What Is Voltage Interruptions?
Voltage interruption test is an immunity test in which the behavior of the device is evaluated by completely interrupting and reintroducing the supply voltage for a defined period of time.
Purpose of Voltage Interruptions
The purpose is to verify that the device shuts down safely, does not lose data, and restarts correctly during short and long-term interruptions.
Which Products Is Voltage Interruptions Applied To?
- Mains connected electronic devices
- Control and automation equipment
- Information-technology equipment
- Medical devices
- Redundant power systems
In Which Sectors Is Voltage Interruptions Used?
Standards Related to Voltage Interruptions
- IEC 61000-4-11voltage sag and short interruption immunity test
- IEC 61000-4-34
- IEC 61000-6-1
- IEC 61000-6-2
Voltage Interruptions Conditions
- Depth of cut
- 0% of rated voltage (full interruption)
- Time
- Defined in terms of network period; short (a few periods) and long (250 periods and above)
- Phase angle
- At zero crossing and defined angles
- Repeats
- Defined number of repetitions for each period
Equipment for Voltage Interruptions
- Voltage outage simulator or programmable AC source
- Phase synchronization scheme
- Function and data integrity monitoring
Sample Requirements for Voltage Interruptions
- The sample should be operated at typical load condition
- Data retention and restart behavior must be defined
- Interrupt behavior of security functions must be documented
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Duration of Voltage Interruptions
It depends on the number of combinations; typically half business day.
Voltage Interruptions Procedure
- 1The interruption periods to be applied are determined.
- 2The sample is operated at a defined load condition.
- 3Each period is applied at a defined phase angle and number.
- 4Shutdown, data integrity and restart are observed.
- 5Observations are classified according to performance criteria.
Voltage Interruptions Acceptance Criteria
The resulting performance criterion is evaluated as A, B or C. Shutdown is generally accepted for long outages; What is critical is safe shutdown and correct restart.
Evaluation of Results
After the reboot, it is evaluated whether the settings are preserved and whether the security functions are in the correct state.
Voltage Interruptions Report
- Standard applied
- Interruption times and phase angles
- load case
- Shutdown, data and restart observations
- Performans kriteri sonucu
Accreditation
EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.
Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Regulations
- EMC 2014/30/EU
- MDR 2017/745 (medical)
EMC / EMI Testleri — What Does This Testing Field Cover?
The section below describes the field that the Voltage Interruptions test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
EMC testing answers a question with two sides: does the device emit an unacceptable level of electromagnetic interference into its surroundings (emission), and does it withstand the interference coming from them (immunity)? The two sides are measured with separate tests and separate set-ups, and both are required.
The field exists because of a simple physical fact: every conductor carrying current behaves like an antenna. A switched-mode power supply, a motor drive or the clock signal of a microcontroller radiates radio frequency energy even though it was never designed to. The same conductor also works in reverse: an external field induces a voltage across it. In an environment crowded with devices, this mutual effect means devices disturbing one another.
On the emission side, conducted and radiated emission are measured separately. Conducted emission is the interference the device imposes on its mains and communication cables and dominates at lower frequencies. Radiated emission is the field the device releases into the air and comes to the fore at higher frequencies. The two are measured in different set-ups, and the limits vary by product group.
On the immunity side, real-world sources of interference are simulated: electrostatic discharge (human touch), radiated radio frequency fields (a nearby transmitter), electrical fast transients (switching), surges (lightning and mains events), conducted radio frequency, power-frequency magnetic fields, voltage dips and short interruptions.
The standard to be applied depends on WHERE the product is used, and that choice determines the entire outcome. Residential and industrial environments carry different sets of limits; in vehicles the UNECE R10 regime applies rather than CE; for medical devices IEC 60601-1-2 brings additional requirements; and for products containing a radio, radio legislation comes into play and harmonised ETSI standards are used.
In immunity testing the acceptance criterion is a PERFORMANCE CRITERION class, not a binary pass/fail. A device continuing to function without interruption during the test, being temporarily affected and recovering by itself, or recovering only through user intervention are different classes. Which class is acceptable is defined in the product standard; the tolerance for a device carrying a safety function differs from that of a consumer device.
The most common shortcoming of an EMC file is that it covers only one side. A file carrying an emission report alone is not complete in terms of the EMC directive. The second common gap is a test set-up that does not represent actual use: if the device is measured on a bare bench with cables different from its real ones, the result does not carry over to the field.
Method groups in this field
Conducted emission
Interference imposed on the cable through mains and communication ports, measured via an artificial mains network (LISN).
Radiated emission
The field released into the air by the device, measured at a defined distance in an anechoic or semi-anechoic chamber.
Harmonics and flicker
The harmonic content of the current drawn from the mains and voltage fluctuation; the side that affects mains quality.
Electrostatic discharge
Contact and air discharge together with indirect discharge; the most frequently applied immunity test.
Radiated and conducted RF immunity
The device is exposed to a defined field strength and to an RF signal injected into the cable.
Mains-borne events
Electrical fast transients, surges, voltage dips and short interruptions.
Commonly confused in this field
- An emission report alone does not complete an EMC file; immunity must be demonstrated as well.
- An FCC report is not accepted in a CE file; the limits, measurement distances and set-ups are different.
- The EMC Directive does not apply to vehicles; the UNECE R10 regime does. Specifications requiring both together should be reviewed.
- The warning that a Class A device may cause interference in a residential environment is mandatory in the manual; market surveillance checks that this warning is present.
- The test set-up is part of the report. If cable type, length or routing changes, the result changes; measurement must be made in the series-production configuration.
- CISPR 22 and CISPR 13 have been withdrawn; their current counterparts are CISPR 32 and CISPR 35.
Which decisions these results support
- CE declaration under the EMC Directive
- The EMC part of radio equipment conformity
- A UNECE R10 file for a vehicle component
- Resolving field interference complaints and correcting the design
- Assessing the EMC impact of a board or wiring-harness change
Related Tests
Frequently Asked Questions About Voltage Interruptions
According to which standard is Voltage Interruptions made?
Voltage Interruptions is executed in scope IEC 61000-4-11, IEC 61000-4-34, IEC 61000-6-1 and IEC 61000-6-2. The limit values and acceptance criteria to be applied are defined in the product standard; The version valid for your product is confirmed in writing at the offer stage.
Which products does Voltage Interruptions apply to?
Mainly applied to Mains connected electronic devices, Control and automation equipment, Information-technology equipment, Medical devices and Redundant power systems. Whether your product is included in the scope is determined by examining its technical specifications and intended use.
Under what conditions is Voltage Interruptions done?
The determining parameters are: Depth of cut — 0% of rated voltage (full interruption), Time — Defined in terms of network period; short (a few periods) and long (250 periods and above) and Phase angle — At zero crossing and defined angles. The full terms are in the "Test Conditions" section on the page and vary depending on the product standard.
What kind of sample is needed for Voltage Interruptions?
The sample should be operated at typical load condition, Data retention and restart behavior must be defined and Interrupt behavior of security functions must be documented. The number of samples is determined according to the product standard and the scope to be reported.
How long does Voltage Interruptions take?
It depends on the number of combinations; typically half business day. This duration belongs to the experiment itself; sample preparation, queuing and reporting are also evaluated. A realistic schedule for your product is given in the offer.
What is the Voltage Interruptions result called "appropriate"?
The resulting performance criterion is evaluated as A, B or C. Shutdown is generally accepted for long outages; What is critical is safe shutdown and correct restart.