What is this standard about?
Modern electronic components and equipment are very sensitive to electric and electromagnetic disturbances. This part of BS EN 61000 determines the reaction of equipment under test (EUT) to surge voltages caused by switching and lightning effects.
Who is this standard for?
It will be used in the manufacturing and engineering sectors, specifically by:
- Manufacturers, designers and users of electrical and electronic equipment and components
- Test laboratories
- Inspectors and quality assessors
Why should you use this standard?
Because it sets out a range of test levels to find out how equipment reacts in specified operational conditions to surge voltages caused by switching and lightning effects. The standard:
- Defines the necessary test equipment – including wave generators and coupling/decoupling networks
- Explains the test setup for tests applied to equipment under test (EUT) power ports, unshielded symmetrical/unsymmetrical interconnections and shielded lines
- Specifies test procedures, laboratory reference conditions, the application of the surge in the laboratory and test reports
The use of protection which complies with BS EN 61000-4-5 ensures that equipment is reliable. Manufacturers and sellers thereby avoid costly returns and maintain brand image.
NOTE: This standard doesn’t test the capability of EUTs insulation to withstand high-voltage stress. Direct injections of lightning currents, i.e. direct lightning strikes, are not considered in this standard.
What’s changed since the last update?
This 2017 amendment corrects a problem that test laboratories and manufacturers were having with the 2014 version wherein some products wouldn’t power up through the power CDN in the standard and in some cases the inductance necessary was damaging products. This has been fixed by introducing a statement into clause 7.3 which allows surge tests with higher current rated CDNs and adding a new Annex I: Issues relating to powering EUTs having DC/DC converters at the input, which explains the problem in detail.
NOTE: This standard supersedes the un-amended version, BS EN 61000-4-5:2014 but the latter will not be withdrawn until 8 September 2020, during which time both versions of the standard will be current.