BS EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019+A1:2021

What is BS EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019+A1:2021 about?

This international standard sets limits on the harmonic current injected into the public low-voltage mains electricity supply system by electrical and electronic equipment. BS EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019+A1 is an amendment that updates the specification to ensure it stays relevant as electronic products evolve to meet the demands of a smart energy environment.

Who is BS EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019+A1 for?

• EMC test laboratories
• Electrical testing laboratories and product testers
• Manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment which can be operated from the public mains supply, particularly those manufacturers producing categories of equipment present in the market in large volumes (e.g. IT Equipment, lighting equipment)
• Inspectors and quality assessors
• Regulatory and certification bodies

Why should you use BS EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019+A1?

A public low-voltage mains distribution network exists if more than one independent consumer can draw power from it. It’s important to protect such networks from harmonic currents as these can cause overheating of electrical distribution system wiring, transformer overheating and shortened transformer service life.

Therefore this standard covers a large variety of electrical and electronic equipment having an input current up to and including 16A per phase and intended for use by both the general public and professionals.

It specifies limits for harmonic components of the input current which can be produced by equipment tested under specified conditions. The tests according to this document are type tests.

NOTE: Arc welding equipment which is not professional equipment, with a rated input current up to and including 16 A per phase, is included in this document. Arc welding equipment intended for professional use, as specified in IEC 60974-1, is excluded from this document and can be subject to installation restrictions as indicated in IEC 61000-3-12.

BS EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019+A1 contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 9 on building resilient infrastructure because helps underpin the resilience of power networks.

What’s new about BS EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019+A1:2021?

This is an amendment to BS EN 61000-3-2:2019. It introduces many technical and editorial changes that update the standard, of which the following are the most significant:

• Extension and improvement of definitions related to lighting equipment
• Clarification of the use of the repeatability value
• Modification of Table 2 to simplify the standard and reflect modern lighting equipment
• Classification of appliances whose primary function is to present lighting devices for exhibition purposes as Class A equipment
• Consideration of multifunction equipment
• Revision of clause 6.2 on control methods
• Addition of a new clause explaining how to handle alternative methods
• Modification of test conditions for luminaires and lighting control gear
• Defining more precise test conditions for microwave ovens
• Addition of test conditions for equipment with external power supplies
• Addition of a new annex with a clarification for the calculation of the POHC parameter