07.04.2025
10 Quick Ways to Tackle EMC issues
Paul Bentley, GD Rectifiers’ Managing Director discusses the EMI process and shares 10 quick ways to tackle EMC issues with machine control panels
What is EMC and EMI?
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) are frequently referred to when testing the compliance of electronic and electrical products. Whilst EMI is the interference caused by the electromagnetic disturbance affecting the performance of a device, EMC measures the device’s ability to operate as intended within its shared environment, the two are closely linked.
What are the common sources of EMI?
Electromagnetic interference often displays undesirable noise and may lead to disrupted function of electrical and RF systems from 4 different types of EMI, including: conducted EMI, common mode EMI, differential mode EMI and radiated EMI. Common sources of EMI include power generating equipment such as generators, power supplies, voltage regulators, switches, battery chargers, devices operating at high frequencies and machines that use both high voltage frequencies including motors and ignition systems.
Benefits and risks of EMI
EMI poses a significant risk to the optimal performance of electrical circuits and can lead to degradation, impairment or even complete disruption of electronic systems.
Both EMC and EMI are extremely important design considerations which can help save time and costs by preventing the need for a designer to redesign the product at a later stage or delay the launch if the product doesn’t pass governmental certifications.
Although EMC testing can be expensive, it is crucial to ensure that a design will function properly and won’t generate disruptive electromagnetic interference.
Developing EMI Partnerships
GD Rectifiers partners with Enerdoor, a world-leading EMC designer and manufacturer to understand relevant EMC standards, regulations and to ensure products carry the relevant CE markings. GD Rectifiers works with Enerdoor to offer cutting-edge solutions tailored to diverse industries and applications.
Paul Bentley, Managing Director of GD Rectifiers shares his top 10 quick tips for eliminating electromagnetic interference issues with machine control panels.
10 Quick Ways to Tackle EMC issues
- Early integration
Early EMC considerations can prevent late design alterations. EMC should be considered at the initial concept and design stages, so that EMC-sensitive components can be quickly identified to keep project costs down.
- Environmental considerations
The operating environment will play a key role in determining suitable components, evaluate external radiation sources to identify potential interference issues.
- Cost efficient
It’s easier to minimise emissions from surrounding environments and bolster immunity beforehand, rather than to modify existing EMC solutions. EMI filters help to effectively reduce electromagnetic interference, safeguarding the integrity of sensitive equipment.
- Pre-compliance and CE Testing
Conducting EMC tests during development is crucial, it provides clarity on the build and application’s performance. It’s also most cost-effective to make design adjustments early on. Ensure electrical and electronic products meet international EMC standards.
- Component selection
Choose components and materials that will provide high immunity to electromagnetic interference. Both suppression components and insulated cables can significantly help to achieve the desired EMC levels. Careful component selection helps increase the longevity and lifespan of sensitive components within your systems.
- Software solutions
Software can help mitigate radiation induced interference by shifting working frequency to a smaller band, a technique known as frequency hopping. This helps to provide uninterrupted operation despite any interference.
- Housing design
Integrate dense metal enclosures to optimise the control panels housing, seal opening for cables with radiation-resistant adaptations will maximise immunity.
- Disturbance and failure reduction
Alleviate disturbances in other machines and buildings and mitigates the risk of failures in PLCs, sensors, encoders and PCs.
- Downtime prevention
Guard against production downtime by minimising the impact of the interference, especially where machinery operates in proximity and EMI filters are required to prevent radio frequency noise interruptions. This is crucial as interference can lead to control malfunctions, resulting in faulty outputs, accidents or production loss.
- Collaboration
Collaboration with EMC specialists is essential during the design and development stage. As a distributor of Enerdoor’s EMC products, GD Rectifiers provides specialist design and support to customers requiring EMC standard and customer specific solutions. GD Rectifiers works with a large range of partners to supply transformer and rectifier panels with associated controls.
Why Choose GD Rectifiers to solve EMC issues?
- Dedicated experience – GD Rectifiers partners with Enerdoor, a world leading manufacturer that has over three decades of specialised knowledge
- Global presence – Enerdoor has a global presence with R&D facilities worldwide
- Design capability – capabilities extend up to 10GHz
- Custom solutions – Enerdoor offers tailored solutions to meet customer’s unique requirements
- EMC Testing – Enerdoor has their own CE labs and offers a flat-rate testing service to guarantee a solution to EMC issues
- EMI/RFI filters are in stock and ready to deliver
GD Rectifiers has partnered with Enerdoor as their exclusive UK distributor for 7 years. We offer customers Enerdoor’s complete range of EMI-RFI filters, DC EMI filters, motor protection devices, harmonic filters, power transformers, parallel filters, power factor correction, medical and military filters, voltage stabilisers, surge protection devices and ignition systems.
A EMI solution you can rely on…
Did you know Enerdoor offers a 5-year warranty on all EMI/RFI filters and additional warranties are available upon request.
Discover Enerdoor’s EMI/RFI filters on our website today. For further product information or technical support on your EMI filter requirements, please contact GD Rectifiers on 01444 243 452 or email [email protected].
