Now that EN61000-3-2 is applicable under the EMC directive, I have the
following thoughts and questions:
1) The scope of this standard indicates it is applicable to equipment "having
an input current up to and including 16 A per phase". The first paragraph
in section 7 states that "the limits for high-power equipment (>1kW) for
professional use are kept under consideration." A single phase equipment
operating at 230V and 16 A may draw as much as 3680W.
a) Does "kept under consideration" mean no limits are provided?
b) What limits apply to such equipment rated at 1000-3680W?
c) To what "profession" is this standard referring? (Section 3.15 defines
"professional equipment" as that equipment for use in trades,
professions, or industries and which is not intended for sale to the
general public." Wouldn't many types of equipment fall within this
(vague) definition?
2) Section 7.4 and Annex C.10 (for Class D ITE) both state that equipment
shall be tested at "rated load condition".
a) If Class D ITE equipment is "rated" higher than 16 A, is this standard
applicable to such equipment?
b) If the Class D ITE equipment "rated" higher than 16 A can be
legitimately configured such that it operates at less than 16 A, does
this standard apply to such equipment? If so, would it only need to
comply at currents up to 16 A? At what current should the equipment be
tested?
c) If EN61000-3-2 does not apply to such equipment, what standard does?
My own opinions are that I would ignore the first paragraph in section 7 with
respect to the reservations on limits for "high power equipment" (because
otherwise it would be to easy to simply declare a product as professional
equipment; and I would interpret the 16 A limitation of the scope to mean
that this standard is NOT applicable to equipment that is rated higher than
16 A even if it can be configured to operate at less than 16 A.
Please let me know your opinions.
Thanks,
R. Grant Pinto
[email protected]
703-689-6270
