The Applied Technical Services Family of Companies’ (ATS FoC’s) EMI lab offers IEC 61000-4 testing, including surge immunity testing per IEC 61000-4-5. IEC 61000-4 is part of the IEC 61000 electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) series, which defines testing and measurement techniques for electromagnetic immunity. Each subpart addresses a specific disturbance, such as electrostatic discharge, radiated fields, fast transients, or surges. These standards provide manufacturers with a consistent, internationally recognized method to demonstrate that electrical and electronic products perform reliably in real-world electromagnetic environments.
How Does IEC 61000-4 Testing Evaluate Electromagnetic Immunity?
IEC 61000-4 testing subjects products to controlled, repeatable disturbances to assess their response. Our technicians apply defined disturbances at specified levels and coupling points, then monitor equipment behavior during and after exposure. Results are compared to performance criteria that outline four possible outcomes:
- Normal operation continues
- Function drops temporarily and recovers on its own
- An operator must intervene to restore function
- The product fails permanently
This process demonstrates your design’s tolerance to electromagnetic stress and identifies areas for improvement before market release.
About Our Lab’s IEC 61000-4 Capabilities
Our lab supports your product from design validation through compliance, offering testing and certification services for isolation devices and related components. We provide:
- Electrical testing: electrical surge testing to IEC 61000-4-5, dielectric withstand voltage, partial discharge, and insulation resistance
- Dimensional measurement: electrical clearance, creepage distance, and physical dimensions
- Environmental conditioning: rapid temperature change, dry heat, damp heat (cyclic and steady state), and cold storage
- Materials processing: reflow, solderability, and flammability
Our work aligns with IEC 60664, IEC 60664-1, the IEC 60068-2 series, IEC 60695-11-5, and IEC 61000-4-5. Our technicians deliver accurate, reliable results that help you find and fix problems early, improve reliability, and meet market and regulatory requirements.
What Electrical Disturbances Do IEC 61000-4-5 Tests Simulate?
IEC 61000-4-5 simulates high-energy transient overvoltages and overcurrents, known as surges. These surges originate from two main sources:
- Lightning: direct strikes to external circuits, and the voltages and currents that nearby strikes induce in power and communication lines
- Power system switching: capacitor bank switching, load changes, and short-circuit or arcing faults
Our team applies standardized surge waveforms to power and signal lines, both line-to-line and line-to-ground, at increasing severity levels. This verifies your product’s ability to withstand surges encountered in service.
Contact Us
Whether you are preparing for certification, troubleshooting a failure, or validating a new design, our team is ready to assist. Call us at +1 (888) 287-5227 to discuss your project, or submit our web request form, and a team member will follow up promptly.
