EMC Testing the old days
I have wanted to do this for ages but never got round to doing it, talking about the old EMC test standards. When I started EMC testing back in 1990 standards for EMC were different. The BS EN61000-4 immunity standards were IEC standards starting with 801, BS EN55014-1 Electromagnetic compatibility. Requirements for household appliances, electric tools and similar apparatus. Emission was BS 800.
I have complied the old and new standard Identities below (more will be posted) :
| Old Standard Identity | New Standard Identity |
| IEC801-2 ESD | BS EN61000-4-2 |
| IEC801-3 Radiated Immunity | BS EN61000-4-3 |
| BS800 House hold emissions | BS EN55014 |
After 29 years of testing nothing really has changed much apart from Frequencies being increased for test specifications i.e. going past 1GHz. Testing is similar of the same and the ways we do thing.
The directives are the same as they were in the old days i.e. compliance is presumed so you will never every meet the EMC directive. We use to advice customers back in the old day about this one, you could spend 1000’s of pounds on testing but yes you would never meet the requirements of the directive as in the new one Article 13 will explain all.
So what I am basically saying is 29 years of experience and EMC is still the same as it was in the 90’s
