Bringing an electrical device to market requires compliance with various standards, including FCC Part 15 in the United States and regulations such as the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive in the European Union.
One of the most important aspects of compliance testing for electronic products is conducted emissions testing. This type of testing involves measuring electrical emissions produced from your device via power or signal lines.
Conducted emissions testing is part of EMC testing. As specialists in electrical device testing, we’ve helped hundreds of manufacturers complete conducted emissions testing and receive approval to bring their devices to market.
To request a quote for testing your electrical device, or to ask our engineering team about the conducted emissions testing process, contact us online or call us at 866-540-5287.
You can also continue reading to learn more about what conducted emissions are, how testing for conducted emissions works, and the steps you’ll need to take to ensure your device is fully compliant with FCC Part 15, the EMC Directive, and other EMC emissions standards.
What are Conducted Emissions?
Conducted emissions refer to the electrical noise or interference that’s created by an electronic device. This interference can be transferred along power lines or signal lines, which causes it to affect other devices.
Emissions transferred along power lines or signal lines can cause other devices and equipment to malfunction or suffer from degraded performance.
Unlike radiated emissions, which are transmitted through the air, conducted emissions can only travel through wires and cables.
As an electronics manufacturer, it’s critical to understand and control conducted emissions from your device. Not only can these emissions affect the performance of the device itself — they can also potentially impact other devices that use the same power source or network.
In some cases, conducted emissions may result in safety risks, such as in industrial or medical environments.
Because of this, testing for and managing conducted emissions isn’t just a technical necessity — it’s also a legal requirement in many jurisdictions.
How Conducted Emissions Testing Works
Conducted emissions testing is a process that’s used to measure the amount of electromagnetic interference (EMI) emitted by a device through its power or signal lines.
Like other EMC tests, conducted emissions testing is performed in an accredited lab with highly precise equipment to measure EMI. The goal of testing is to ensure that the emissions are less than the specified limits set by a regulatory body, such as the FCC.
Here’s how the conducted emissions testing process generally works:
- Test setup. The device under testing is set up in a shielded room or open area testing site. The device is connected to a line impedance stabilization network (LISN), which is used to isolate the device and provide a consistent impedance path.
- Measurement equipment. To measure conducted emissions, specialized devices such as spectrum analyzers or EMI receivers are used. These instruments measure intensity and frequency of emissions conducted via the device’s power and/or signal lines.
- Testing procedures. The device under testing is operated in various modes to measure emissions and identify worst-case emissions scenarios. This testing covers a wide range of frequencies to accurately assess the device’s performance.
- Data analysis. Data collected during lab testing is analyzed against relevant regulatory standards, such as FCC Part 15. This analysis helps to identify compliance issues and the need for further mitigation or design changes.
Conducted Emissions Testing & EMC Compliance
Making sure that your device complies with electromagnetic compatibility regulations is a critical aspect of gaining market access. Conducted emissions testing is a key part of this process, with many EMC regulations requiring conducted emissions testing for electronic devices.
Below are some of the most common regulations that involve conducted emissions testing that electronics manufacturers should be aware of:
FCC Part 15
In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates emissions from electronic devices under FCC Part 15.
FCC Part 15 covers two classes of devices. Class A devices are electronic devices designed for use in commercial, industrial or business environments. Class B devices are designed primarily for residential use.
Standards for emissions differ between these classes of devices, with stricter testing standards for Class B (residential) devices.
EU EMC Directive
In the European Union, the EMC Directive sets standards for the electromagnetic compatibility of electronic devices. This directive mandates that devices need to be immune to certain levels of interference, and also sets limits for electromagnetic emissions.
Other Regulations
In addition to FCC Part 15 and the European Union’s EMC Directive, other standards mandate limits on electromagnetic emissions. These include global standards from CISPR (International Special Committee on Radio Interference) and other organizations.
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) also establishes standards for emissions, including conducted emissions from electrical devices.
Countries such as Australia, Canada, Japan and other major markets often use their own EMC regulations that are closely aligned with international standards such as CISPR.
How to Achieve Conducted Emissions Compliance
If you’re an electronics manufacturer, there are several steps that you’ll need to take to ensure your device is compliant:
- Conduct pre-compliance testing. This type of testing is carried out during the design and development phases of your product. Conducting pre-compliance testing can help you identify issues early, saving time and resources.
- Design consideration. During the design phase, you may need to incorporate certain EMC considerations into your product’s design to reduce emissions, such as filters and shielding.
- Carry out compliance testing. Before going to market, you’ll need to complete testing for your device to ensure it complies with all relevant standards and regulations.
- Prepare documents and records. Following testing, you’ll need to maintain thorough records of testing procedures, their results, and any changes made to your device after gaining market access.
Contact Us About Conducted Emissions Testing
Conducted emissions testing is a critical part of the compliance testing process for electronic devices. Not only is it important for compliance with FCC Part 15, the EU EMC Directive and other regulations — it also ensures your product is reliable and safe for users.
As specialists in EMC testing, we can test your product for conducted emissions and ensure you’re fully compliant with all relevant regulations before entering the market.
To request a quote for your device, or to ask our engineering team a question about device testing and compliance, contact us online or call us at 866-540-5287.
