You should always start at the lower ESD Level and step up to the higher levels. You cannot skip the lower levels as I have encountered products that pass the higher levels and fail at the lower levels.
Pryor McGinnis [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: Jim Hulbert <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> List-Post: [email protected] Date: Thursday, August 19, 1999 2:31 PM Subject: EN50082-1:1997 & EN55024 > > > >Immunity test standards EN50082-1:1997 and EN 55024 call out the basic standards >EN61000-4-2 and EN61000-4-5 for ESD and Surge. > >EN61000-4-2, Section 5 starts out "The preferential range of test levels for the >ESD test is given in table 1. Testing shall also be satisfied at the lower >levels given in table 1." EN61000-4-5, Section 5 contains similar wording. >This is how we perform our compliance tests. We start at the lowest test >voltage levels from the respective tables and step up to the test levels called >out in EN50082-1/ EN55024 (or higher, depending on our own in-house product >spec.) > >However, I have noticed that some test labs go straight to the levels called out >in EN 50082-1/EN55024 and skip testing at the lower levels. I believe this >approach is incorrect because it does not conform to the requirements of the >basic standard and is simply not a complete test. As explained in EN61000-4-5, >the non-linear current-voltage characteristics of the equipment under test >should be considered and the test voltage should therefore be increased by steps >up to the test level specified in the product standard or test plan. The same >rationale applies to ESD testing where current-voltage characteristics are also >non-linear. > >How do others approach these tests? Are we adding unnecessary test time by >starting at lower test voltages and stepping our way up or are the test labs >that go straight to the maximum test levels overlooking an important aspect of >the testing? > >Jim Hulbert >Senior Engineer-EMC >Pitney Bowes > > > >--------- >This message is coming from the emc-pstc discussion list. >To cancel your subscription, send mail to [email protected] >with the single line: "unsubscribe emc-pstc" (without the >quotes). For help, send mail to [email protected], >[email protected], [email protected], or >[email protected] (the list administrators). > > --------- This message is coming from the emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to [email protected] with the single line: "unsubscribe emc-pstc" (without the quotes). For help, send mail to [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected] (the list administrators).
