a s s e s s m e n t' to d e te r m in e w h a t E M C
c a n c e ls o u t th e m a jo r ity o f th e in d u c e d th e m e a s u r in g b a n d w id th g o e s u p to a t te s ts a r e r e le v a n t fo r e a c h o f th e ir
v o lta g e fr o m th e m a g n e tic fie ld . le a s t 6 0 H z . S in c e it is im p r a c tic a l to w r a p p ro d u c ts .
L o u d s p e a k e rs th e p a tie n t a n d e le c tr o d e le a d s in
F o r a s in g le c u r r e n t lo o p , in a ir : m u m e ta l, s u c h a p p lic a tio n s r e q u ir e In a n y c a s e , fe w m a n u fa c tu re rs w a n t to
A t th e tim e o f w r itin g , th e E M C V n = 2 .p .f.µ O .H .A e n v ir o n m e n ts w ith v e r y lo w le v e ls o f r is k th e w a r r a n ty c o s ts a n d b a d m a rk e t
D ir e c t iv e 's g e n e r ic a n d p r o d u c t - f a m ily w h e re p o w e r - fr e q u e n c y m a g n e tic fie ld s - n o t im a g e c r e a te d b y a n u n r e lia b le o r
im m u n ity s ta n d a r d s th a t c a ll u p E N V n is th e n o is e v o lta g e c r e a te d ( in e a s y to fin d in m o d e r n h o s p ita ls . in te r fe r e n c e - p r o n e p r o d u c t, s o it is
6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 o n ly a p p ly it to p r o d u c ts th a t V o lts r m s ) re c o m m e n d e d th a t th e m a g n e tic fie ld
c o n ta in m a g n e tic a lly s e n s itiv e f is th e fr e q u e n c y o f th e m a g n e tic fie ld It is w o r th w h ile re m e m b e r in g th a t - lik e e n v ir o n m e n t o f a p r o d u c t is a s s e s s e d
c o m p o n e n ts , s u c h a s c a th o d e -ra y tu b e s ( in H e r tz ) a ll 'C E m a r k in g ' D ir e c tiv e s - th e E M C a n d s u ita b le te s tin g a p p lie d to e n s u re
( C R T s , e .g . c o m p u te r m o n ito r s , T V s ), µ O is th e p e r m e a b ility o f fre e s p a c e D ir e c tiv e h a s tw o s e p a ra te le g a l th e d e s ir e d le v e l o f p r o d u c t q u a lity .
e le c tr o n - m u ltip lie r tu b e s , m o v in g - c o il ( 4 p . 1 0 -7 ) re q u ir e m e n ts th a t m u s t b e m e t fo r a
m ic r o p h o n e s , m ic r o p h o n e tr a n s fo r m e rs , H is th e r m s v a lu e o f th e m a g n e tic p ro d u c t 's c o n f o rm ity to b e a c h ie v e d :
h a ll- e ffe c t s e n s o r s , m a g n e tic fie ld s tr e n g th ( in A /m )
r e c o r d in g /p la y b a c k , lo u d - s p e a k e r s a n d A is th e a r e a o f th e lo o p e n c lo s e d b y lT h e E M C c o n fo r m ity a s s e s s m e n t
th e lik e . t h e s ig n a l's c u r r e n t ( in m 2 ) .
l T h e E M C P r o te c tio n R e q u ir e m e n ts

S h ie ld in g is u s u a lly im p r a c t ic a l o r c o s t ly
5 6
A m a g n e tic fie ld in d u c e s a v o lta g e in
s e r ie s w ith a c u r r e n t lo o p p a th , a lm o s t
r e g a r d le s s o f t h e c ir c u it 's im p e d a n c e s o r
th e r e s is ta n c e s o f th e c o n d u c to r s . T h e
o n ly lo w - c o s t s o lu tio n th a t w ill
s ig n ific a n tly r e d u c e th e le v e l o f a n
in te r fe r in g v o lta g e in d u c e d b y a p o w e r -
fr e q u e n c y m a g n e tic fie ld , is to r e d u c e th e
a r e a e n c lo s e d b y t h e r e s p e c t iv e s ig n a l's
c u r r e n t p a th . U n fo r tu n a te ly , m o s t P C B
d e s ig n e r s a r e n 't u s e d t o t h in k in g a b o u t
c u r r e n t p a th s a n d th e ir e n c lo s e d lo o p
a r e a s , s o th is a s p e c t o f P C B la y o u t is
o fte n ig n o r e d .
T h e o n ly o th e r m e th o d is s h ie ld in g , b u t
u s in g o r d in a r y m a te r ia ls is im p r a c tic a l.
3 m m th ic k m ild s te e l o n ly r e d u c e s a
5 0 H z fie ld b y a b o u t 2 0 d B , a n d it ta k e s
a b o u t a 2 5 m m th ic k n e s s o f a lu m in iu m to
a c h ie v e th e s a m e m o d e s t s h ie ld in g
e f f e c t iv e n e s s . 'M u m e t a l' a n d o t h e r e x o t ic
h ig h - p e r m e a b ility m e ta ls c a n b e u s e d to
a c h ie v e b e tte r s h ie ld in g o f p o w e r -
fr e q u e n c y m a g n e tic fie ld s - a t a p r ic e -
h o w e v e r it is s o m e tim e s u s e d to s h ie ld
C R T s a n d o th e r m a g n e tic a lly s e n s itiv e
c o m p o n e n ts w h o s e c u r r e n t lo o p a r e a s
c a n n o t b e re d u c e d .
S o it c a n b e a r g u e d th a t e v e r y n e w
p r o d u c t th a t u tilis e s s m a ll a n a lo g u e
s ig n a ls a n d /o r h ig h g a in s s h o u ld b e
te s te d u s in g E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 , a t le a s t
d u r in g d e v e lo p m e n t, to c h e c k th a t th e
e x p e c te d p o w e r fr e q u e n c y m a g n e tic
f ie ld s in it s o p e r a t in g e n v ir o n m e n t w o n 't
c a u s e s ig n a l- to - n o is e o r r e lia b ility
p r o b le m s in th e fie ld .
W h e r e th e lik e ly m a g n e tic fie ld s
( c o n tin u o u s o r p u ls e d ) in a n e n v ir o n m e n t
a r e la r g e r th a n 3 0 A /m , a n d /o r w h e r e
in te r fe r e n c e c o u ld p o s s ib ly r e s u lt in
fu n c tio n a l s a fe ty p r o b le m s , it c a n b e
a r g u e d th a t a ll p r o d u c ts u s in g a n a lo g u e
s ig n a ls ( a n d m a y b e s o m e d ig ita l
p r o d u c ts ) s h o u ld b e te s te d u s in g E N /IE C
6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 a t th e a p p r o p r ia te te s t le v e ls .
W h a t le v e ls o f p o w e r -fr e q u e n c y m a g n e t ic fie ld s
o c c u r ?
A n n e x e D o f E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 [1 ] g iv e s
s o m e u s e fu l in fo r m a tio n o n th e p o w e r -
fr e q u e n c y m a g n e tic fie ld s tr e n g th s lik e ly
to o c c u r in v a r io u s lo c a tio n s . 1 0 0
h o u s e h o ld a p p lia n c e s w e r e te s te d ( 2 5
b a s ic ty p e s ) to fin d th a t a t 3 0 0 m m
d is ta n c e th e fie ld w a s m o s t lik e ly to b e
b e tw e e n 0 .0 3 A /m a n d 1 0 A /m , a lth o u g h a
fie ld o f 2 1 A /m w a s m e a s u r e d in a t le a s t
o n e c a s e . A t 1 .5 m d is ta n c e th e h ig h e s t
fie ld w a s 0 .4 A /m . O th e r s o u r c e s o f
in fo r m a tio n o n th e m a g n e tic fie ld th a t
m a y b e fo u n d in r e a l e n v ir o n m e n ts
in c lu d e IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 2 - 7 [6 ] a n d C e n e le c
R 0 1 4 -0 0 1 :1 9 9 9 [7 ].
T h e fie ld s fr o m s m a ll s o u r c e s s u c h a s
m o to r s o r tr a n s fo r m e r s r e d u c e r a p id ly a s
th e d is ta n c e fr o m th e s o u r c e in c r e a s e s ,
a s s h o w n b y th e a b o v e e x a m p le s . B u t
th e m a g n e tic fie ld s c r e a te d b y e le c tr ic a l
p o w e r d is tr ib u tio n o fte n r e d u c e a t a
lo w e r r a te . A t g r o u n d le v e l d ir e c tly b e lo w
a 4 0 0 k V o v e r h e a d p o w e r lin e th e fie ld
s tr e n g th is ty p ic a lly 1 6 A /m p e r k A o f lin e
c u r r e n t, w h e r e a s a t 3 0 m s id e w a y s fr o m
th e c e n tre o f th e p a th o f th e o v e rh e a d
lin e it is a b o u t 5 A /m p e r k A o f c u r r e n t.
A t flo o r le v e l in a b u ild in g w ith u n d e r flo
e le c tr ic h e a tin g , o r a t g r o u n d le v e l a b o
b u r ie d 4 0 0 k V p o w e r c a b le s , fie ld s h a v
b e e n m e a s u re d a t 1 6 0 A /m . 1 k A /m o r
m o r e h a s b e e n m e a s u r e d in s o m e
lo c a tio n s in s o m e e le c tr ic r a ilw a y r o llin
s to c k . 1 5 k A /m h a s b e e n m e a s u r e d in
s o m e in d u s tr ia l e le c tr o ly tic p r o c e s s e s
fie ld s tr e n g th w h ic h e x c e e d s h e a lth a n
s a fe ty g u id e lin e s ) .
P u ls e d p o w e r - fr e q u e n c y m a g n e tic fie ld s
a r e c o m m o n p la c e , a n d o c c u r w h e n e v e r
a m a in s lo a d is s w itc h e d o n o r o ff. W ith
s o m e p r o d u c t d e s ig n s u s in g a c - c o u p le d
c ir c u its o r a d a p tiv e s o ftw a r e , c o n tin u o u s
(s te a d y ) p o w e r - fr e q u e n c y m a g n e tic
fie ld s in th e ir o p e r a tin g e n v ir o n m e n t
m ig h t n o t c a u s e a n in te r fe r e n c e p r o b le m ,
b u t s u d d e n c h a n g e s in th e m a g n e tic fie ld
c o u ld p r e s e n t p r o b le m s .
E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 g e n e r a lly s u g g e s ts
te s tin g w ith p u ls e d fie ld s th a t a r e 1 0
tim e s h ig h e r in a m p litu d e th a n
c o n tin u o u s fie ld s , b u t in r e a l life th e
m a x im u m v a lu e o f p u ls e d fie ld d e p e n d s
u p o n th e s h o r t- c ir c u it c u r r e n t c a p a b ility
o f th e s u p p ly a n d th e im p e d a n c e o f th e
e le c tr ic a l fa u lt, w h ic h c a n b e a lo t m o r e
th a n 1 0 tim e s th e le v e l o f th e n o r m a l
c o n tin u o u s m a g n e tic fie ld .
E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 a ls o d e s c r ib e s te s tin g
w ith c o n tin u o u s fie ld s o f 1 0 0 A /m a n d
p u ls e d m a g n e tic fie ld s o f 1 0 0 0 A /m , o r
m o r e . S u c h p o w e r fu l fie ld s a r e m o s t
lik e ly to b e e x p e r ie n c e d b y a p p a r a tu s
e x p o s e d to m a g n e tic fie ld s fr o m
o v e r h e a d o r u n d e r g r o u n d h ig h - p o w e r L V
o r H V d is tr ib u tio n c a b le s , e le c tr ic
tr a c tio n , e le c tr ic a l s w itc h y a r d s , e le c tr ic ity
s u b s ta tio n s , o r n e a r m a in s d is tr ib u tio n
o r tr a n s fo r m e r s . In th e s e lo c a tio n s v e r y
v e h ig h le v e ls o f p u ls e d fie ld s c a n o c c u r
e d u r in g th e s w itc h in g o f h e a v y lo a d s , a n d
d u r in g fa u lts in th e s u p p ly n e tw o r k .
A r e c e n t E M C s p e c ific a tio n fr o m a m a jo r
a u to m o tiv e m a n u fa c tu r e r in c lu d e d th e
g
e ffe c t o f th e n e w e le c tr ic a lly a s s is te d
s te e r in g th a t th e y in te n d to u s e in fu tu r e
(a
v e h ic le s , to r e p la c e tr a d itio n a l b u t
d
in e ffic ie n t p n e u m a tic a lly - a s s is te d p o w e r
s te e r in g . T h e h ig h c u r r e n ts in th e
s te e r in g - a s s is t m o to r s a n d th e ir c a b le s
c a n e x p o s e n e a r b y e le c tr o n ic m o d u le s
( in c lu d in g s e n s itiv e s e n s o r s ) a n d th e ir
c a b le s to flu c tu a tin g m a g n e tic fie ld s .
F u lly c o m p lia n t 5 0 H z m a g n e t ic fie ld im m u n it y t e s t s
7 8
T h e te s t m e
th o d im m e r s e s th e
e q u ip m e n t u n d e r te s t ( E U T ) in a p o w e r -
fre q u e n c y m a g n e tic fie ld c r e a te d b y a n
in d u c tio n c o il. U n lik e m a n y E M C te s t
s ta n d a rd s , E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 is e a s y to
u n d e rs ta n d a n d u n a m b ig u o u s . T h is
h a n d b o o k is a g e n e r a l g u id e - w h e n
te s tin g y o u s h o u ld a lw a y s e x a c tly fo llo w
th e la te s t v e r s io n o f th e s ta n d a r d .
A n y s u ita b le in d u c tio n c o il ( o r
a r r a n g e m e n t o f c o ils ) c a n b e u s e d , a s
lo n g a s it m e e ts th e r e q u ir e m e n ts in
E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 fo r fie ld u n ifo r m ity
a n d c a lib r a tio n . E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8
p r o v id e s u s e fu l c o n s tr u c tio n in fo r m a tio n
o n th r e e k in d s o f c o il ( to c o v e r th r e e
d iffe r e n t s iz e s o f ty p ic a l E U T ) , s o th a t
m o s t p e o p le w ill n o t n e e d to d e s ig n th e ir
o w n c o ils .
E x a m p le o f a 'H e lm h o lt z ' c o il In d u c tio n c o ils a r e c a lib r a te d b y p la c in g T h e s p e c ific a tio n in E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 fo r
a s u ita b le fie ld - s tr e n g th m e te r in th e th e te s t g e n e r a to r is a ls o v e r y s im p le - it
g e o m e tr ic c e n tr e o f th e c o il, o r ie n te d fo r m u s t b e a b le to o u tp u t s u ffic ie n t
m a x im u m r e a d in g . T h e in d u c tio n c o il is s in u s o id a l c u r r e n t ( w ith a m a x im u m to ta l
c o n n e c te d to th e te s t g e n e r a to r u s in g d is to r tio n o f 8 % ) to d r iv e th e in d u c tio n c o il
e x a c tly th e s a m e s e t- u p a s w ill b e u s e d a n d a c h ie v e th e r e q u ir e d fie ld s tr e n g th . A
in t h e a c t u a l t e s t s a n d t h e g e n e r a t o r 's s u ita b ly r a te d tr a n s fo r m e r p o w e r e d fr o m
o u tp u t c u r r e n t to th e c o il is m o n ito r e d . a n A C m a in s s u p p ly w ith r e a s o n a b le
E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 c a lls th e r a tio o f q u a lity is u s u a lly q u ite g o o d e n o u g h . A
m a g n e tic fie ld to d r iv e c u r r e n t fo r a c o il s u ita b le g e n e r a to r c a n c o n s is t o f s im p ly a
it s 'c o il f a c t o r ' ( a lt h o u g h it w o u ld b e m o r e v a r ia b le tr a n s fo r m e r ( to s e t th e c o il
c o m m o n ly r e c o g n is e d a s it s 'c a lib r a t io n c u r r e n t a n d h e n c e m a g n e tic fie ld le v e l)
f a c t o r ' o r 't r a n s d u c e r f a c t o r ') . a n d a h ig h - r a tio s te p - d o w n tr a n s fo r m e r
w ith a n a d e q u a te s e c o n d a r y c u r r e n t
r a tin g . T h e s te p - d o w n tr a n s fo r m e r s h o u ld
b e a s a fe ty - is o la tin g ty p e a n d c o m p ly w ith
th e r e le v a n t p a r t o f E N /IE C 6 1 5 5 8 .
A s u ita b le te s t g e n e r a to r fo r E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 -4 -8
H e lm h o ltz c o ils u s e tw o in d u c tio n c o ils
s p a c e d a p a r t to c r e a te a m o r e u n ifo r m
fie ld o v e r a la r g e r v o lu m e th a n is V a r ia b le tra n s fo rm e r o r C
o th e r A C v o lta g e r e g u la to r O n /o ff c o n tro l fo r
p o s s ib le w ith ju s t a s in g le c o il. S o m e p u ls e d m a g n e tic fie ld
p r o p r ie ta r y H e lm h o ltz c o ils h a v e th r e e im m u n ity te s tin g ( if r e q u ir e d )
c o il- p a ir s a r r a n g e d tr i- a x ia lly s o th a t th e L
th r e e d iffe r e n t fie ld o r ie n ta tio n s c a n b e
te s te d b y ju s t s e le c tin g th e c o il to b e
d r iv e n w ith s w itc h e s - n o n e e d to m o v e A C D r iv e to
th e E U T o r th e c o ils .
m a in s in d u c tio n
s u p p ly c o il
S te p -d o w n s a fe ty is o la tin g
tra n s fo rm e r ra te d fo r th e
v o lta g e a n d c u rre n t to g e n e ra te
th e r e q u ir e d fie ld ( d e p e n d s o n
N th e in d u c tio n c o il)
9 1 0
A v a r ie ty o f c o n tin u o u s a n d p u ls e d fie ld E x a m p le o f a h ig h -c u r r e n t s te p -d o w n E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 d e s c r ib e s h o w to te s t
T h e f o r m u l a V = N . 2 . p . f . µ O .H . A
s tre n g th te s t le v e ls a r e r e c o m m e n d e d in tra n s fo rm e r fro m R E O ta b le - to p p r o d u c ts a n d flo o r - s ta n d in g
a llo w s c a lc u la tio n o f th e v o lta g e
E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 -4 -8 , b u t th e im m u n ity p r o d u c ts o f a n y s iz e . T h e E U T is p la c e d
r e q u ir e d to d r iv e a c o il d e s ig n to
s ta n d a rd s w h ic h c a ll u p E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - T h e s e c o n d a r y is a o v e r a g r o u n d r e fe r e n c e p la n e ( G R P )
a c h ie v e th e c o r r e c t fie ld s tr e n g th , s o b u s b a r w ith e ith e r h a lf
4 - 8 a s th e ir b a s ic te s t m e th o d u s u a lly a tu rn (o n e p a s s
w h ic h is c o n n e c te d to th e lo c a l s a fe ty
th a t th e c o rre c t ty p e o f s te p -d o w n
o n ly r e q u ir e c o n tin u o u s fie ld te s tin g a t th r o u g h th e to r o id ) e a rth s y s te m . G R P s m u s t b e m a d e o f a
tra n s fo rm e r c a n b e p u rc h a s e d (o r g iv in g a 0 .8 V o u tp u t fo r
3 A /m fo r d o m e s tic , c o m m e r c ia l, a n d lig h t a 2 3 0 V in p u t, o r 1 .5 n o n - m a g n e tic m e ta l, id e a lly c o p p e r o r
w o u n d ). tu r n s ( a s s h o w n ) g iv in g
in d u s tr ia l e n v ir o n m e n ts - a n d 3 0 A /m fo r a lu m in iu m , w ith a th ic k n e s s o f a t le a s t
a 1 .6 7 V o u tp u t.
in d u s tr ia l e n v ir o n m e n ts . 0 .2 5 m m . O th e r ( n o n - m a g n e tic ) m e ta ls
In th is fo r m u la M o d e ls w ith o u tp u ts u p
to 5 k A ( c o n tin u o u s
u s e d fo r th e G R P m u s t b e a t le a s t
V is th e v o lta g e ( in V o lts r m s ) a p p lie d
H o w e v e r, fo r s o m e p ro d u c ts , e s p e c ia lly r a tin g ) a r e a v a ila b le . 0 .6 5 m m th ic k . T h e m in im u m s iz e o f th e
to th e in d u c tio n c o il
th o s e u s e d in h e a v y e le c tr ic a l p o w e r T h e m a x im u m v a lu e o f G R P is 1 m e tr e s q u a r e a n d it m u s t
N is th e n u m b e r o f tu r n s in th e c o il H A fo r 1 .6 7 V o u tp u t is
e n v ir o n m e n ts , o r v e r y c lo s e to o th e r a lw a y s e x te n d b e y o n d th e E U T o n a ll
( r e m e m b e r to d o u b le th is fo r a a b o u t 4 0 0 0 .
e q u ip m e n t o r p o w e r c a b le s , r e lia b ility fo u r s id e s .
H e lm h o ltz ty p e d e s ig n ) E g . u p to 1 0 0 A /m fo r a
m a y re q u ir e te s tin g w ith fie ld s tre n g th s 2 0 m 2 s in g le c o il;
f is th e fr e q u e n c y o f th e m a g n e tic
b e y o n d w h a t is r e q u ir e d b y s ta n d a rd s u p to 1 ,0 0 0 A /m fo r a T h e G R P m a y b e u s e d a s o n e s id e o f
fie ld ( in H e r tz ) 2 m 2 s in g le c o il;
lis te d u n d e r th e E M C D ir e c tiv e , a n d /o r u p to 4 ,0 0 0 A /m fo r a
th e in d u c tio n c o il a lth o u g h th is m e a n s
µ O is th e p e r m e a b ility o f fr e e s p a c e
te s tin g w ith p u ls e d fie ld s . 1 m 2 s in g le c o il. th a t to te s t u s in g fie ld s a lo n g a ll th r e e
( 4 p . 1 0 -7 )
( H a lv e th e s e fie ld s fo r a a x e s in tu r n , o n e te s t m u s t in v o lv e ly in g
H is th e r m s v a lu e o f th e m a g n e tic H e lm h o ltz ty p e w ith tw o
S o m a n u fa c tu r e r s m a y w is h to te s t to th e E U T o n its s id e w h ic h m a y n o t
fie ld s tr e n g th r e q u ir e d ( in A /m ) , a n d s in g le c o ils )
th e s e h ig h e r le v e ls a n d p u ls e d fie ld s to a lw a y s b e e a s y o r d e s ir a b le . A lth o u g h
A is th e c r o s s - s e c tio n a l a r e a o f th e
im p r o v e p r o d u c t q u a lity , a n d s p e c ifie r s th e te s t s e t- u p fig u r e s in E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 -
c o il ( in s q u a r e m e tr e s ) W h e r e p r o g r a m m a b le fie ld s tr e n g th
m a y w is h to s p e c ify th e a p p r o p r ia te 4 - 8 s h o w th e G R P b e in g u s e d a s o n e
le v e ls a r e r e q u ir e d r e m o te - c o n tr o lle d
c o n tin u o u s a n d p u ls e d te s t le v e ls fr o m s id e o f th e in d u c tio n c o il, it is n o t a
F o r e x a m p le , d r iv in g a 1 0 - tu rn v a r ia b le tr a n s fo r m e r s m a y b e a b le to b e
E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 in p u r c h a s in g r e q u ir e m e n t o f th e s ta n d a r d .
in d u c tio n c o il o f 4 m 2 to a c h ie v e a u s e d . W h e r e th e m a in s v o lta g e is to o
c o n t r a c t s . T h e 's p e c ia l t e s t le v e l' X m a y
5 0 H z fie ld o f 3 0 A /m r e q u ir e s a d r iv e v a r ia b le , c o n s ta n t- v o lta g e tr a n s fo r m e r s
b e s p e c ifie d w h e r e th e o p e r a tio n a l In th e c a s e o f ta b le - to p e q u ip m e n t, th e
v o lta g e o f a b o u t 0 .5 V rm s , a n d a o r a u to m a tic a lly s e lf- r e g u la tin g v a r ia b le
e n v ir o n m e n t c o u ld h a v e s tr o n g e r p o w e r - E U T is p la c e d in th e c e n tr e o f th e c o il ( o r
tr a n s fo r m e r s m a y p r o v id e a s o lu tio n .
fr e q u e n c y fie ld s th a n th o s e lis te d in th e c o il a r r a n g e m e n t) a n d s p a c e d a b o v e th e
s ta n d a rd . G R P w ith a 1 0 0 m m th ic k in s u la tin g
B u t w h e re m a in s s u p p lie s h a v e a p o o r
s u p p o r t, s u c h a s p o ly s ty r e n e o r d r y
q u a lity s in u s o id a l w a v e fo r m o r th e w ro n g
w o o d . If th e E U T h a s a p r o te c tiv e e a rth
fre q u e n c y (e .g . te s tin g p r o d u c ts in te n d e d
te r m in a l th is m u s t b e c o n n e c te d to th e
fo r th e E U m a r k e t in C h in a o r th e
G R P .
P h ilip p in e s ) , th e s im p le g e n e r a to r s h o w n
a b o v e m ig h t n o t s u ffic e . A lte r n a tiv e te s t
g e n e ra to rs a r e d is c u s s e d la te r .

A p a rt fro m th e te s t g e n e ra to r a n d
E x a m p le o f R E O L A B 2 0 0 u s e d in d u c tio n c o il( s ) th e te s t in s tr u m e n ta tio n
a s a r e g u la te d v a r ia b le v o lta g e r e q u ir e d is s o m e m e a n s o f m e a s u r in g
s o u rc e fo r th e te s t g e n e ra to r th e c o il c u r r e n t ( w h ic h s h o u ld h a v e a n
a c c u ra c y o f b e tte r th a n ± 2 % ).
1 1 1 2
T h e c o ils m u s t b e la r g e r th a n th e E U T o n E x a m p le s o f R E O filte r s T h e e n v ir o n m e n ta l c o n d itio n s fo r th e te s t
a ll s id e s , w ith a m in im u m s p a c in g fr o m R E O c a n c r e a te c u s to m filte r s to m e e t a re v e ry e a s y to m e e t: te m p e ra tu re 1 5 -
th e E U T o f o n e - th ir d th e E U T s th e E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 -4 -8 r e q u ir e m e n ts fo r 3 0 ° C ; r e la tiv e h u m id ity 2 5 - 7 5 % ; a ir
d im e n s io n in th e p la n e o f th e c o il, s o th a t E x a m p le s o f R E O " D e c o u p lin g n e tw o r k " , " b a c k filte r " p r e s s u r e 8 6 0 - 1 0 6 0 m illib a r s ; a n d
th e E U T is im m e r s e d in a r e a s o n a b ly L o a d s - R E O c a n e le c tr o m a g n e tic d is tu r b a n c e s w h ic h a r e
u n ifo r m fie ld . B u t w h e r e th e G R P is u s e d c re a t e c u s to m lo w e n o u g h n o t to in flu e n c e th e te s t
a s o n e s id e o f th e c o il th e s p a c in g lo a d s to m e e t r e s u lts . T h e a m b ie n t p o w e r - fr e q u e n c y
b e tw e e n G R P a n d E U T is s p e c ifie d a s a n y r e q u ir e m e n ts m a g n e tic fie ld s tr e n g th m u s t b e le s s th a n
1 0 0 m m . o n e - te n th o f th e te s t le v e l. T h is c a n b e
c h e c k e d w ith th e fie ld s tr e n g th m e te r
A u x ilia r y e q u ip m e n t r e q u ir e d to o p e ra te u s e d to c a lib r a te th e in d u c tio n c o il.
th e E U T in a r e a lis tic m a n n e r ; s ig n a l a n d
c o n tr o l c a b le s ; p o w e r s u p p lie s ; lo a d s A ll t h e E U T 's c a b le s a r e t o b e e x p o s e d T h e r e le v a n t g e n e r ic o r p r o d u c t- fa m ily
a n d te s t e q u ip m e n t; s h o u ld a ll b e T h e fie ld s fr o m th e in d u c tio n c o ils e x te n d im m u n ity s ta n d a r d s , o r o p e r a tio n a l
to th e m a g n e tic fie ld fo r 1 m e tr e o f th e ir fo r q u ite s o m e d is ta n c e , s o it m ig h t b e
a rra n g e d s o th a t th e E U T c a n b e fu lly le n g th , a n d if th e ir in d u c e d n o is e r e lia b ility r e q u ir e m e n ts , w ill s e t th e te s t
e x e r c is e d d u r in g th e te s t a n d its n e c e s s a r y to p la c e th e a u x ilia r y le v e ls to b e a p p lie d . T h e a p p r o p r ia te
v o lta g e s c o u ld c a u s e p r o b le m s fo r a n y e q u ip m e n t a n d /o r te s t e q u ip m e n t s o m e
fu n c tio n a l p e r fo r m a n c e m o n ito r e d w ith a u x ilia r y e q u ip m e n t o r te s t g e a r th e y fu n c tio n a l p e r fo r m a n c e c r ite r ia s h o u ld b e
s u ffic ie n t a c c u r a c y to d e te r m in e a p a s s m e tre s a w a y to e n s u re th e y a re d e c id e d u p o n b e fo r e te s tin g , s o th a t th e
s h o u ld b e fitte d w ith w h a te v e r filte r s a r e u n a ffe c te d . S e n s itiv e e q u ip m e n t n o t
o r a fa ilu r e . r e q u ir e d to p r e v e n t th is . T h e s e filte r s a r e a p p r o p r ia te fu n c tio n a l te s t a r r a n g e m e n ts
a s s o c ia te d w ith th e te s t s h o u ld b e fa r c a n b e p r o v id e d fo r th e te s t. T e s ts a r e
c a lle d “ d e c o u p lin g n e tw o r k s ” o r “ b a c k e n o u g h a w a y n o t to b e in te r fe r e d w ith .
filte r s ” in th e s ta n d a r d , a n d th e y n e e d p e r fo r m e d w ith th e c o il ( o r c o il
D o n 't f o r g e t t h a t p o w e r - f r e q u e n c y a rra n g e m e n t) a n d th e E U T a rra n g e d s o
o n ly 'n o t c h o u t ' t h e p o w e r - f r e q u e n c y ( o r m a g n e tic fie ld s p a s s e a s ily th r o u g h b r ic k
fr e q u e n c ie s ) u s e d b y th e te s t. T h e s e a s t o t e s t t h e E U T 's r e s p o n s e t o
o r p la s te r , a n d e v e n th r o u g h q u ite th ic k m a g n e tic fie ld s in th r e e o r th o g o n a l
filte r s m u s t h a v e th e ir g r o u n d s b o n d e d to s h e e t m e ta l, s o it is im p o r ta n t to c o n s id e r
th e G R P a n d h a v e 1 m e tr e o f c a b le d ir e c tio n s , u s u a lly fr o n t- b a c k , s id e - s id e ,
E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 's w h a t m ig h t p o s s ib ly b e o n th e o th e r s id e
b e tw e e n th e m a n d th e E U T . a n d to p -b o tto m .
e x a m p le te s t o f w a lls , flo o r s o r c e ilin g s th a t a r e n e a r to
m e th o d fo r ta b le - th e in d u c tio n c o ils .
to p e q u ip m e n t

T h e E U T is
te s te d w ith th e
c o il o r ie n te d
a lo n g e a c h a x is
in tu r n

1 3
A w o r k in g e x a m p le fr o m R E O o f a te s t s e t u p fo r m a g n e tic fie ld im m u n ity
A c o il a r r a n g e m e n t s u ita b le fo r a n d th e la r g e c o il th e n p la c e d to
im m e r s in g a ll o f a la r g e E U T in a te s t im m e r s e ju s t th o s e a r e a s ( o r v o lu m e ) .
fie ld w ith th e ± 3 d B fie ld s tr e n g th
s p e c ific a tio n o f th e s ta n d a r d m a y b e to o S a fe ty N o te : a s a p r e c a u tio n , p e o p
la r g e a n d u n w ie ld y fo r p r a c tic a l u s e . In fitte d w ith h e a r t p a c e m a k e rs a n d /o r
s u c h c a s e s it is a c c e p ta b le to u s e a s im ila r im p la n te d o r b o d y -w o rn m e d
s in g le c o il th a t is la r g e r th a n th e E U T ( a s d e v ic e s s h o u ld n o t b e e x p o s e d to th
d e s c r ib e d e a r lie r ) to im m e r s e ju s t a m a g n e tic fie ld s g e n e ra te d b y th e s e
p o r tio n o f th e E U T in th e s p e c ifie d fie ld , e n v ir o n m e n t a n d /o r to c a lib r a te th e fie ld
r e p e a tin g th e te s t s e v e r a l tim e s w ith th e A n u m b e r o f p r o p r ie ta r y te s t in s tr u m e n ts
c o il m o v e d a lo n g th e E U T e a c h tim e , s o e x is t fo r fu ll- c o m p lia n c e te s tin g o f
th a t e v e n tu a lly th e w h o le o f th e E U T m a g n e tic fie ld im m u n ity a c c o r d in g to
( a n d 1 m le n g th s o f its in te r c o n n e c tin g E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 . M o s t ( if n o t a ll) o f
a n d p o w e r c a b le s ) h a v e b e e n te s te d . th e s e c o m b in e s e v e r a l ty p e s o f im m u n ity
t e s t s in t o o n e 'b o x ' a n d s o m e a r e s o ld
T h e 's t e p p in g ' d is t a n c e f o r t h e c o il w ith a b a s ic s e t o f te s t c a p a b ilitie s
s h o u ld b e n o m o r e th a n 5 0 % o f th e ( u s u a lly E N 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 2 a n d - 4 - 4 ) to w h ic h
le n g t h o f t h e c o il's s h o r t e s t s id e , t o a d d it io n a l t e s t in g 'm o d u le s ' c a n b e
e n s u r e a n o v e r la p p in g fie ld c o v e r a g e . T o a d d e d ( u s u a lly E N 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 5 , - 4 - 8 , - 4 - 9
s a v e te s tin g tim e in s u c h c a s e s , a n d -4 -1 1 ).
s m a lle r te s t c o ils c a n b e u s e d to id e n tify
th e m o s t s u s c e p tib le a r e a s o f th e E U T ,
D o -it -y o u r s e lf p o w e r -fr e q u e n c y m a g n e t ic fie ld
im m u n it y t e s t in g
1 4
T h e E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 -4 -8 te s t m e th o d a n d v a lu e o f th e m a g n e tic fie ld s tre n g th to b e
b a s ic te s t g e n e r a to r a r e s o lo w - c o s t th a t d e te r m in e d , a n d A is th e c ro s s - s e c tio n a l
it is d iffic u lt to fin d a lo w e r - c o s t w a y o f a re a o f th e p ic k -u p c o il. T h is a s s u m e s
p e r fo r m in g th is te s t. th a t th e p ic k -u p c o il is 'a ir - c o re d '.
Y o u c a n c h o o s e to a d d th e E N 6 1 0 0 0 -4 - D o n 't f o r g e t t h a t a p ic k - u p c o il is m o s t
8 te s t o p tio n to a n a ll- in - o n e te s t s e n s itiv e o n ly to fie ld s a lo n g its a x is , s o
in s tr u m e n t a n d th is m a y n o t c o s t a g r e a t to m e a s u r e a n in d u c tio n c o il it is
d e a l. B u t it is e a s y a n d lo w - c o s t to b u ild im p o r ta n t to a lig n th e p ic k - u p c o il
y o u r o w n te s t e q u ip m e n t to p e r fo r m th is c a r e fu lly fo r m a x im u m o u tp u t v o lta g e .
t e s t , a n d s in c e it d o e s n 't n e e d a v e r y W h e n c h a r a c te r is in g a te s t e n v ir o n m e n t,
s p e c ia l te s t e n v ir o n m e n t ( s u c h a s th e m e a s u r e m e n ts m u s t b e m a d e w ith th e
a n e c h o ic c h a m b e r r e q u ir e d b y s o m e p ic k - u p c o il a lig n e d in th r e e o r th o g o n a l
im m u n ity te s ts ) it c a n b e s e t- u p in a lm o s t d ir e c tio n s , a n d th e a c tu a l fie ld v a lu e is
a n y 'e le c t r ic a lly q u ie t ' p la c e , m a k in g it a n o b ta in e d b y c a lc u la tin g th e s q u a r e r o o t
e a s y te s t to d o y o u r s e lf. o f th e s u m o f th e s q u a r e s o f a ll th r e e
m e a s u r e m e n t s . T r i- a x ia l o r 't o t a l f ie ld '
T h e o v e r a ll p o w e r r e q u ir e m e n ts a r e n o t c o ils c a n b e m a d e , u s in g th r e e
h ig h a n d a v a r ie ty o f s ta n d a r d v a r ia b le o r th o g o n a lly a r r a n g e d c o ils , to s a v e tim e
a n d s te p -d o w n tra n s fo rm e rs m a y b e in a lig n in g th e p ic k - u p c o il.
u s e d . If th e h e a v y -g a u g e c o n d u c to rs a n d
h ig h c u r r e n ts r e q u ir e d b y s in g le - tu r n
in d u c tio n c o ils a r e a p r o b le m , c o ils c a n
b e e a s ily m a d e u s in g tim b e r fr a m in g a n d
le s ta n d a r d g a u g e w ir e . F o r e x a m p le a c o il
w ith 1 0 tu r n s w o u ld o n ly r e q u ir e a 3 A
ic a l d r iv e c u r r e n t to c r e a te a 3 0 A /m fie ld .
e
te s ts . T o v e r ify th e s u ita b ility o f a te s t
fr o m a n in d u c tio n c o il, 5 0 H z fie ld s u r v e y
m e te r s a r e r e q u ir e d . T h e s e a r e n o t v e r y
e x p e n s iv e to b u y , a n d c a n b e h ir e d a t
m o r e r e a s o n a b le c o s t, b u t if c o s t is v e r y
im p o r ta n t th e y c a n b e e a s ily d e s ig n e d
a n d c o n s tr u c te d fr o m p u b lis h e d a r tic le s ,
s u c h a s [4 ].T h e fo r m u la V = N .2 .p .f.µ o .H .A
in tr o d u c e d e a r lie r r e la te s th e m e a s u r e d
v o lta g e to th e fie ld - b u t in th is
a p p lic a tio n V is th e m e a s u r e d v o lta g e
fr o m th e p ic k - u p c o il, N is th e n u m b e r o f
tu r n s o n th e p ic k - u p c o il, H is th e r m s
O n -s it e t e s t in g o f p o w e r -
fr e q u e n c y m a g n e t ic fie ld A lt e r n a t iv e t e s t
im m u n it y g e n e r a to r s C o n v e r s io n fa c t o r s
1 5 1 6
T h e te s t s e t-u p a n d o th e r r e q u ir e m e n ts T h e s im p le tr a n s fo r m e r - b a s e d te s t r a tin g o f a ty p ic a l a u d io p o w e r a m p lifie r ,
a r e e a s y to a c h ie v e in m o s t lo c a tio n s . In g e n e r a to r d e s c r ib e d e a r lie r c a n b e o r e ls e a m a tc h in g tra n s fo rm e r c o u ld b e A n u m b e r o f m a g n e tic flu x a n d fie ld
s o m e s itu a tio n s it m a y b e d iffic u lt to u n s u ita b le w h e r e m a in s w a v e fo r m u s e d to m a tc h th e o u tp u t ra n g e o f th e s tre n g th u n its a r e in u s e , s o h e re
e m p lo y th e g r o u n d r e fe r e n c e p la n e a s q u a lity is to o p o o r ; w h e r e m a in s s u p p ly a m p lifie r to th e in p u t re q u ir e d b y th e a re s o m e c o n v e r s io n fa c to rs fro m
s p e c ifie d b y E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 , b u t w ill le v e ls a r e to o v a r ia b le ; o r w h e r e in d u c tio n c o il. s o m e o f th e m in to A /m (th e s e a re
p r o b a b ly n o t m a k e a g r e a t d e a l o f a u to m a te d te s tin g is r e q u ir e d . A ls o , th e r e o n ly v a lid in a ir ) :
d iffe r e n c e in p r a c tic e a n d w h e re a G R P a r e a n u m b e r o f r e a s o n s w h y te s tin g H o w e v e r , a u d io a m p lifie r s d e s ig n e d fo r
c a n 't b e u s e d a n o t e t o t h a t e ffe c t s h o u ld m a y b e r e q u ir e d w ith m a g n e tic fie ld s ty p ic a l d o m e s tic u s e a r e o fte n l1 A / m = 4 F . 1 0 -3 O e r s t e d ( O e )
b e a d d e d in th e te s t r e p o rt. w h ic h h a v e a d iffe r e n t fr e q u e n c y to th e in a p p r o p r ia te a n d tr ia ls o f th is m e th o d . 1 2 .6 m illiO e r s te d
m a in s s u p p ly , e .g .. h a v e s a d ly r e s u lte d in th e d e s tr u c tio n o f
l T h e c o u n tr y w h e r e th e te s tin g is b e in g a n u m b e r o f d o m e s tic h i- fi p o w e r l1 A /m = 4 F . 1 0 -7 T e s la ( T )
c a r r ie d o u t h a s a d iffe r e n t m a in s a m p lifie r s . H ig h - p o w e r a m p lifie r s . 1 .2 6 m T
fre q u e n c y to th a t o f th e ta rg e t m a rk e t. in te n d e d fo r s c ie n tific a n d e n g in e e r in g
l T h e s ig n a l p r o c e s s in g te c h n iq u e s u s e w ith a v a r ie ty o f a w k w a r d lo a d s , l1 A / m = 4 F . 1 0 -3 G a u s s ( G )
u s e d in s o m e p r o d u c ts c o u ld m a k e s u c h a s th e w o n d e r fu lly r o b u s t A m c r o n . 1 2 .6 m G
th e m m o r e s e n s itiv e to p o w e r - P S A 2 r a n g e , w o u ld p r o b a b ly b e r e q u ir e d
fr e q u e n c y m a g n e tic fie ld s a t c e r ta in a n d c a n b e h ir e d b y th e w e e k .
v e r y s p e c ific fr e q u e n c ie s , s o th e s e
s h o u ld b e te s te d . E q u ip m e n t s p e c ific a lly d e s ig n e d fo r
l U n in te r r u p tib le p o w e r s u p p lie s a n d
p r o v id in g v a r ia b le - fr e q u e n c y m a in s
s ta n d -b y g e n e ra to rs c a n h a v e a m u c h p o w e r e x is ts , a n d if it m e e ts E N /IE C
w id e r to le r a n c e b a n d fo r th e ir o u tp u t 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 's s p e c if ic a t io n f o r th e m a in s
fr e q u e n c ie s th a n is u s u a l fo r th e p o w e r s o u r c e it c o u ld b e u s e d to d r iv e
m a in s s u p p ly . P r o d u c ts e x p o s e d to th e v a r ia b le - tr a n s fo r m e r a n d s te p -d o w n
s u c h fie ld s ( e .g . a ll o f th e m e d ic a l tr a n s fo r m e r d e s ig n o f th e s ta n d a rd te s t
e q u ip m e n t in a h o s p ita l) c o u ld u s e s ig n a l g e n e r a to r .
c ir c u its th a t n e e d to b e te s te d o v e r th e E le c tr o n ic s o u r c e s o f v a r ia b le fr e q u e n c y
w h o le b a n d . m a in s , s u c h a s p o w e r a m p lifie r s a n d
T h e r e is n o th in g in E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 8 to v a r ia b le m a in s s o u r c e s m e n tio n e d a b o v e
lim it th e te c h n o lo g y u s e d fo r th e te s t m ig h t n o t b e a b le to s u p p ly e n o u g h
g e n e r a to r , a s lo n g a s it m e e ts th e p o w e r fo r te s tin g v e r y h ig h le v e ls o f
n e c e s s a r y s p e c ific a tio n s . O n e s o lu tio n is c o n tin u o u s o r p u ls e d m a g n e tic fie ld s . In
to u s e th e s a m e v a r ia b le tr a n s fo r m e r a n d s u c h c a s e s a s u ita b ly - r a te d m o to r -
s te p - d o w n tr a n s fo r m e r c ir c u it b u t r u n it g e n e r a to r s e t w ith a v a r ia b le - s p e e d
fr o m a v a r ia b le fr e q u e n c y p o w e r g e a rb o x b e tw e e n m o to r a n d g e n e ra to r
g e n e r a to r , fo r e x a m p le a s ig n a l m a y b e a p r a c tic a l s o lu tio n . S o m e p u ls e d
g e n e r a to r fo llo w e d b y a p o w e r fu l a u d io a p p lic a tio n s m a y r e q u ir e a fly w h e e l o n
p o w e r a m p lifie r . M o s t p r o p r ie ta r y a u d io t h e g e n e r a t o r 's d r iv e s h a f t .
a m p lifie r s w o u ld fin d th e im p e d a n c e o f a
E x a m p le o f a R E O M F 6 m u ltifo r m e r -
s in g le - tu r n c o il to o lo w to d r iv e w ith o u t a
u s e d to p r o v id e a s in u s o id a l o u tp u t;
s te p - d o w n tr a n s fo r m e r , b u t in d u c tio n
w ith a n a d ju s ta b le , r e g u la te d v o lta g e ,
c o ils w ith m u ltip le tu r n s c o u ld b e
a n d a t v a r io u s fr e q u e n c ie s
d e s ig n e d to m a tc h th e o u tp u t c u r r e n t
R e fe r e n c e s T h e A u th o r

1 7 1 8
[1 ] E N 6 1 0 0 0 -4 -8 :1 9 9 3 " E le c tro m a g n e t ic [6 ] IE C 6 1 0 0 0 -2 -7 :1 9 9 8 ( o r la te r ) K e ith A r m s tr o n g g r a d u a te d in e le c tr ic a l
C o m p a t ib ility ( E M C ), P a rt 4 . T e s tin g a n d “ E le c tro m a g n e tic C o m p a tib ility ( E M C ) e n g in e e r in g w ith a B .S c ( H o n s .) fr o m
m e a s u re m e n t te c h n iq u e s . S e c tio n 8 . E n v ir o n m e n t L o w fre q u e n c y m a g n e tic Im p e r ia l C o lle g e L o n d o n in 1 9 7 2 ,
P o w e r fre q u e n c y m a g n e tic f ie ld im m u n ity fie ld s in v a r io u s e n v ir o n m e n ts ” m a jo r in g in a n a lo g u e c ir c u it d e s ig n a n d
te s t. B a s ic E M C p u b lic a tio n ." e le c tr o m a g n e tic fie ld th e o r y , w ith U p p e r
[7 ] R 0 1 4 - 0 0 1 :1 9 9 9 ( o r la te r ) “ G u id e fo r S e c o n d C la s s H o n o u r s ( C u m L a u d e ) .
[2 ] E u r o p e a n D ir e c tiv e 8 9 /3 3 6 /E E C ( a s th e e v a lu a tio n o f e le c tr o m a g n e tic fie ld s M u c h o f h is life s in c e th e n h a s in v o lv e d
a m e n d e d ) o n E le c tr o m a g n e tic a ro u n d p o w e r tra n s fo rm e rs ” c o n tr o llin g r e a l- life in te r fe r e n c e p r o b le m s
C o m p a t ib ilit y . T h e D ir e c t iv e 's o f f ic ia l E U in h ig h - te c h n o lo g y p r o d u c ts , s y s te m s ,
h o m e p a g e in c lu d e s d o w n lo a d a b le v e r s io n a n d in s ta lla tio n s , fo r a v a r ie ty o f
E N a n d IE C s ta n d a rd s m a y b e
o f t h e E M C D ir e c tiv e , a ta b le o f a ll th e E N c o m p a n ie s a n d o r g a n is a tio n s in a r a n g e
p u rc h a s e d fr o m B r itis h S ta n d a rd s
s ta n d a r d s lis te d u n d e r th e d ir e c tiv e , a o f in d u s tr ie s .
In s titu tio n (B S I) a t: o rd e rs @ b s i-
g u id a n c e d o c u m e n t o n h o w to a p p ly th e g lo b a l.c o m . T o e n q u ir e a b o u t a p ro d u c t
D ir e c tiv e , lis ts o f a p p o in te d E M C K e ith h a s b e e n a C h a rte r e d E le c tr ic a l
o f s e r v ic e c a ll B S I C u s to m e r S e r v ic e s o n
C o m p e ta n t B o d ie s , a n d p r o g r e s s o n th e K e ith A r m s tr o n g fr o m C h e r r y C lo u g h E n g in e e r ( U K ) s in c e 1 9 7 8 , a G ro u p 1
+ 4 4 (0 )2 0 8 9 9 6 9 0 0 1 o r e m a il th e m a t
2 n d E d itio n E M C d ir e c tiv e : C o n s u lta n ts E u ro p e a n E n g in e e r s in c e 1 9 8 8 , a n d h a s
c s e r v ic e s @ b s i- g lo b a l.c o m
h ttp ://e u r o p a .e u .in t/c o m m /e m te r p is e / w r itte n a n d p re s e n te d a g re a t m a n y
e le c tr _ e q u ip m e n t/e m c /in d e x .h tm . p a p e rs o n E M C . H e is a p a s t c h a ir m a n
o f th e IE E ’s P r o fe s s io n a l G ro u p (E 2 ) o n
[3 ] E N 5 5 1 0 3 -2 :1 9 9 6 "E le c tr o m a g n e t ic E le c tr o m a g n e tic C o m p a tib ility , is a
C o m p a ta b ility , P r o d u c t fa m ily s ta n d a rd fo r m e m b e r o f th e IE E E ’s E M C S o c ie ty , a n d
a u d io , v id e o a u d io v is u a l a n d c h a ir s th e IE E ’s W o r k in g G r o u p o n 'E M C
e n te r ta in m e n t lig h tin g c o n tro l a p p a ra tu s a n d F u n c t io n a l S a f e t y '.
fo r p ro fe s s io n a l u s e , p a rt 2 - Im m u n ity "
T h is g u id e is o n e o f a C o n ta c t: K e ith A rm s tr o n g b y e m a il a t
[4 ] "M e a s u r in g m a g n e tic fie ld s in y o u r o w n s e r ie s . E m a il u s if y o u k e ith .a r m s tro n g @ c h e r r y c lo u g h .c o m o r
h o m e " , A la s d a ir P h illip s , E le c tr o n ic s v is it th e C h e rry C lo u g h w e b s ite
W o r ld + W ir e le s s W o r ld , A p r il 1 9 9 2 , p p
w o u ld lik e to r e c e iv e a ll w w w .c h e r r y c lo u g h .c o m
2 8 1 -2 8 3 o f o u r m in i g u id e s a n d
to b e e n te re d o n to o u r A c k n o w le d g e m e n ts
[5 ] " C o m p a r is o n o f m u lt if r e q u e n c y
m a g n e tic fie ld s o u r c e s w ith r e fe r e n c e m a ilin g lis t a t S o m e o f th is m a te r ia l w a s p r e v io u s ly
le v e ls " , T o n i S jö b lo m , M a r k o S u o ja n e n , m a in @ r e o .c o .u k p u b lis h e d in 2 0 0 1 - 2 0 0 2 in th e " E M C
T o m m i K e ik k o , J a r i K o t in iitty a n d L e e n a T e s tin g " s e r ie s in th e E M C C o m p lia n c e
K o r p i n e n , E M C E u r o p e 2 0 0 B r u g g e , 4 th J o u r n a l: h ttp ://w w w .c o m p lia n c e - c lu b .c o m .
E u r o p e a n S y m p o s iu m o n E M C , M a n y th a n k s a r e d u e to T im W illia m s o f
S e p te m b e r 1 1 - 1 5 2 0 0 0 , T e c h n o lo g is c h e E lm a c S e r v ic e s , h ttp : //w w w .e lm a c .c o .u k
In s t it u u t v z w , IS B N 9 0 - 7 6 0 1 9 - 1 4 - 2 tim w @ e lm a c .c o .u k , m y c o - a u th o r fo r th a t
s e r ie s