BS EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019

What is BS EN IEC 61000‑3‑2 – EMC 16 A guidelines about?

BS EN IEC 61000 is a series on Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). EMC is the ability of electrical equipment and systems to function acceptably in their electromagnetic environment, by limiting the unintentional generation, propagation and reception of electromagnetic energy which may cause unwanted effects such as electromagnetic interface (EMI) or even physical damage in operational equipment. BS EN IEC 61000‑3‑2 deals with the limitation of harmonic currents injected into the public supply system.

BS EN IEC 61000‑3‑2 specifies limits of harmonic components of the input current which can be produced by equipment tested under specified conditions. BS EN IEC 61000‑3‑2 is applicable to electrical and electronic equipment having a rated input current up to and including 16 A per phase and intended to be connected to public low-voltage distribution systems. Arc welding equipment, which is not professional equipment, with a rated input current up to and including 16 A per phase, is included in BS EN IEC 61000‑3‑2.

Note: Arc welding equipment intended for professional use, as specified in IEC 60974-1, is excluded from BS EN IEC 61000‑3‑2 and can be subject to installation restrictions as indicated in IEC 61000-3-12.

Who is BS EN IEC 61000‑3‑2 - EMC 16 A guidelines for?

BS EN IEC 61000‑3‑2 on EMC 16 A guidelines is useful for:

• Telecommunication component manufacturers
• Manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment
• Design engineers
• Quality control personnel
• Research and development facilities

Why should you use BS EN IEC 61000‑3‑2 - EMC 16 A guidelines?

The goal of EMC and harmony is the correct operation of different equipment in a common electromagnetic environment. It is also the name given to the associated branch of electrical engineering. The objective of BS EN IEC 61000‑3‑2 is to set limits for harmonic emissions of equipment within its scope, so that, with due allowance for the emissions from other equipment, compliance with the limits ensures that harmonic disturbance levels do not exceed the compatibility levels.

The requirements and limits specified in BS EN IEC 61000‑3‑2 are applicable to the power input terminals of equipment intended to be connected to 220/380 V, 230/400 V and 240/415 V systems operating at 50 Hz or 60 Hz. A simplified test method is permitted for equipment that undergoes minor changes or updates, provided that, in previous full compliance tests, it has been shown to have current emissions below 60 % of the applicable limits and the THD of the supply current is less than 15 %. The simplified test method consists of verifying that the updated equipment has an active input power within ±20 % of that of the originally tested product and that the THD of the supply current is less than 15 %.

Products that fulfil these requirements are deemed to comply with the applicable limits, but in case of doubt the result of a full compliance test according to BS EN IEC 61000‑3‑2. Using BS EN IEC 61000‑3‑2 you can specify limits of harmonic components of the input current which can be produced by equipment tested under specified conditions.

What’s changed since the last update?

BS EN IEC 61000‑3‑2:2019 supersedes BS EN 61000‑3‑2:2014 which will be withdrawn on 1 March 2022. BS EN IEC 61000‑3‑2:2019 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 61000‑3‑2:2014. These include:

• An update of the emission limits for lighting equipment with a rated power ≤ 25 W to consider new types of lighting equipment
• The addition of a threshold of 5 W under which no emission limits apply to all lighting equipment
• The modification of the requirements applying to the dimmers when operating non-incandescent lamps
• The addition of test conditions for digital load side transmission control devices
• The removal of the use of reference lamps and reference ballasts for the tests of lighting equipment