IEC 61000 Power Simulations. Simple, Often Forgotten, BUT Important.

【EXTECH Explores】

   A 10 min Read

In 1965 Gordon Moore, one of Intel's founder wrote the number of electronic components could crammed into an integrated circuit doubles every year. Know as the Moore's law. As of 2020, that law is probably no longer applied. The technologies are so advanced in an exponential pace. 5G networks, AI, IoT, renewable energies, medical and electric vehicles are equipped with sophisticated technologies. To ensure quality and safety. Industries often uses electric tester performing withstand, insulation resistance and ground bond tests. Often forgot about the important of an AC power source. Performing validation on various power scenarios and simulations.

EEC, over 40 years of experience working with customer and providing right safety tester and AC power solution. In this issue, we will be walking through how to select an AC power source.

Select on Needs not Want

Humans are greedy. Often want a machine that does everything. One of the most common behavior seen in business is, either wanting full specification or minimal specification for the task. Rather not about finding the right one for the job. In other words. Machines and function use in Research and Development (R&D) will be different than production floor or after services. In the end, the errors tend to lead with high total cost of ownership.

Before selecting a power source, EEC suggest asking yourself the following questions. What is your product and kind of test you are performing? Is there any standard associated with? Thus, you can narrow it down for better decision making.

What does an AC Power Source do and Who is it for?

Why need an extra power source where you can get power from city power source? In general, an independent power source has many advantages, it can;

  1. Generate different voltages
  2. Generate different frequencies
  3. Provide a clean and regulated output
  4. An isolated output
  5. Has a low waveform distortion
  6. Power measurement capabilities
  7. Can output multiple waveforms, line conditions and transients

The industry application is too broad to cover. Here, we narrow it down. The IEC 61000 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and IEEE 1547.1 are the common standards widely abide across different industries. To be more specific, the IEC 61000-3 and IEC 61000-4 are the main foucs. Further, aside from product itself, different job function may use the instrument differently.

For R&D, a power source may use as an evaluation on different "protection" against power abnormalities. For manufacturing automatic testing system. A reliable, safe and stable constant voltage and frequency power source are desirable. For inspection lines and quality assurance, it can use power source for voltage margin validation. Making product delivered meets the utmost quality. And for after service, a stable power helps on calibrating or reproducing power abnormality. Moreover, in these roles, many of the power source also bundled with s safety tester. To perform testing such as line leakage or touch current testing. In issue 4 (link to issue 4), we have set example on this type of setups.

How to Select an AC Power Source

First, know your local city power source specification. For example, in Japan, the standard voltage is 100V, in China, it is 220V. Although these days, most of the power sources designed with flexible input range (eg. 100V-240V). Yet, in some environment, the power may be different. Further, to ensure the power source is reliable, there are some safety marks that often support on this including CE, UL and TUV.

Next, depends on your testing product requirements. Also known as Device Under Test (DUT), to determine the required power, voltage, and frequency. Also, the complying standards for the product. In some product, inrush current and crest factors are important. For example, in HVAC industry, it usually requires high current input to operate the heavy-duty motors. Figure 1 demonstrate the reason of high current crest factor.

Figure 1. Illustration of an inrush current and crest factor waveforms. Generally, the inrush is the indicating current require by DUT, the crest factor is the capability of a power source. User will need to perform the match making by selecting the proper current needs. Typical application such as motor, the inrush current only drawn at the maximum and instantaneous when it turned on, many manufactures requires to purchase higher power source to support this. If the crest factor is high enough, may not require higher power source.

As mentioned earlier. Job function to determine the complexities needed of an instrument. For R&D, high instrument accuracy, output ranges, various waveform and harmonics are key factors. These micro-digits and flexible adjustments makes great impact on product validation. Waveform are crucial in compliance with IEC 61000-3 and IEC 61000-4 standards. Now days, power source built-in with step, list, pulse and transient modes ease the job and enhance testing efficiency. Figure 2 illustrate some of the pre-compliance IEC 61000 standard test and the waveform in associate. Likewise, for inspection and quality assurance team. Using waveform modes to enhance the testing efficiency and quality delivered.

Example of IEC 61000-4 Test Standards

Waveforms

IEC 61000-4-11 Voltage Dips, Interrupts and Variations
IEC 61000-4-13 Harmonics and Inter Harmonics
IEC 61000-4-14 Voltage Fluctuations
IEC 61000-4-28 Frequency Variations

Figure 2. Examples of some pre-compliance IEC 61000-4 test standard and the waveforms.

For manufacture station testing. Metric are not the most in its priority. Rather, a reliable, safe and stable output are more valuable. Further, energy efficiency and flexible connectivity are also important as it affect the performance in the scale of economies. Communication interface connectivity including widely adapt USB, GPIB, and Ethernet. In some environments setting, Analog (BNC) input option to synchronize the power source to an external clock. All these features in the long run, is to lower the total cost of ownership.

There are many things to consider before making the procurement. Companies can consult with EEC expert to select the most cost effective solution for the needs.

Extech Electronics Co. (EEC) will be presenting the next generation high performance, powerful and reliable AC Power Source. The new series offers a complete line-ups and extensive functionalities. Built for manufacture, R&D, quality, and service teams. The intuitive user interface, SCPI protocol command and flexible performance packages meet on different function and budget needs. With high durability and world class safety certification. Made the series a dependable and ideal solution for ATE and manufacture applications


Issue 7 – July 2020

Extech Explore is Extech Electronics Co. (EEC) monthly e-Newsletter that provides rich and intelligent content covering latest company news, electrical testing insights, solutions and applications. Please click here to subscribe. Happy Reading!


About EEC

For 40 years, Extech Electronics Co. (EEC) has been producing cutting-edge electrical safety testers and AC power sources for a variety of industries. We strive to earn our customers’ trust by consistently offering dependable products, services, and reliable support for all testing applications.