17.01.2025
Benefits of Electromagnetic Compatibility Testing
Bringing products to market with EMC and CE approvals, we explore the benefits, opportunities and challenges of electromagnetic compatibility testing
A common design consideration is how electronic components perform in ever-changing electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) environments.
Although design engineers’ factor in Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) hardness into their systems early in the design process, last minute changes or additions can often occur. This change can complicate the purchasing process given the electronic component lead times in today’s environment. It’s a crucial consideration that should be discussed throughout the design process given the availability of EMC solutions could ultimately shut down manufacturing.
This article will provide an overview of the benefits, opportunities and challenges of electromagnetic compatibility so that design engineers can further explore electromagnetic compatibility and EMC testing. In this guide, we’ll cover why EMC pre-compliance testing is important, who it’s beneficial for and how Enerdoor can help with EMC testing.
What is Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and why is it important?
Electromagnetic compatibility refers to the ability of electrical and electronic equipment to correctly function in its electromagnetic environment without causing or being receptive to electromagnetic interference.
What is electromagnetic interference (EMI) and why does it matter?
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) refers to the unwanted noise or disturbances in an electrical circuit caused by external electromagnetic fields which can disrupt or degrade electronic devices. EMI can also be known as RFI when it involves radio waves, it is a radiation disturbance from an external source such as lightning (natural source) or from electronic devices, power lines or radio transmitters (man-made source).
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) can cause a wide range of performance problems for electronic devices including signal degradation, data loss, equipment damage, reduced performance and complete device failure. Understanding EMI is crucial in designing robust electronic systems to ensure reliability and efficient operation in all environments.
EMI filters can be used to block harmful high-frequency currents, allowing devices to work efficiently by diverting any unnecessary noise. EMI filters are commonly used in single phase machines up to 700Vac, AC/DC converters, recharging stations and in renewable energy applications.
What is Electromagnetic compatibility testing?
Electromagnetic compatibility testing analyses the ability for electrical and electronic equipment to operate efficiently in its intended environment without causing or being affected by electromagnetic interference.
Why is Electromagnetic compatibility testing important?
Electromagnetic compatibility testing is crucial for ensuring the efficiency and reliability of devices, ensuring they function properly within their environments and safely operate alongside other equipment. EMC testing checks for interference and ensures compliance with relevant standards and regulations.
Types of Electromagnetic compatibility testing
There are four main types of EMC testing:
- Radiated emissions: measures electromagnetic radiation emitted by the device through the air
- Conducted emissions: assesses the electromagnetic interference conducted through power lines or signal cables
- Harmonic emission: calculates the harmonic currents injected into the power supply by the device
- Voltage fluctuation and flicker: evaluates if the device causes voltage fluctuations or flicker on the power grid
Benefits of EMC Testing
EMC testing provides a lot of benefits including large cost savings and improving customer satisfaction by identifying and addressing potential EMI issues early in the product development phase.
- Improved performance and reliability
- Improved product safety
- Early EMI issue detection
- Reduced failures
- Cost savings
- Industry compliance
- Global market access
EMC Standards
The EMC Directive 2014/30/EU helps manufacturers to ensure equipment is protected and doesn’t emit radio signals, meeting the requirements of the EMC Directive.
CE certification and consulting helps manufacturers to meet European requirements, providing a broader opportunity for access to EMI products.
Electomagnetic Compatibility Testing Labs
Electromagnetic compatibility testing laboratories test and measure the electrical product’s ability to function properly in its intended environment. The EMC testing process determines if the device can operate efficiently without generating or experiencing electromagnetic disturbance within its environment. If electromagnetic interference is found during the testing, EMC labs will suggest products to prevent the electromagnetic interference, such as EMI filters.
OEMs can sometimes offer mobile laboratories to perform necessary tests at a customer’s facility, offer a unique on-site testing service.
EMC: The Opportunities
Several component manufacturers have noted the changing regulations and the likelihood of potential unforeseen design issues with design engineers. Understanding EMC standards and regulations especially if products are CE marked and destined for European market is paramount. It’s extremely important due to a lot of specialised applications requiring EMC equipment, such as medical and military devices.
Prevention is key and pre-compliance EMC testing lowers the risk of device or system failure and adding filters to interference sources will prevent failure. Conducting EMC tests during the design and development phase provide clarity on the applications performance. Pre-compliance testing is crucial in most projects because it’s more cost and time-effective to make changes early on.
GD Rectifiers partners with Enerdoor to offer customers a reliable and fully integrated EMC solution. Enerdoor offers an EMC testing facility based in USA and offers a mobile laboratory for customers, alongside CE certification testing.
Collaborations with EMC specialists is essential during the development stage, as a custom EMI and harmonic filter specialist, Enerdoor offers specialised EMC expertise to help with design, production and integration of EMI filters, harmonic filters, line reactors and motor protection devices across various sectors.
EMC: The Challenges
One of the biggest EMC challenges is the regulations surrounding the industry, advanced semiconductors are making it harder for design teams to meet EMC system requirements.
Government regulations and requirements are expanding and getting more stringent over time. More device types are falling into the regulations intent and tighter requirements are being applied to various existing designs.
Designers might choose the latest, most powerful ICs to achieve the latest added functionality requirements however older ICs have potential to see new EMC issues as manufacturers may shrink die sizes and geometries to cost reduce older technology devices.
Do you need EMC pre-compliance testing?
Whilst pre-compliance testing is not directly a legal requirement, pre-compliance testing is highly recommended and is often crucial to ensure products meet regulatory standards and avoid unnecessary costs later in a project’s lifecycle. Pre-compliance testing is important and boosts regulatory compliance, access to market, cost savings and improved product design.
Pre-compliance testing is particularly beneficial for:
- OEMs attempting to bring machinery to the global market in a timely and cost-effective manner
- Engineers that want to ensure compliance before being certified at a large testing house
- An engineer that is concerned with the efficiency of the machine or efficiency of the machinery in proximity
How can Enerdoor help?
Enerdoor offers a unique flat rate testing service that offers a guaranteed solution. Enerdoor stays on-site until a solution is found, saving customers time and money by avoiding multiple testing fees and limiting production downtime. Enerdoor’s EMC engineers can provide a portion or the entirety of the CE certification process and prepare all documentation for the Technical Construction File (TCF) as proof of CE compliance.
Benefits of Enerdoor’s Electromagnetic compatibility testing
- Flat rate EMC testing: ensures cost predictability
- On-site EMC testing: minimises downtime and travel costs
- Provides a guaranteed solution: Enerdoor stays on site until compliance is achieved
- EMC Expertise: Enerdoor has decades of experience in EMC and power quality
Enerdoor’s Electromagnetic Compatibility Products
GD Rectifiers is Enerdoor’s exclusive UK distributor and partners with Enerdoor to offer customers a reliable flat rate, on-site CE testing facility and a wide range of EMC products such as EMI filters, DC EMI filters, EMC filters, active harmonic filters, passive harmonic filters, motor protection, parallel filters, surge protection, voltage stabilisers, power factor correction, ignition systems, medical and military filters.
For further information on Enerdoor products or to discuss EMC/CE compliance testing, please contact GD Rectifiers on 01444 243 452 or email [email protected].
