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A Practical Guide for EN 61000-4-11: Testing and

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Helping you solve your EMC problems

9 Bracken View, Brocton, Stafford ST17 0TF T:+44 (0) 1785 660247 E:info@emcstandards.co.uk
 A P r a c tic a l G u id e fo r E N 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 1 1

T e s tin g a n d m e a s u re m e n t
te c h n iq u e s V o lta g e d ip s , s h o r t
in te r r u p tio n s a n d v o lta g e v a r ia tio n s
im m u n ity te s ts

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 -q u a lit y a n d E M C c o m p lia n c e
1 2
T h e b a s ic im m u n it y te s t m e th o d fo r v o lt a g e s ta n d a rd s ro u te to c o n fo r m ity - E N 6 1 0 0 0 -
P o w e r q u a lity a n d E M C c o m p lia n c e 2 d ip s , d r o p o u t s , in t e r r u p t io n s , s a g s , 4 - 1 1 s h o u ld n o t b e lis te d o n t h e E M C
b r o w n o u t s a n d s w e lls in t h e m a in s s u p p ly D e c la r a t io n o f C o n f o r m it y . O n ly t h e
W h a t a r e d ip s , d r o p o u ts a n d in t e r r u p tio n s ? 3 is IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 1 1 [1 ]. T h is h a s b e e n r e le v a n t g e n e r ic o r p r o d u c t - f a m ily
a d o p t e d a s t h e h a r m o n is e d E u r o p e a n h a r m o n is e d E M C s ta n d a rd s s h o u ld b e
W h a t d ip s , d r o p o u ts a n d s h o r t in te r r u p tio n s c a n w e e x p e c t? 4 s t a n d a r d E N 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 1 1 , w h ic h is o f te n lis t e d . T h e s e w ill u s u a lly c a ll- u p E N /IE C
c a lle d u p a s a b a s ic t e s t m e t h o d b y 6 1 0 0 0 -4 -1 1 a s a te s t m e th o d , b u t it is
im m u n ity s ta n d a r d s lis t e d u n d e r th e a lw a y s t h e g e n e r ic o r p r o d u c t- fa m ily
H o w d o d ip s a n d d r o p o u t s c a u s e p r o b le m s ? 5 E le c t r o m a g n e tic C o m p a tib ilit y ( E M C ) s ta n d a rd th a t s e t s t h e m in im u m t e s t le v e ls
D ir e c tiv e [2 ]. w h ic h a llo w c o n f o r m ity to b e c la im e d .
F u ll c o m p lia n c e te s t in g o f v o lt a g e d ip s , d r o p o u ts a n d s h o r t in te r r u p t io n s 7
T h is h a n d b o o k d e s c r ib e s h o w t o a p p ly T h e te s ts a n d te s t le v e ls r e q u ir e d b y th e
C o n s t r u c tin g a d ip s a n d d r o p o u ts te s t g e n e r a to r E N / IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 1 1 . U n lik e m a n y E M C g e n e r ic o r p r o d u c t - fa m ily im m u n ity
1 0 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 - s t a n d a r d s a r e o ft e n a lo t le s s
y o u r s e lf '. c o m p r e h e n s iv e t h a n t h o s e r e c o m m e n d e d
P r o g r a m m a b le d ip s a n d d r o p o u t te s tin g 1 3
S in c e d is t u r b a n c e s in t h e m a in s s u p p ly b y E N / I E C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 1 1 its e lf. L o o k in g
v o lt a g e a r e c o m m o n p la c e , a n d s in c e t h e y b e y o n d s im p ly c o m p ly in g w it h t h e m in im u m
O n - s ite te s tin g o f d ip s a n d s h o r t in te r r u p t io n s 1 4 r e q u ir e m e n ts o f t h e E M C D ir e c t iv e ,
c a n in t e r f e r e w it h e v e r y k in d o f e le c t r ic a l
a n d e le c t r o n ic d e v ic e , e q u ip m e n t o r s y s t e m a p p ly in g a ll o f t h e t e s t s a n d le v e ls
T e s tin g d ip s a n d d r o p o u ts b y to g g lin g th e m a in s s w itc h 1 5 ( c a lle d p r o d u c t s in t h e r e s t o f t h is s u g g e s te d b y E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 1 1 is a w a y
h a n d b o o k ) th a t o p e r a te s fr o m th e e le c tr ic a l o f h e lp in g t o m a k e p r o d u c t s m o r e r e lia b le
W h a t a r e s a g s , b r o w n o u t s a n d s w e lls ? 1 6 m a in s s u p p ly , it m a k e s g o o d s e n s e t o t e s t a n d im p r o v e c u s to m e r s a t is fa c t io n .
p r o d u c t s t o e n s u r e t h e y w ill w o r k a s
W h a t k in d o f s a g s a n d s w e lls c a n o c c u r ? in t e n d e d in t h e ir in t e n d e d o p e r a t in g W h e n u s in g t h e T e c h n ic a l C o n s t r u c t io n F ile
1 6 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 r o u t e t o c o n f o r m it y w ith th e E M C D ir e c t iv e
s a f e t y - r e la te d e le c t r o n ic a p p lic a tio n s . it is p o s s ib le to u s e E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 1 1
W h a t e ff e c t c a n s a g s a n d s w e lls h a v e ? 1 7 d ir e c t ly , in w h ic h c a s e it s h o u ld b e lis t e d o n
A c c o r d in g to s o m e e x p e r ts , p o o r A C m a in s th e E M C D e c la r a tio n o f C o n fo r m ity . In s u c h
F u ll c o m p lia n c e v o lta g e v a r ia tio n ( s a g s o n ly ) te s tin g 1 7 s u p p ly q u a lit y o n e le c tr ic a l a n d e le c t r o n ic c a s e s th e p r o d u c t m a n u fa c tu r e r s h o u ld
p r o d u c t s is o n e o f t h e m o s t s ig n if ic a n t a s s e s s t h e e le c t r o m a g n e t ic e n v ir o n m e n t o f
S w e ll t e s tin g c a u s e s o f d o w n t im e a n d f in a n c ia l lo s s h is p r o d u c t a n d s e e t o it t h a t it is d e s ig n e d
1 9 w o r ld - w id e . D ip s , s a g s , b r o w n o u t s , s w e lls , a n d /o r t e s t e d a c c o r d in g ly s o a s t o c o m p ly
v o lt a g e v a r ia t io n s , d r o p o u ts a n d w it h t h e E M C D ir e c t iv e 's e s s e n t ia l
C o n s t r u c tin g a s a g s a n d s w e lls te s te r 1 9 in t e r r u p t io n s a r e t h e c h ie f c a u s e s o f p o o r 'P r o t e c t io n R e q u ir e m e n t s '. T h is is g o o d
m a in s s u p p ly q u a lit y . In s o m e a r e a s p r a c t ic e a n y w a y , w h e th e r t h e T C F r o u te is
O n - s ite te s tin g o f s a g s a n d s w e lls 2 0 w a v e f o r m d is t o r t io n is a ls o b e c o m in g a n b e in g f o llo w e d o r n o t .
im p o r ta n t p o w e r q u a lity is s u e , b u t th a t is
F u ll c o m p lia n c e te s t in g fo r th r e e - p h a s e e q u ip m e n t 2 1 n o t c o v e r e d h e r e . L o n g - te r m v o lt a g e W h e r e a p r o d u c t h a s a s a fe ty - r e la te d
v a r ia t io n s a r e n o t g e n e r a lly c o n s id e r e d t o f u n c t io n , m e r e c o m p lia n c e w ith th e E M C
R e fe re n c e s b e a n E M C is s u e , a n d a lt h o u g h t h e y a r e D ir e c t iv e is in s u ff ic ie n t f o r e n s u r in g t h a t it s
2 1 im p o r ta n t fo r p r o d u c t o p e r a tio n a n d E M C - r e la t e d f u n c t io n a l s a f e t y is d e s ig n e d
r e lia b ilit y t h e y a r e n o t c o v e r e d h e r e e ith e r . c o r r e c t ly . A d d it io n a l a n d / o r t o u g h e r
T h e A u th o r 2 2 im m u n ity t e s t s m a y b e r e q u ir e d . R e f e r t o
E N 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 1 1 is a b a s ic te s t s ta n d a r d , s o
t h e I E E 's g u id e [ 3 ] f o r m o r e o n t h is t o p ic .
- w h e n f o llo w in g t h e s e lf - d e c la r a t io n to
 W h a t d ip s , d r o p o u t s a n d s h o r t in t e r r u p t io n s
W h a t a r e d ip s , d r o p o u t s a n d in t e r r u p t io n s ? c a n w e e x p e c t?
3 4
D ip s a r e s h o r t - te r m r e d u c t io n s in s u p p ly E x a m p le o f a 'd ip ' IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 2 - 8 [4 ] is a n a tte m p t to T h e “ I T I ( C B E M A ) C u r v e ” a n d it s
v o lt a g e c a u s e d b y lo a d s w it c h in g a n d f a u lt d e t e r m in e th e d ip s a n d s h o r t in t e r r u p t io n s A p p lic a t io n N o t e [ 5 ] d e s c r ib e a n A C in p u t
c le a r a n c e in th e m a in s s u p p ly n e tw o r k ( in A 4 0 % d ip w ith a 2 0 m s d u r a tio n t h a t c a n b e e x p e c t e d in r e a l lif e , a n d a lo t v o lt a g e e n v e lo p e f o r 1 2 0 V 6 0 H z p o w e r
e it h e r t h e lo w , m e d iu m , o r h ig h v o lt a g e o f d a t a w a s g a th e r e d a n d a n a ly s e d t o s y s t e m s , w h ic h t y p ic a lly c a n b e t o le r a te d
d is t r ib u tio n s y s te m s ) . T h e y c a n a ls o b e c r e a te its 4 1 p a g e s . It d e s c r ib e s th e ty p e s ( n o in te r r u p tio n in fu n c tio n ) b y m o s t
c a u s e d b y s w itc h in g b e tw e e n th e m a in s o f d ip s a n d s h o r t in te r r u p tio n s t h a t c a n I n f o r m a t io n T e c h n o lo g y E q u ip m e n t ( I T E ) .
a n d a lt e r n a tiv e s u p p lie s in u n in t e r r u p t ib le o c c u r, h o w th e y a re c a u s e d , th e e ffe c ts T h e I T I C u r v e a n d it s A p p lic a t io n N o t e a r e
p o w e r s u p p lie s o r e m e r g e n c y p o w e r b a c k - t h e y c a n h a v e o n a v a r ie t y o f e le c t r ic a l a n d n o t in te n d e d to s e r v e a s a d e s ig n
u p s y s te m s . D ip s a r e s p e c if ie d b y th e ir e le c t r o n ic d e v ic e s , a n d it a ls o d e s c r ib e s s p e c if ic a t io n f o r p r o d u c ts o r A C d is t r ib u tio n
r e d u c tio n b e lo w n o m in a l 2 3 0 V m a in s , a n d r e m e d ia l m e a s u r e s t h a t c a n b e a p p lie d . s y s te m s . H o w e v e r, IE C 6 1 0 0 0 -2 -8
t h e ir d u r a t io n in m illis e c o n d s o r n u m b e r o f d e s c r ib e s t h e IT I C u r v e a s r e p r e s e n t in g t h e
c y c le s . S o a d ip o f 4 0 % is e q u iv a le n t t o a A fte r r e v ie w in g m a n y p a g e s o f d a ta fr o m a t m in im u m im m u n it y o b je c t iv e s c o n c e r n in g
r e d u c tio n in s u p p ly v o lta g e to 6 0 % o f it s le a s t fo u r c o u n tr ie s , it s a y s th a t: “ T h e m o s t d ip s , a n d th is is h o w it is o f t e n e m p lo y e d .
n o m in a l v a lu e . im p o r ta n t c o n c lu s io n t o b e d r a w n f r o m t h e
T h e d ip s ta rte d a n d fin is h e d a t z e r o - B u t d o n 't lo s e s ig h t o f t h e f a c t t h a t [ 1 ] , [ 4 ]
r e s u lt s is t h a t v o lt a g e d ip s a n d s h o r t
D ip te s tin g to E N 6 1 0 0 0 -4 -1 1 a p p lie s d ip s c r o s s in g s ( a s in m o s t te s ts u s in g a n d [ 5 ] a r e o n ly r e le v a n t fo r e q u ip m e n t
in t e r r u p t io n s a r e a r e a lit y in t h e
a b r u p t ly , s t a r tin g a n d f in is h in g a t a z e ro IE C 6 1 0 0 0 -4 -1 1 ) b u t r e a l life d ip s c a n o p e r a t e d f r o m th e p u b lic A C m a in s s u p p ly -
e le c t r o m a g n e t ic e n v ir o n m e n t. T h e y c a n b e
c r o s s in g , a n d a lo n g r e c o v e ry t im e is h a p p e n a t a n y p h a s e a n g le s if y o u r p r o d u c t is lik e ly t o b e o p e r a te d o n a
e x p e c t e d a t a n y p la c e , a t a n y t im e a n d a t
a llo w e d b e t w e e n e a c h d ip . B u t r e a l- lif e p r iv a t e m a in s s u p p ly y o u s h o u ld f in d o u t
le v e ls in v o lv in g v o lt a g e s d o w n v ir t u a lly t o
d ip s c a n h a v e g e n t le r r a te s o f c h a n g e , w h a t it is lik e ly to b e e x p o s e d t o , t h e n
z e r o a n d d u r a t io n s u p t o a n d a b o v e o n e
a n d s ta rt a n d s to p a t a n y p o in t in th e d e s ig n a n d t e s t a c c o r d in g ly . S t a n d a r d s
E x a m p le o f a 'd r o p o u t ' s e c o n d . T h e fr e q u e n c y o f t h e ir o c c u r r e n c e
m a in s c y c le , a n d c a n s o m e tim e s o c c u r in e x is t f o r t h e p o w e r s u p p lie s u s e d in la n d ,
( o r 's h o r t in t e r r u p t io n ') a n d t h e p r o b a b ilit y o f o c c u r r e n c e a t a n y
a fa s t s e q u e n c e . s e a a n d a ir v e h ic le s , a lt h o u g h t h e y a r e n o t
le v e l a r e h ig h ly v a r ia b le b o th fr o m p la c e t o
A 6 0 m s in te r r u p tio n in th e m a in s s u p p ly lis t e d u n d e r th e E M C d ir e c tiv e .
p la c e a n d f r o m o n e y e a r t o a n o t h e r . ”
A d ro p o u t is a d ip th a t is b e tw e e n 9 5 a n d
1 0 0 % d e e p t h a t la s t s f o r u p to 1 m in u te , E N / IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 3 0 [ 6 ] d e s c r ib e s s o m e
a n d th e te r m s h o r t in t e r r u p t io n is p o w e r q u a lity m e a s u r e m e n t te c h n iq u e s .
c o m m o n ly u n d e rs to o d to m e a n th e s a m e
th in g . In te r r u p tio n s in th e m a in s s u p p ly o f
m o re th a n o n e m in u t e a r e s im p ly c a lle d
in t e r r u p t io n s o r p o w e r f a ilu r e s ; a r e n o t
c o v e re d b y E N 6 1 0 0 0 -4 -1 1 , a n d a re n o t
d is c u s s e d h e re .

L ik e d ip s , d ro p o u ts ( s h o r t in t e r r u p t io n s ) T h is in te r r u p tio n s ta r te d a n d fin is h e d a t
a re c a u s e d b y lo a d s w it c h in g a n d f a u lt z e r o - c r o s s in g s (a s in m o s t te s ts u s in g
c le a r a n c e in th e m a in s p o w e r n e tw o r k s ( in IE C 6 1 0 0 0 -4 -1 1 ) b u t re a l life d ro p o u ts
th e L V , M V , o r H V d is t r ib u t io n s ) . A ls o lik e in te r r u p tio n s c a n h a p p e n a t a n y p h a s e
d ip s , t h e y c a n b e c a u s e d b y s w it c h in g a n g le s
b e tw e e n m a in s a n d a n a lt e r n a t iv e s u p p ly
in u n in t e r r u p t ib le p o w e r s u p p lie s o r
e m e rg e n c y p o w e r b a c k -u p s y s te m s .
H o w d o d ip s a n d d r o p o u t s c a u s e p r o b le m s ?
5 6
E le c t r o m e c h a n ic a l d e v ic e s s u c h a s r e la y s ,
c o n t a c t o r s a n d s o le n o id s c a n 'd r o p - o u t ',
a n d t h e ir d r o p - o u t v o lt a g e v a r ie s w it h
t e m p e r a t u r e , v ib r a t io n , s h o c k a n d th e a g e
o f t h e d e v ic e . W h e r e t h e y a r e 'h e ld - in ' a t
r e d u c e d v o lt a g e t o m in im is e p o w e r
d is s ip a t io n , t h e y m ig h t n o t p u ll b a c k in
a g a in a f t e r t h e d ip o r d r o p o u t . F e w 'r e la y
lo g ic ' d e s ig n e r s s e e m to c o n s id e r th e e ff e c t
t h a t r a n d o m d r o p o u ts o f in d iv id u a l r e la y s
m ig h t c a u s e fo r th e fu n c tio n in g o f th e ir
c ir c u it s , w it h p o s s ib le s a fe t y c o n s e q u e n c e s
f o r 'h a r d - w ir e d ' s a f e t y s y s t e m s . D is c h a r g e
la m p s o f t e n w o n 't r e - illu m in a t e f o r m in u t e s
a ft e r a s h o r t m a in s in t e r r u p t io n .
S o m e e le c tr o n ic c ir c u it s r e ly o n c o u n tin g
m a in s c y c le s , a n d t h e s e c a n b e f o o le d b y
d ip s a n d d r o p o u t s , b u t t h e b ig g e s t p r o b le m
is th e h o ld - u p t im e o f p r o d u c t s ' m a in s
p o w e r s u p p lie s . T h e f ig u r e s h o w s a n
e x a m p le o f a 3 .3 v o lt s u p p lie d d ig it a l
c ir c u it . T h e m a in s s u p p ly d ip c a u s e s th e
u n r e g u la t e d r a il t o d is c h a r g e to a le v e l
lo w e r t h a n t h e m in im u m in p u t v o lt a g e f o r
t h e 3 . 3 v o lt r e g u la t o r , s o th e r e g u la te d 3 .3
v o lt D C r a il c a n f a ll t o b e lo w th e le v e l
r e q u ir e d fo r t h e I C s t o f u n c t io n a s
s p e c if ie d . I n t h is s it u a tio n th e I C s c a n d o
a lm o s t a n y t h in g , a n d m e m o r y c o r r u p tio n is
a r e a l p o s s ib ilit y a lo n g w it h 'ille g a l'
f u n c t io n in g th a t c o u ld c a u s e p r o b le m s f o r
w h a t e v e r th e c ir c u it is c o n t r o llin g .
I t is f o r t h e a b o v e r e a s o n t h a t d ig it a l c ir c u it s
e m p lo y p o w e r s u p p ly m o n ito r s a n d
s o f t w a r e 'w a t c h d o g s '. B u t t h e r e is u s u a lly
s o litt le m a r g in b e t w e e n t h e m in im u m
p o s s ib le v a lu e o f th e r e g u la te d r a il a n d th e
m in im u m s p e c ifie d I C o p e r a t in g v o lta g e
t h a t v e r y h ig h - p r e c is io n ( h e n c e c o s tly )
m o n ito r s c a n b e r e q u ir e d . O ld - fa s h io n e d
d ig it a l c ir c u it s w o u ld o f te n b e f itt e d w it h
n o th in g m o r e th a n a s im p le w a tc h d o g , o n
t h e a s s u m p t io n t h a t if t h e r e g u la t e d p o w e r
w a s g o in g t o f a ll b e lo w s p e c if ic a t io n , it
w o u ld g o a ll th e w a y d o w n to z e r o . S u c h
d e s ig n s w ill p r o d u c e u n r e lia b le p r o d u c t s
w h ic h w ill n o t p a s s t e s ts t o E N / I E C 6 1 0 0 0 -
4 -1 1 .
A m o m e n ta r y d r o p in th e r e g u la te d r a il f o r
a n a n a lo g u e c ir c u it c a n c a u s e f u n c t io n a l
e r r o r s , b u t t h e y a r e u s u a lly s e lf - r e c o v e r e d
a fte r th e d ip o r d r o p o u t is o v e r . H o w e v e r ,
p o w e r a m p lif ie r s c a n s u f f e r t r a n s ie n t
g lit c h e s o r s h o r t 's q u e a ls ' o f in s t a b ilit y ,
e it h e r o f w h ic h c a n s o m e tim e s d a m a g e t h e
lo a d s t h e y d r iv e ( o r in t h e c a s e o f
lo u d s p e a k e r s o r h e a d p h o n e s c a u s e
o b je c t io n a b le s o u n d s ) .
 F u ll c o m p lia n c e t e s t in g o f v o lt a g e d ip s ,
d r o p o u t s a n d s h o r t in t e r r u p t io n s
7 8
T h e te s t s e t- u p is v e r y s im p le . T h e re a re n o s p
te s t e n v ir o n m e n
e le c t r o m a g n e t ic
th e c o rre c t o p e r
m a in s v o lt a g e m
w ith in 2 % o f t h e
te m p e ra tu re , h u
r e q u ir e m e n ts a r
2 5 -7 5 % , 8 6 0 -1 0
a llo w in g f u ll c o m
o u t in m o s t p la c
e c ia l r e q u ir e m e n t s fo r th e E x a m p le o f a R E O te s t u n it fo r E N /IE C
t, e x c e p t th a t th e 6 1 0 0 0 -4 -1 1
e n v ir o n m e n t s h o u ld a llo w
a tio n o f th e p r o d u c t a n d th e
u s t b e m o n it o r e d a n d b e
d e s ir e d v a lu e . T h e
m id it y a n d a ir p r e s s u r e
e a ls o v e r y lo o s e ( 1 5 - 3 5 ° C ,
6 0 m b a r r e s p e c t iv e ly ) ,
p lia n c e t e s t s t o b e c a r r ie d
e s .

E a c h d ip o r d r o p o u t te s t ( d e fin e d b y its d ip
le v e l a n d d u r a t io n , a s s p e c if ie d in 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 - f a m ily
h a r m o n is e d s ta n d a r d ) s h a ll b e r e p e a te d
t h r e e t im e s w ith 1 0 s e c o n d s b e t w e e n e a c h ,
fo r e a c h r e p r e s e n ta tiv e m o d e o f E U T E x a m p le s o f R E O L o a d s - R E O c a n
o p e r a t io n . I f 0 . 5 c y c le d ip s o r in te r r u p tio n c r e a te c u s to m lo a d s to m e e t a n y
t e s ts a r e s p e c if ie d : t w o s e t s s h o u ld b e r e q u ir e m e n ts
d o n e - w it h 0 ° a n d 1 8 0 ° s t a r t s .

It is n o rm a l f o r th e t e s t s to s t a r t a n d f in is h
a t m a in s s u p p ly v o lta g e z e r o - c r o s s in g s , in
w h ic h c a s e th e z e r o - c r o s s in g a c c u r a c y o f
th e te s t s h o u ld b e ± 1 0 % . P r o d u c t- f a m ily
s ta n d a rd s c o u ld s p e c if y s t a r t in g a n d / o r
s to p p in g a t o t h e r p h a s e a n g le s , a lth o u g h
E N 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 1 1 s p e c if ie s t h e 7 0 % o f th e g e n e ra to r 's c a p a b ilit y . A n n e x A n o n e th a t h a v e s u c h r e q u ir e m e n ts a r e
c h a r a c t e r is t ic s o f t h e d ip s a n d d r o p o u ts o f th e s ta n d a r d g iv e s p ro c e d u re s fo r k n o w n a t th e t im e o f w r it in g .
t e s t g e n e r a to r in it s s e c t io n 6 . 1 .1 , a n d h a s m e a s u r in g b o th th e p e a k in r u s h c u r r e n t
s p e c if ic r e q u ir e m e n t s f o r in r u s h c u r r e n t a n d th e g e n e r a t o r 's c a p a b ilit y , a n d f o r f u ll T h e p r o d u c t u n d e r t e s t m u s t b e o p e r a t in g
c a p a b ilit y o f t h e p r o d u c t u n d e r t e s t ( o f t e n c o m p lia n c e y o u n e e d to p a y a tte n tio n to in it s n o r m a l m o d e s , w it h a ll o f it s n o r m a l
c a lle d " E U T " ) . T h e in r u s h c u r r e n t c a p a b ilit y th e s e re q u ir e m e n t s . lo a d s , a n d its fu n c tio n s m u s t b e m o n it o r e d
s h o u ld n o t b e lim it e d b y t h e g e n e r a t o r - w ith s u f f ic ie n t a c c u r a c y a n d r e s o lu t io n t o
d a m a g e d u e t o in r u s h is o f te n t h e m o s t A n u m b e r o f c o m m e r c ia l p r o d u c t s a r e id e n t if y a n y p e r f o r m a n c e d e g r a d a t io n s
s e v e r e c o n s e q u e n c e o f a v o lt a g e a v a ila b le f o r t e s tin g d ip s a n d d r o p o u t s . d u r in g a n d a f te r e a c h t e s t . A f te r e a c h g r o u p
in t e r r u p t io n , s o it is im p o r t a n t t h a t it is o f t e s ts a fu ll f u n c t io n a l c h e c k m u s t b e
a d e q u a t e ly t e s te d . A m a x im u m c a p a b ility p e r f o r m e d . T h e r e le v a n t g e n e r ic o r
o f 5 0 0 A f o r 2 3 0 V m a in s s u p p lie s is p r o d u c t - f a m ily h a r m o n is e d s ta n d a r d w ill
r e q u ir e d , b u t c a n b e le s s if t h e a c tu a l s p e c if y t h e p e r f o r m a n c e d e g r a d a t io n
in r u s h c u r r e n t o f th e p r o d u c t h a s b e e n c r it e r ia to b e a p p lie d in e a c h c a s e . I n m a n y
v e r if ie d t o b e le s s th a n 5 0 0 A a n d p r o v id e d c a s e s a m o m e n t a r y d im m in g o f d is p la y e d
t h a t t h e p r o d u c t 's a c t u a l in r u s h is le s s t h a n im a g e s o r illu m in a t io n is p e r m it t e d d u r in g
th e te s t.
 C o n s t r u c t in g a d ip s a n d d r o p o u t s t e s t
g e n e r a to r

9 1 0
W h e r e t h e p r o d u c t 's r a t e d s u p p ly v o lta g e c u rre n t, a n d in te rn a l c o m b u s t io n p o w e r e d
ra n g e d o e s n o t e x c e e d 2 0 % o f it s lo w e s t ty p e s c a n h a v e v e ry p o o r fre q u e n c y
v o lt a g e , a n y v o lta g e w it h in th a t r a n g e c a n r e g u la tio n , s o c a re fu l s e le c t io n a n d
b e u s e d fo r th e te s t. B u t w h e r e it h a s a d im e n s io n in g is r e q u ir e d .
w id e r v o lta g e r a n g e , tw o s e ts o f te s ts a re
r e q u ir e d w it h d if f e r e n t v a lu e s fo r th e T h e r e a r e a ls o c e r t a in t y p e s o f A C m a in s
n o m in a l m a in s v o lta g e : o n e a t t h e lo w e s t 'w a v e f o r m c o r r e c t o r s ' o r a c t iv e p o w e r
r a t e d v o lt a g e a n d o n e a t t h e h ig h e s t . f a c to r c o r r e c t io n e q u ip m e n t t h a t c a n b e
u s e d t o im p r o v e a m a in s s u p p ly 's
T h e t y p ic a l m a in s s u p p ly t h e s e d a y s is w a v e f o r m . A n y s u c h r e g e n e r a t io n o r
lik e ly to h a v e a w a v e fo r m t h a t is n o t a p u r e w a v e f o r m c o r r e c t io n e q u ip m e n t m a y n e e d
s in e - w a v e , it is o f t e n 'f la t - t o p p e d '. T h is c a n to b e ra te d fo r m u c h g re a te r V A o r w a tta g e
r e d u c e t h e p r o d u c t 's in r u s h c u r r e n t a n d t h a n t h e p r o d u c t , s o th a t t h e y c a n s u p p ly
p o w e r s u p p ly c h a r g in g v o lta g e , a n d s o c a n t h e s p e c ifie d p e a k E U T in r u s h c u r r e n t .
a ff e c t t h e d ip s a n d s h o r t in te r r u p tio n s t e s t
r e s u lts . B u t E N 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 1 1 d o e s n o t
E x a m p le s o f v a r ia b le tr a n s fo r m e r s fr o m
s p e c if y t h e w a v e f o r m d is t o r tio n fo r t h e
R E O
m a in s s u p p ly , s o w h e r e t h e E U T s t e s t
s u p p ly is d e r iv e d fr o m th e p u b lic m a in s
s u p p ly it is p r o b a b ly b e s t t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e
s u p p ly m e e ts th e r e q u ir e m e n ts o f E N
6 1 0 0 0 -3 -3 :1 9 9 5 …
● T h e t e s t v o lt a g e is w it h in ± 2 % o f th e
n o m in a l v o lt a g e .

● T h e te s t fr e q u e n c y is 5 0 H z ± 0 .5 H z .

● T h e p e r c e n ta g e to t a l h a r m o n ic d is to r t io n
( T H D ) o f t h e s u p p ly v o lt a g e is le s s th a n B e c a u s e h ig h f r e q u e n c ie s a r e n o t I t is e a s ie s t t o c o n t r o l t h e s w it c h e s if t h e y
3 % . in v o lv e d in t h is t e s t it is f a ir ly e a s y to a r e m o d u la r z e r o - c r o s s in g t y p e s - t h e y
c o n s tr u c t y o u r o w n s u p p ly d ip s a n d m a y t h e n b e a b le t o b e c o n tr o lle d fr o m a
S a fe ty N o te : W h e n c h e c k in g t h e A C d r o p o u t s t e s t e r u s in g a p a ir o f s o lid - s t a t e s ta n d a r d fr e e - r u n n in g la b o r a to r y p u ls e
s u p p ly w a v e fo rm , u s e a ll n e c e s s a r y s a fe ty s w itc h e s , tw o v a r ia b le tr a n s fo r m e r s a n d a g e n e r a t o r ( d r iv in g t h e s w it c h e s in
m e a s u re s a n d e q u ip m e n t a n d le a d s t im in g g e n e r a t o r , a s s h o w n in t h e b lo c k a n t ip h a s e ) . T h e b lo c k d ia g r a m g iv e n h e r e
c o m p lia n t w ith th e s a fe ty s ta n d a rd E N d ia g r a m . is n o t a s c h e m a t ic , s o m o r e d e t a ile d
6 1 0 1 0 -1 fo r 2 3 0 V r m s m e a s u re m e n ts . d e s ig n is r e q u ir e d b e f o r e c o m m e n c in g
S a fe ty N o te : A ll th e s a f e t y is s u e s c o n s tr u c t io n . B e c a u s e it u s e s z e r o -
W h e r e th e m a in s s u p p ly h a s a p o o r a s s o c ia t e d w it h m a in s p o w e r m u s t b e c r o s s in g d e v ic e s t h is g e n e r a t o r is o n ly
w a v e s h a p e it m a y b e p o s s ib le to d e a lt w it h c o r r e c tly ! A lw a y s a p p ly a ll t h e c a p a b le o f s w it c h in g w h o le n u m b e r s o f
r e g e n e r a t e it w it h a m o t o r - g e n e r a t o r s e t. r e le v a n t p a r ts o f t h e la te s t is s u e s o f th e h a lf- c y c le s , w h ic h is e n o u g h f o r m o s t ( if
O t h e r a lte r n a tiv e s in c lu d e p e t r o l o r d ie s e l r e le v a n t s a fe ty s ta n d a rd s , s u c h a s IE C (o r n o t a ll) o f t h e g e n e r ic a n d p r o d u c t - f a m ily
p o w e r e d A C g e n e r a t o r s a n d c o n t in u o u s s ta n d a rd s a t th e m o m e n t.
E N ) 6 1 0 1 0 - 1 , in f u ll.
d o u b le - c o n v e r s io n u n in te r r u p t ib le p o w e r
s u p p lie s . T h e s e a lte r n a tiv e s c a n s u f fe r
fr o m p o o r w a v e s h a p e s a n d tr a n s ie n t n o is e ,
in a b ilit y t o s u p p ly t h e p r o d u c t 's in r u s h
 1 1 1 2
R e p la c in g t h e 's o lid - s t a t e r e la y s ' w it h T h e re a re a n u m b e r o f re a s o n s w h y d ip s
I G B T s o r p o w e r M O S F E T s ( w it h a n d d ro p o u t te s t in g m a y b e re q u ir e d t o
a p p r o p r ia te v o lta g e a n d c u r r e n t r a tin g s , u s e a d if f e re n t fre q u e n c y to th e
a n d s u r g e p r o te c t io n if n e c e s s a r y ) a llo w s m a n u fa c tu re r 's m a in s s u p p ly , e .g . … .
t h e s t a r t a n d s t o p o f th e d ip s a n d d r o p o u t s
to b e a t a n y p h a s e in th e m a in s w a v e fo r m . ● T h e c o u n t r y w h e r e t h e te s t in g is
I n t h is c a s e t h e c o n t r o l c ir c u it r y n e e d s to b e in g c a r r ie d o u t h a s a d if fe r e n t
b e m o r e s o p h is t ic a t e d th a n a s im p le f r e e - m a in s f r e q u e n c y t o t h a t o f th e t a r g e t
r u n n in g p u ls e g e n e r a t o r , s o th a t r e p e a ta b le m a rk e t.
s w it c h in g p h a s e a n g le s c a n b e a c h ie v e d .
● U n in te r r u p tib le p o w e r s u p p lie s a n d
I f b o t h p o w e r s w it c h e s c o u ld b e tu rn e d o n 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
a t t h e s a m e t im e ( m a y b e o n e is s lo w 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
t u r n in g o f f w h ils t t h e o t h e r is ju s t t u r n in g f r e q u e n c ie s th a n is u s u a l f o r t h e
o n ) a n d if t h e v a r ia b le tr a n s fo r m e r is s e t to m a in s s u p p ly . P r o d u c ts o p e r a t e d f r o m
a lo w v o lt a g e , t h e r e c o u ld b e a s u d d e n s u c h m a in s s u p p lie s ( e . g . a ll o f t h e
s u rg e o f c u rre n t fro m th e m a in s s u p p ly . S o m e d ic a l e q u ip m e n t in a h o s p ita l)
if t h is is a p o s s ib ilit y t h a t h a s n 't b e e n c o u ld b e n e f it f r o m b e in g te s t e d a t it s
p re v e n te d b y th e d e s ig n ; a fu s e is m a x im u m a n d m in im u m m a in s
r e q u ir e d , r a te d to p r o te c t th e p o w e r fr e q u e n c ie s .
s w itc h in g d e v ic e s .
I t is p o s s ib le t o u s e te s t g e n e r a t o r s w h ic h
T o h a n d le th e in r u s h c u r r e n t in a h o m e - s y n t h e s is e t h e p r o d u c t 's m a in s s u p p ly .
m a d e t e s t e r w h e r e f u ll c o m p lia n c e t e s t in g T h e s e c a n u s e a n in te r n a l s in e - w a v e A n e x a m p le o f a v a r ia b le fr e q u e n c y , v a r ia b le v o lta g e p o w e r s u p p ly w ith a s in e -
is n o t r e q u ir e d , it s h o u ld b e e n o u g h t o s o u r c e a n d a la r g e p o w e r a m p lif ie r ; o r w a v e p o w e r o u tp u t fro m R E O .
m a k e s u r e th a t th e p o w e r s w itc h e s h a v e p u ls e - w id th - m o d u la tio n o f a D C v o lta g e
s in g le - c y c le s u r g e c u r r e n t r a tin g s a t le a s t f o llo w e d b y f ilt e r in g t o le a v e o n ly t h e
5 0 t im e s t h e p r o d u c t 's m a x im u m m a in s fu n d a m e n ta l. A m o to r - g e n e r a to r s e t c a n
c u r r e n t c o n s u m p t io n , a n d t h e v a r ia b le a ls o b e a s o u r c e o f m a in s p o w e r a t a
tr a n s fo r m e r s c o n tin u o u s p o w e r r a tin g is a t d if f e r e n t f r e q u e n c y . I f s p e c ifie d b y t h e ir
le a s t f iv e tim e s it s m a x im u m V A r a t in g . m a n u fa c t u r e r s a s b e in g c o m p a t ib le w it h
[ 1 ] t h e s e s h o u ld p r o v id e t h e s p e c if ie d E U T
s u p p ly v o lt a g e a n d in r u s h c u r r e n t s e v e n
W it h t h e 'd ip le v e l' v a r ia b le t r a n s f o r m e r s e t
w h e r e t h e u t ility s u p p ly h a s a p o o r
t o a g iv e n p e r c e n ta g e o f th e s u p p ly , t h e
w a v e f o r m - a n d t h e ir f r e q u e n c y s t a b ilit y
b lo c k d ia g r a m is a d ip s t e s te r . W it h t h e
s h o u ld b e e x c e lle n t .
v a r ia b le t r a n s f o r m e r s e t t o z e r o ( o r
s w itc h e d o u t o f c ir c u it b y n o t o p e r a tin g th e
s e c o n d p o w e r s w it c h a t a ll) it is a s h o r t
in t e r r u p t io n s t e s t e r .

P r o g r a m m a b le d ip s a n d d r o p o u t t e s t in g
1 3
T y p ic a l d ip s a n d d r o p o u t t e s tin g a s s u m e s
t h a t t h e o r d in a r y m a in s s u p p ly is o f g o o d
e n o u g h q u a lit y ( b u t it m a y b e u n s a f e t o r e ly
o n t h is , a s d e s c r ib e d a b o v e ) a n d is b a s e d
o n t h e u s e o f v a r ia b le t r a n s f o r m e r s .
A u to m a tic a lly - r e g u la te d a n d r e m o te ly
c o n t r o lla b le v a r ia b le t r a n s f o r m e r s a r e
a v a ila b le w h ic h a llo w th e t e s t in g t o b e
a u t o m a t e d . A t th e v e r y le a s t , t h e u s e o f a n
a u t o m a t ic a lly r e g u la t in g v a r ia b le
t r a n s f o r m e r w o u ld a v o id t h e n e e d to
c o n s ta n t ly a d ju s t th e n o m in a l t e s t le v e l a s
t h e m a in s s u p p ly v o lt a g e v a r ie s d u r in g t h e
d a y .
T h e r e is n o t h in g in E N /I E C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 1 1 t o
lim it t h e t e c h n o lo g y u s e d f o r t h e te s t
g e n e r a t o r , a s lo n g a s it m e e t s t h e
n e c e s s a r y s p e c if ic a t io n s . S o a n a lte r n a t iv e
t o u s in g t h e m a in s - p o w e r e d t e s t e r
d e s c r ib e d a b o v e c o u ld b e t o u s e a
p r o g r a m m a b le w a v e fo r m g e n e r a to r to
d r iv e a n a u d io p o w e r a m p lif ie r w h ic h is
c a p a b le o f p r o v id in g t h e r e q u ir e d m a in s
s u p p ly v o lt a g e a n d p r o d u c t in r u s h c u r r e n t.
M a n y s ta n d a r d p r o d u c t a u d io a m p lifie r s
w ill f a ll s h o r t b e c a u s e o f in s u f f ic ie n t o u tp u t
v o lt a g e o r in a d e q u a te c u r r e n t , o r b e c a u s e
t h e y c a n 't h a n d le t h e n o n - lin e a r lo a d s
O n -s it e t e s t in g o f
d ip s a n d s h o r t
in t e r r u p t io n s
1 4
t y p ic a l o f p r o d u c t 's p o w e r s u p p lie s . T h e 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 d o
v o lt a g e r e q u ir e m e n t m a y b e a b le t o b e n o t r e q u ir e a s p e c ia l t e s t s it e a n d s o a r e
a c h ie v e d b y 'b r id g in g ' t h e o u t p u t s o f t w o e a s y t o m e e t in m a n y lo c a t io n s .
a m p lif ie rs .
It is o fte n p o s s ib le to p e r fo r m fu ll-
c o m p lia n c e t e s t s o n - s it e w h e n u s in g
T h e a d v a n ta g e o f a te s te r b a s e d o n a
a p p r o p r ia te te s t in s tr u m e n ta tio n . If th e re
m a in s s y n t h e s is e r ( o r s ig n a l g e n e r a t o r +
a r e s o m e o u t - o f - s p e c if ic a t io n is s u e s w it h
a m p lif ie r ) is t h a t it c a n b e e a s ily
th e m a in s s u p p ly o r o th e r p a r a m e te r s it is
p r o g r a m m e d f o r a u t o m a t ic t e s t in g , c a n
o ft e n p o s s ib le t o p e r f o r m p r e - c o m p lia n c e
t e s t w ith d iff e r e n t m a in s s u p p ly
te s ts w ith r e a s o n a b le a c c u r a c y .
f r e q u e n c ie s ( s e e b e lo w ) , a n d c a n a ls o
p e r f o r m m o r e e x o t ic te s t s . F o r e x a m p le : if
m e a s u r e m e n ts a t a s ite r e v e a l th a t its
m a in s s u p p ly s u f f e r s f r o m a p a r t ic u la r t y p e
o f p o w e r q u a lit y p r o b le m , s u c h a s a
c o m p le x p a tt e r n o f d ip s a n d d r o p o u t s
c a u s e d b y th e o p e r a tio n o f a h ig h - p o w e r
m a c h in e , a t e s t e r w it h a p r o g r a m m a b le
w a v e f o r m c o u ld r e p lic a te th is to a llo w
p r o p e r im m u n it y t e s t in g o f p r o d u c t s
d e s t in e d f o r t h a t s it e , o r h e lp to a s s e s s t h e
c a u s e o f r e lia b ilit y p r o b le m s .
E x a m p le o f a R E O th r e e p h a s e
v a r ia b le tr a n s fo r m e r th a t c a n b e
r e m o te ly c o n tr o lle d
T e s t in g d ip s a n d d r o p o u t s b y t o g g lin g t h e W h a t a re s a g s , W h a t k in d o f s a g s a n d
m a in s s w it c h b r o w n o u t s a n d s w e lls ? s w e lls c a n o c c u r ?
1 5 1 6
It is t e m p t in g to te s t f o r im m u n it y t o p r o d u c ts u s in g u n in te rru p tib le p o w e r S a g s / b r o w n o u t s a n d s w e lls a r e s lo w ly - T y p ic a l m a in s s u p p lie s a r e s p e c if ie d a t
d ro p o u ts b y m a n u a lly t o g g lin g t h e s u p p lie s - it c a n u s u a lly b e a s s u m e d th a t v a r y in g c h a n g e s in v o lt a g e , s o m e t im e s ± 6 % v o lta g e to le r a n c e ( s o m e tim e s ± 1 0 % ,
p ro d u c t 's m a in s o n /o ff s w it c h O F F a n d a n y / a ll d ip s a n d d ro p o u ts la s t in g le s s th a n o v e r p e r io d s o f h o u r s . E N /I E C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 1 1 a s in t h e U K ) a n d it is n o t u n u s u a l t o
th e n q u ic k ly O N a g a in . In th e a b s e n c e o f X s e c o n d s w ill n o t c a u s e a f a ilu r e e it h e r . c a lls t h e s e d is tu r b a n c e s " v o lt a g e e x p e r ie n c e t h e s e r a n g e s d a ily . S a f e t y te s ts
a n y m o re s u it a b le te s t g e a r th is c a n v a r ia t io n s " a n d m a n y p e o p le a r e s u r p r is e d a p p ly ± 1 5 % f o r lo n g p e r io d s o f tim e , s o
s o m e tim e s b e a u s e fu l th in g t o d o . F e w B u t t a k e c a r e w h e n t r y in g t o a p p ly s u c h a to le a r n th a t th e y a r e c o v e r e d b y th e E M C v o lt a g e v a r ia t io n s o f ± 1 5 % ( o r m o r e ) a r e
lo w - c o s t E M C te s ts c o s t le s s th a n th is ! c r u d e te s t to a p r o d u c t u s in g a n d ir e c t iv e . A b r o w n o u t is a n o t h e r n a m e f o r a c le a r ly n o t im p o s s ib le . I t is o f t e n c la im e d
u n in t e r r u p t ib le p o w e r s u p p ly ( U P S ) . s a g , a n d is th e te r m m o s t o fte n h e a r d in th e t h a t E u r o p e a n m a in s s u p p lie s d o n 't s u f f e r
H o w e v e r , s u c h te s t in g is v e r y u n r e p e a ta b le S o m e t h in g d e s ig n e d lik e a la p t o p P C - U S A a n d C a n a d a . S a g s c a n g o r ig h t d o w n f r o m t h e tr a d it io n a l U S - s t y le b r o w n o u t
b e c a u s e it s u f fe r s f r o m w h e r e t h e b a tt e r y a u to m a tic a lly t a k e s t h e t o z e r o v o lt s .
w h e r e t h e v o lt a g e f a lls b y a la r g e a m o u n t
● U n c o n t r o lle d p h a s e a n g le a t t h e O F F lo a d w h e n t h e m a in s p o w e r s u p p ly f a lls
fo r m in u te s o r e v e n h o u r s - b u t 6 0 %
a n d O N tr a n s itio n s ; b e lo w s p e c - is p e r f e c t ly a c c e p t a b le , a n d A t y p ic a l 's a g ' t e s t n o m in a l v o lt a g e f o r a n h o u r o r t w o e v e r y
p r o d u c t s o p e r a t in g f r o m c o n t in u o u s o n - lin e (e x a m p le o f a 5 0 % s a g fo r 1 s e c o n d )
d o u b le - c o n v e r s io n U P S 's a r e a ls o w e e k d a y u s e d to r e g u la r ly o c c u r in p a r ts o f
● S p a r k in g a t th e s w itc h c o n ta c ts w h ic h
a c c e p t a b le . B u t m a n y s m a lle r o r lo w e r - S p a in in t h e la t e 1 9 9 0 s - a n d a m a in s
c a n c a u s e q u ite s e v e r e b u r s ts o f fa s t s u p p ly o f 1 1 5 V o c c u r r e d f o r 8 h o u r s in a
tr a n s ie n ts ; c o s t U P S 's u s e a r e la y t o s w it c h b e t w e e n
t h e m a in s a n d U P S s u p p ly w h e n t h e p a r t o f th e U K in J u ly 1 9 9 8 .
● H a rd to c o n tro l d u r a t io n s f o r m a in s g o e s o u t o f s p e c if ic a t io n . T h e
in te r r u p t io n s la s t in g u n d e r 1 s e c o n d 'm a in s s w it c h t o g g lin g t e s t ' m ig h t t r ig g e r A n e x t r e m e e x a m p le o f s a g s a n d s w e lls
(a n d p r o b a b ly im p o s s ib le t o g e t b e lo w t h e ir r e la y c h a n g e o v e r , w h e r e a s a d ip ( o r h a s b e e n s e e n o n a N o r th S e a o il
1 0 0 m illis e c o n d s ); a d r o p o u t o f s h o r te r d u r a tio n th a n th e e x p lo r a t io n p la t f o r m . I t s 2 3 0 V m a in s s u p p ly
O F F - O N to g g le ) m ig h t n o t. F o r s u c h h a d s a g s a n d s w e lls o f 1 0 0 % ( 0 V to 4 6 0 V
● I n a b ilit y t o t e s t f o r d ip s ; c a n o n ly te s t p r o d u c t s t h e m a in s s w it c h to g g lin g t e s t r m s ) c a u s e d b y th e e ffe c ts o f s ta r tin g a n d
d r o p o u t s a n d in te r r u p tio n s . p r o v e s v e r y litt le . s t o p p in g it s h u g e d r ill m o to r o n it s d ie s e l
g e n e r a to r . T h e s e e n o r m o u s v o lta g e
I t is im p o r ta n t t o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h e u s e v a r ia t io n s w o u ld la s t f o r s e v e r a l s e c o n d s
o f p o w e r s u p p ly m o n it o r c ir c u it s a n d e a c h , a n d m u c h o f th e e q u ip m e n t o n th e
'w a t c h d o g s ' in m ic r o p r o c e s s o r c ir c u it s p la tf o r m w a s r e q u ir e d to k e e p f u n c t io n in g
m e a n s t h a t t h e y c a n b e im m u n e t o b o t h n o r m a lly a t a ll t im e s , a n d c e r t a in ly n o t t o b e
v e r y s m a ll/ s h o r t a n d la r g e /lo n g d ip s a n d S w e lls a r e s lo w in c r e a s e s in v o lta g e w h ic h d a m a g e d b y th e s a g s a n d s w e lls .
d r o p o u t s , y e t f a il w h e n e x p o s e d to c a n la s t u p to a fe w s e c o n d s , a s o p p o s e d
m id d lin g d ip s o r d r o p o u t s . S o th e f a c t t h a t t o s u r g e s a n d t r a n s ie n ts w h ic h a r e fa s t
a p r o d u c t r e b o o t s c o r r e c t ly w it h n o lo s s o f in c r e a s e s in v o lt a g e a n d u s u a lly la s t le s s
o p e r a t in g s t a te o r d a ta if its m a in s s w it c h t h a n 1 m illis e c o n d . S w e lls a r e s o m e tim e s
is to g g le d , w it h d u r a t io n s lo n g e r th a n 2 5 0 c a lle d " s u r g e s " b y e le c t r ic a l p o w e r
m illis e c o n d s , d o e s n o t m e a n t h a t it is e n g in e e r s , b u t t h is c a n b e c o n f u s in g in th e
im m u n e t o le s s e r d ip s o r d r o p o u t s . E M C w o r ld w h e r e t h e t e r m 's u r g e ' is
r e s e r v e d f o r a d if f e r e n t t y p e o f
W h e re a p ro d u c t 's D C p o w e r s u p p ly h a s d is t u r b a n c e .
s u f f ic ie n t 'h o ld - u p tim e ' o r 'r id e - t h r o u g h '
th a t e v e n a n X -s e c o n d O F F - O N m a in s
s w itc h to g g le d u r a tio n h a s n o e ffe c t a t a ll
d u r in g o r a f t e r t h e te s t ( w it h n o r e b o o tin g ,
m o m e n t a r y d is p la y fr e e z in g , o r e r r o n e o u s
s t a tu s in d ic a t io n s ), th e n - e x c e p t fo r
 F u ll c o m p lia n c e
W h a t e ffe c t c a n s a g s v o lt a g e v a r ia t io n
a n d s w e lls h a v e ? ( s a g s o n ly ) t e s t in g
1 7 1 8
S a g s c a n c a u s e a ll o f th e p r o b le m s th a t T h e te s t s e t-u p fo r s a g te s tin g a c c o r d in g t o
d ip s a n d d r o p o u t s c a n c a u s e ( s e e e a r lie r ) . E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 -4 -1 1 is v e ry s im p le , a n d th e
B u t b e c a u s e s a g s o ft e n la s t f o r s ig n if ic a n t t e s t c o n d it io n s a r e e x a c t ly th e s a m e a s fo r
p e r io d s o f tim e t h e y c a n h a v e a d d it io n a l d ip s a n d in t e r r u p t io n s t e s t in g d e s c r ib e d
e ff e c t s . A s ig n if ic a n t ly lo w e r e d s u p p ly a b o v e .
v o lt a g e is a p a r t ic u la r p r o b le m f o r a ll A C
m o to rs a n d s o m e ty p e s o f D C m o to r, T h e s e t e s t s c a n e a s ily b e d o n e m a n u a lly
b e c a u s e th e y c a n s ta ll, o v e r h e a t, a n d b y o p e r a t in g a v a r ia b le t r a n s f o r m e r u n d e r
d a m a g e th e ir in s u la tio n . T h is c a n le a d to s t o p - w a t c h c o n t r o l, a lt h o u g h m a n y te s t
a n in c r e a s e d r is k o f f ir e , f u m e s a n d e le c t r ic la b o r a t o r ie s w ill p r e f e r t o u s e a
s h o c k , n e v e r m in d th e d a m a g e to th e p r o g r a m m a b le te s t in s tr u m e n t th a t
e q u ip m e n t . I n d u s tr ia l p la n t A C m o t o r s a r e c o m p lie s w it h t h e g e n e r a to r s p e c if ic a t io n
u s u a lly p r o t e c te d b y u n d e r v o lt a g e t r ip s in E N 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 1 1 . T h e m a in s v o lt a g e
w h ic h a r e u s u a lly in c o r p o r a t e d w it h o t h e r d u r in g t h e te s t c a n b e v a r ie d s m o o t h ly , o r
p r o t e c t iv e f u n c t io n s in t o m o to r c o n t r o l it c a n b e v a r ie d s t e p - w is e p r o v id in g th e
c ir c u it b r e a k e r d e v ic e s ( M C C B s ) - b u t s te p s a re n o g re a te r th a n 1 0 % o f th e
a lt h o u g h t h e m o t o r is p r o te c t e d t h e n o m in a l m a in s v o lt a g e a n d o c c u r a t t h e
p r o c e s s th a t it is a p a r t o f s u ffe r s m a in s w a v e f o r m 's z e r o - c r o s s in g s .
d o w n t im e , a n d p o s s ib ly d a m a g e t o t h e
p r o d u c t a s w e ll. F o r e a c h s a g te s t s p e c if ic a t io n ( v o lt a g e
d u r a tio n , ra m p -d o w n a n d ra m p -u p
S w e lls a r e a p r o b le m f o r d if fe r e n t r e a s o n s . d u r a tio n s ) th re e te s ts a r e d o n e , w ith 1 0
I n s u la t io n b r e a k d o w n a n d f ir e h a z a r d s s e c o n d s b e tw e e n e a c h .
s h o u ld n o t b e a p r o b le m fo r p r o d u c ts th a t
m e e t th e ir r e s p e c tiv e E N s a fe ty s ta n d a r d s . T h e fu n c tio n s o f th e p r o d u c t m u s t b e
B u t m a in s s u r g e p r o t e c tio n d e v ic e s s u c h m o n it o r e d a d e q u a te ly to id e n tif y a n y
a s M e t a l O x id e V a r is to r s ( M O V s ) a r e o f t e n d e g r a d a t io n s d u r in g a n d a f t e r e a c h te s t ,
d e s ig n e d t o s ta r t c o n d u c t in g a s c lo s e to a n d a f te r e a c h g r o u p o f te s t s a f u ll
t h e m a x im u m e x p e c t e d m a in s v o lta g e a s W h e r e t h e p r o d u c t 's r a t e d s u p p ly v o lta g e E N 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 1 1 s u g g e s t s d o in g t w o s a g s
f u n c t io n a l c h e c k s h a ll b e p e r f o r m e d . T h e
p o s s ib le , t o p r o t e c t t h e e q u ip m e n t b e t t e r . ra n g e d o e s n o t e x c e e d 2 0 % o f it s lo w e s t te s ts : 4 0 % a n d 0 % s u p p ly v o lt a g e e a c h
r e le v a n t g e n e r ic o r p r o d u c t - f a m ily
C o n s e q u e n t ly t h e ir le a k a g e c u r r e n t s a t v o lt a g e , a n y v o lta g e w it h in t h a t r a n g e c a n la s tin g f o r 1 s e c o n d w ith th e s u p p ly v o lt a g e
h a r m o n is e d s t a n d a r d w ill s p e c if y t h e
v o lt a g e s m o r e th a n a lit tle a b o v e n o m in a l b e u s e d fo r th e te s t. B u t w h e re th e E U T ra m p e d d o w n a n d t h e n u p a g a in o v e r a
p e r f o r m a n c e d e g r a d a t io n c r ite r ia to b e
m a in s r a n g e c a n c a u s e o v e r h e a t in g a n d h a s a w id e r v o lta g e ra n g e tw o s e ts o f te s ts p e r io d o f 2 s e c o n d s in e a c h c a s e . B u t m o s t
a p p lie d in e a c h c a s e . D im m in g o f
d a m a g e a n d p o s s ib ly f ir e if th e s w e ll la s t s a r e r e q u ir e d : o n e a t t h e lo w e s t v o lta g e in ( if n o t a ll) g e n e r ic a n d p r o d u c t- f a m ily
d is p la y e d im a g e s o r illu m in a t io n m a y b e
fo r m o re th a n a fe w s e c o n d s . th e ra n g e a n d o n e a t th e h ig h e s t. h a rm o n is e d E M C s t a n d a r d s d o n 't s p e c if y
p e r m itt e d d u r in g t h e te s t .
E N 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 1 1 d o e s n o t s u g g e s t d o in g a n y te s tin g a t a ll f o r s a g s ( o r s w e lls ) ,
a n y s w e ll t e s t in g a t a ll. M a y b e it a s s u m e s m a k in g it p o s s ib le t o d e c la r e c o n fo r m ity t o
t h a t s a f e t y t e s t in g w o u ld d is c o v e r s u c h th e E M C d ir e c t iv e w it h o u t d o in g th e s e
p r o b le m s . te s ts .
 C o n s t r u c t in g a s a g s O n -s it e t e s t in g o f
S w e ll t e s t in g a n d s w e lls t e s t e r s a g s a n d s w e lls
1 9 2 0
E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 -1 1 d o e s n o t d e s c r ib e S in c e f u ll- c o m p lia n c e s a g t e s tin g c a n b e S w e ll t e s t in g c o u ld b e m o r e d iff ic u lt th o u g h . T h e t e s t s e t - u p a n d o t h e r r e q u ir e m e n t s d o
te s tin g fo r v o lta g e v a r ia tio n s th a t a re a b o v e d o n e w it h ju s t a v a r ia b le tr a n s fo r m e r a n d M o s t v a r ia b le tr a n s fo r m e r s o n ly g iv e a n o t r e q u ir e a s p e c ia l t e s t s it e a n d a r e e a s y
t h e n o m in a l m a in s v o lta g e , s o w e c a n 't t a lk m a n u a l c o n tr o l, it is h a r d to s u g g e s t a lim it e d 1 5 % in c r e a s e f r o m th e ir n o m in a l t o m e e t in m a n y lo c a tio n s . I t is o f t e n
a b o u t fu ll- c o m p lia n c e s w e ll te s tin g . lo w e r - c o s t m e th o d . A s t o p w a tc h w it h a v o lt a g e , s o it m a y b e n e c e s s a r y t o f o llo w p o s s ib le to p e r f o r m fu ll- c o m p lia n c e s a g a n d
c le a r ly v is ib le s e c o n d s d is p la y is a u s e f u l t h e v a r ia b le tr a n s fo r m e r w ith a s t e p - u p s w e ll te s t s o n - s it e , a s lo n g a s th e p o w e r
It s e e m s s tr a ig h tfo r w a r d e n o u g h to fo llo w a id t o m a in t a in in g th e c o r r e c t r a m p - u p , tra n s fo rm e r, s u c h a s a s ta n d a rd r e q u ir e m e n t s a r e n 't t o o h ig h . I f t h e r e a r e
th e s a g te s t m e th o d in E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 1 1 h o ld , a n d r a m p - d o w n t im in g s . R e m e m b e r 2 3 0 V : 4 0 0 V t y p e . B e c a u s e f a ilu r e m o d e s s o m e o u t - o f - s p e c if ic a t io n is s u e s w it h t h e
a n d s im p ly in c r e a s e t h e E U T s u p p ly t h a t t h e d ia l o f th e v a r ia b le t r a n s f o r m e r d u r in g s w e ll t e s t in g c o u ld d r a w la r g e m a in s s u p p ly o r o t h e r p a r a m e t e r s it is o f te n
v o lt a g e in s t e a d o f d e c r e a s in g it . T h is m a y m a y n o t b e v e ry a c c u ra te , s o c h e c k th a t c u r r e n ts , th e v a r ia b le a n d s te p - u p p o s s ib le to p e r f o r m p r e - c o m p lia n c e te s t s
r e q u ir e a s p e c ia l v a r ia b le t r a n s f o r m e r t o t h e a c t u a l v o lt a g e s m e e t t h e r e q u ir e m e n t s t r a n s f o r m e r s u s e d s h o u ld h a v e c o n t in u o u s
w ith r e a s o n a b le a c c u r a c y a n d r e p e a t a b ility .
g e t th e s w e ll r a n g e r e q u ir e d , o r e ls e f o llo w u s in g a r e a s o n a b ly a c c u r a t e t r u e - r m s 2 3 0 V c u r r e n t r a tin g s th a t a r e h ig h e r th a n
a s ta n d a r d v a r ia b le t r a n s f o r m e r w it h a v o lt m e t e r , w h ils t lo a d e d b y t h e E U T . t h e fu s e r a t in g o f t h e 2 3 0 V s u p p ly t h a t t h e
s te p -u p tra n s fo rm e r. E U T is to o p e r a te fr o m .
S a fe ty N o te : A ll th e s a f e t y is s u e s
a s s o c ia t e d w it h m a in s p o w e r m u s t b e F o llo w in g c a lib r a t io n (w h e n lo a d e d ) w it h a
M o s t te s t la b o r a t o r ie s w o u ld p r e fe r to u s e
d e a lt w it h c o r r e c tly ! A lw a y s a p p ly a ll t h e tru e -rm s v o lt m e te r th e v a r ia b le
a p r o g r a m m a b le m a in s s y n th e s is in g te s t
r e le v a n t p a r ts o f t h e la te s t is s u e s o f th e tra n s fo rm e rs d ia l c o u ld b e m a r k e d - u p w ith
in s t r u m e n t w h ic h m e t th e r e q u ir e m e n ts o f
r e le v a n t s a fe ty s ta n d a rd s , s u c h a s IE C (o r s tic k - o n la b e ls a s a n a id to e a s y u s e .
E N /IE C 6 1 0 0 0 -4 -1 1 , b u t it is lik e ly t h a t
E N ) 6 1 0 1 0 - 1 , in f u ll.
p ro p r ie ta r y p r o d u c ts w ill n o t b e a b le t o
p ro v id e o u tp u ts m u c h h ig h e r th a n n o m in a l
m a in s . A p o s s ib le s a g s a n d s w e lls te s te r
( f o r n o m in a l 2 3 0 V s u p p lie s )
T e s t in g s a g s a n d s w e lls m a y b e a g o o d
w a y to im p r o v e p r o d u c t r e lia b ility in t h e
f ie ld . I n r e a l life , s a g s c a n la s t f o r m in u te s
o r h o u r s a t a t im e s o w h e r e a n a s s e s s m e n t
o f t h e c o m p o n e n t s a n d d e s ig n o f a p r o d u c t
r e v e a ls p o s s ib le s u s c e p t ib ilit ie s ( e s p e c ia lly
lik e ly w h e r e A C o r D C m o t o r s a r e
c o n c e r n e d ) it m a y b e b e s t to te s t fo r a
lo n g e r tim e th a n m e r e ly 1 s e c o n d , to
e n s u r e r e lia b le o p e r a t io n in t h e fie ld .

B o th tra n s fo rm e rs s h o u ld h a v e th e ir 2 3 0 V
w in d in g c u rre n t ra te d h ig h e r th a n th e fu s e
r a tin g o f th e 2 3 0 V s u p p ly th a t t h e E U T is
in te n d e d to b e u s e d o n
F u ll-c o m p lia n c e
t e s t in g fo r t h r e e -
p h a s e e q u ip m e n t R e fe r e n c e s T h e A u th o r
2 1 2 2
T h r e e - p h a s e e q u ip m e n t is t e s te d f o r d ip s , [1 ] E N o r IE C 6 1 0 0 0 -4 -1 1 :1 9 9 4 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
d r o p o u t s a n d v o lt a g e v a r ia tio n s u s in g t h re e “ E le c t r o m a g n e t ic C o m p a tib ilit y ( E M C ) , P a r t e n g in e e r in g w it h a B . S c ( H o n s . ) fr o m
s e t s o f s in g le - p h a s e te s t e q u ip m e n t . 4 . T e s t in g a n d m e a s u r e m e n t t e c h n iq u e s . I m p e r ia l C o lle g e L o n d o n in 1 9 7 2 , m a jo r in g
P h a s e - b y - p h a s e t e s t in g is p r e fe r r e d b y S e c tio n 1 1 . V o lt a g e d ip s , s h o r t in a n a lo g u e c ir c u it d e s ig n a n d
E N / IE C 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 1 1 , a lt h o u g h s o m e in t e r r u p t io n s a n d v o lt a g e v a r ia t io n s e le c t r o m a g n e t ic fie ld t h e o r y , w it h a U p p e r
e q u ip m e n t m a y r e q u ir e s im u lt a n e o u s im m u n ity te s ts .” 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 ) .
t e s tin g in s t e a d ( o r a s w e ll) a n d t h is r e q u ir e s [2 ] E u r o p e a n U n io n D ir e c tiv e 8 9 /3 3 6 /E E C 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
c o m m o n c o n t r o l o f t h e t h r e e s in g le - p h a s e ( a s a m e n d e d ) o n E le c tr o m a g n e tic c o n t r o llin g r e a l- lif e in t e r fe r e n c e p r o b le m s in
t e s t s y s t e m s . T h r e e - p h a s e v a r ia b le 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 h ig h - t e c h n o lo g y p r o d u c t s , s y s t e m s , a n d
t r a n s f o r m e r s a r e a v a ila b le fr o m h o m e p a g e in c lu d e s a d o w n lo a d a b le in s t a lla t io n s , f o r a v a r ie t y o f c o m p a n ie s a n d
m a n u fa c tu r e r s s u c h a s R E O . T h e r e le v a n t v e r s io n o f t h e E M C D ir e c t iv e , a t a b le o f a ll o r g a n is a t io n s in a r a n g e o f in d u s t r ie s .
h a r m o n is e d s t a n d a r d f o r t h e E U T w ill t h e E N s t a n d a r d s lis t e d u n d e r t h e
s p e c if y w h e t h e r p h a s e - b y - p h a s e o r D ir e c tiv e , a g u id a n c e d o c u m e n t o n h o w to K e it h h a s b e e n a C h a r t e r e d E le c t r ic a l
s im u lt a n e o u s c o n t r o l is r e q u ir e d . a p p ly t h e D ir e c t iv e , lis t s o f a p p o in t e d E M C E n g in e e r ( U K ) s in c e 1 9 7 8 , a G r o u p 1
C o m p e te n t B o d ie s , a n d p r o g r e s s o n t h e E u r o 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
K e ith A r m s tr o n g o f C h e r r y C lo u g h
2 n d E d itio n E M C D ir e c tiv e :h ttp ://e u r o p a . w r it t e n a n d p r e s e n t e d a g r e a t m a n y p a p e r s
N o t e t h a t w h e n u s in g s im u lt a n e o u s c o n t r o l C o n s u lta n ts
e u . in t /c o m m /e n t e r p r is e / e le c t r _ e q u ip m e n t / o n E M C . H e is a p a s t c h a ir m a n o f t h e IE E ’s
f o r d ip s a n d in t e r r u p t io n s t e s t in g , th e ± 1 0 %
e m c / in d e x . h t m . P r o fe s s io n a l G r o u p ( E 2 ) o n
s p e c if ic a t io n f o r t h e z e ro - c r o s s in g
E le c t r o m a g n e tic C o m p a tib ilit y , is a m e m b e r
p e rfo rm a n c e c a n o n ly b e m e t fo r o n e [ 3 ] T h e I E E 's 2 0 0 0 g u id e : “ E M C &
o f t h e IE E E ’s E M C S o c ie ty , a n d c h a ir s t h e
p h a s e , s o th e te s t g e n e ra to rs m u s t b e o f F u n c t io n a l S a f e ty ” c a n b e d o w n lo a d e d a s
I E E ’s W o r k in g G r o u p o n 'E M C a n d
th e ty p e th a t c a n s w itc h a t a n y p h a s e a C o r e d o c u m e n t p lu s n in e I n d u s tr y
F u n c t io n a l S a f e t y '.
a n g le . A n n e x e s f r o m h tt p :/ / w w w . ie e . o r g / P o lic y
/ A r e a s / E m c / in d e x . c f m . I t is r e c o m m e n d e d T h is g u id e is o n e o f C o n ta c t: K e ith A r m s tr o n g b y e - m a il a t
t h a t e v e r y o n e d o w n lo a d s th e C o r e
a s e r ie s . E -m a il u s k e it h .a r m s tro n g @ c h e r r y c lo u g h .c o m o r v is it
d o c u m e n t a n d a t le a s t r e a d s it s f ir s t fe w
th e C h e r r y C lo u g h w e b s ite
p a g e s . C o m p ly in g w it h t h is IE E g u id e if y o u w o u ld lik e to w w w .c h e r r y c lo u g h .c o m
c o u ld r e d u c e e x p o s u r e t o lia b ility c la im s .
[4 ] IE C 6 1 0 0 0 -2 -8 :2 0 0 2 “ E le c t r o m a g n e tic
r e c e iv e a ll o f o u r
A c k n o w le d g e m e n t
C o m p a tib ilit y ( E M C ) P a rt 2 -8 : m in i g u id e s a n d to
E n v ir o n m e n t - V o lta g e d ip s a n d s h o rt S o m e o f t h is m a t e r ia l w a s p r e v io u s ly
in t e r r u p t io n s o n p u b lic e le c tr ic p o w e r
b e e n te re d o n to o u r p u b lis h e d in 2 0 0 1 - 2 0 0 2 in th e " E M C
s y s t e m s w it h s t a tis t ic a l m e a s u re m e n t m a ilin g lis t a t T e s t in g " s e r ie s in th e E M C C o m p lia n c e
r e s u lts .” J o u r n a l: h tt p :/ / w w w .c o m p lia n c e - c lu b .c o m
m a in @ r e o .c o .u k M a n y t h a n k s a r e d u e t o T im W illia m s o f
[ 5 ] I T I ( C B E M A ) C u r v e a n d A p p lic a t io n
N o t e :h tt p :/ / w w w .it ic .o r g / t e c h n ic a l/it ic u r v . p d f E lm a c S e r v ic e s , h t t p : / / w w w .e lm a c . c o . u k ,
t im w @ e lm a c . c o . u k , m y c o - a u t h o r fo r t h a t
[6 ]E N 6 1 0 0 0 - 4 - 3 0 T e s tin g a n d s e r ie s
m e a s u r e m e n t t e c h n iq u e s P o w e r q u a lit y
m e a s u re m e n t m e th o d s
E N a n d IE C s ta n d a rd s m a y b e p u rc h a s e d
f r o m B r it is h S ta n d a r d s I n s t it u t io n ( B S I) a t:
o r d e r s @ b s i- 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 o r 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 + 4 4 (0 )2 0 8 9 9 6 9 0 0 1 o r e - m a il
th e m a t c s e rv ic e s @ b s i- g lo b a l. c o m .