IEC 61000-3-12:2011

IEC 61000-3-12 ®
Edition 2.0 2011-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) –
Part 3-12: Limits – Limits for harmonic currents produced by equipment
connected to public low-voltage systems with input current >16 A and ≤75 A per
phase
Compatibilité électromagnétique (CEM) –
Partie 3-12: Limites – Limites pour les courants harmoniques produits par les
appareils connectés aux réseaux publics basse tension ayant un courant
appelé >16 A et ≤75 A par phase

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IEC 61000-3-12 ®
Edition 2.0 2011-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) –
Part 3-12: Limits – Limits for harmonic currents produced by equipment
connected to public low-voltage systems with input current >16 A and ≤75 A per
phase
Compatibilité électromagnétique (CEM) –
Partie 3-12: Limites – Limites pour les courants harmoniques produits par les
appareils connectés aux réseaux publics basse tension ayant un courant
appelé >16 A et ≤75 A par phase

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX U
ICS 33.100.10 ISBN 978-2-88912-486-2
SC 77A/Publication IEC 61000-3-12 (2011), Second edition/I-SH 01
ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY (EMC) –

Part 3-12: Limits –
Limits for harmonic currents produced by equipment connected to public
low-voltage systems with input current >16 A and ≤75 A per phase

INTERPRETATION SHEET
This interpretation sheet has been prepared by subcommittee 77A: Low frequency
phenomena, of IEC technical committee 77: Electromagnetic compatibility.
The text of this interpretation sheet is based on the following documents:
ISH Report on voting
77A/792/ISH 77A/800/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this interpretation sheet can be found in the
report on voting indicated in the above table.
___________
Interpretation of requirements for equipment with unforeseen low input currents during
tests according to IEC 61000-3-12:2011: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Part 3-
12: Limits – Limits for harmonic currents produced by equipment connected to public
low-voltage systems with input current >16 A and ≤75 A per phase.
When equipment that has a rated current above 16 A draws a reference current that is less
than 16 A under the specified test conditions, the manufacturer may proceed in one of the
following ways:
1) Comply with the proportional limits as calculated, choosing the required R ;
sce
2) Comply with the absolute limits given in IEC 61000-3-2:2011, Table 1, using the
measurement procedure defined in 4.2.2 in IEC 61000-3-12:2011;
In that case, the manufacturer shall state in the instruction manual “Equipment complying
with IEC 61000-3-12”, without having to declare a minimum short circuit power S .
sc
3) Change the test conditions to a representative 2,5 min period, as defined in IEC 61000-3-
12:2011, Table 1 for long cyclic equipment, and comply with the proportional limits as
calculated, choosing the required R .
sce
The manufacturer is strongly advised to state in the test report which of these ways was used,
so that subsequent tests are carried out with the same procedure.

September 2012 ICS 33.100.10 French text overleaf

– 2 – 61000-3-12  IEC:2011
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references. 7
3 Terms and definitions . 7
4 Measurement conditions . 11
4.1 Determination of the reference current . 11
4.2 Harmonic current measurement . 11
4.2.1 General . 11
4.2.2 Measurement procedure . 11
4.2.3 Repeatability . 11
4.2.4 Starting and stopping . 12
4.2.5 Application of limits . 12
4.2.6 Test report . 12
4.2.7 Test observation period. 12
4.3 Equipment consisting of several self-contained items . 12
5 Requirements and limits for equipment . 13
5.1 Control methods . 13
5.2 Limits for emission . 13
6 Product documentation . 17
7 Test and simulation conditions . 17
7.1 General . 17
7.2 Requirements for direct measurement . 17
7.3 Requirements for simulation . 18
7.4 General conditions for test and simulation . 19
Annex A (normative) Type test conditions . 21
Annex B (informative) Illustration of limits for harmonic currents . 23
Annex C (informative) Equipment not complying with the requirements and limits of this
standard . 24
Bibliography . 25

th
Figure 1 – Definition of the 5 harmonic current phase angle (I leads U , α > 0) . 10
5 p1 5
th
Figure 2 – Definition of the 5 harmonic current phase angle (I lags U , α < 0) . 10
5 p1 5
Figure 3 – Flowchart of the application procedure . 16
th
Figure B.1 – Limits of the 5 harmonic current as functions of R . 23
sce
Table 1 – Values of the observation period . 12
Table 2 – Current emission limits for equipment other than balanced three-phase
equipment . 15
Table 3 – Current emission limits for balanced three-phase equipment . 15
Table 4 – Current emission limits for balanced three-phase equipment under specified
conditions (a, b, c) . 15
Table 5 – Current emission limits for balanced three-phase equipment under specified
conditions (d, e, f) . 16

61000-3-12  IEC:2011 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY (EMC) –

Part 3-12: Limits –
Limits for harmonic currents produced
by equipment connected to public low-voltage systems
with input current >16 A and ≤75 A per phase

FOREWORD
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Committee
...