CISPR 15:2013/ISH1:2013

CISPR/F/Publication CISPR 15 (2013), eighth edition/I-SH 01

LIMITS AND METHODS OF MEASUREMENT

OF RADIO DISTURBANCE CHARACTERISTICS

OF ELECTRICAL LIGHTING AND SIMILAR EQUIPMENT

INTERPRETATION SHEET 1
This interpretation sheet has been prepared by subcommittee CISPR F: Interference relating
to household appliances, tools, lighting equipment and similar apparatus, of IEC technical
committee CISPR: International special committee on radio interference.
The text of this interpretation sheet is based on the following documents:
ISH Report on voting
CISPR/F/583/ISH CISPR/F/591/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.
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CISPR 15 interpretation sheet on the assessment of retrofit
Extra Low Voltage LED lamps
Introduction
During the CISPR meeting in Seoul 2011 the IARU reported that a number of LED lighting
products are causing interference with amateur radio reception. See item 15 of the minutes
CISPR/1218/RM.
In addition to this verbal report, the IARU submitted in January 2012 a detailed written report
which was circulated as CISPR/F/565/INF. Major sources of interference are some types of
Extra Low Voltage (e.g. 12 V) LED lamps for which the current CISPR 15 requirements are
not clear. Additional clarification of the standard was requested urgently.
In response the CISPR F management committee issued document CISPR/F/568/INF setting
out an action plan to resolve the issue at short notice.
Part of the solution is this Interpretation Sheet which details the assessment of retrofit ELV

LED lamps.
June 2013 ICS 33.100.10
Question: How are the requirements of CISPR 15 applied to retrofit Extra Low

Voltage (ELV) LED lamps?
Interpretation: When assessing retrofit ELV LED lamps against the requirements of

CISPR 15 the following procedure shall be applied.

ELV LED lamps without active switching electronic components are considered to fulfil the

requirements of CISPR 15 without test.

All other types of retrofit ELV LED lamps shall be tested in conjunction with a wire wound 50
or 60 Hz ring-core transformer. The use of such a transformer is considered to be the worst-

case condition and shall be used unless it is clearly stated in the manufacturer’s instructions

that the lamp is unsuitable for use with such a transformer. In this case measurements shall

be performed in combination with a typical compliant electronic transformer for halogen
lamps.
The combination of transformer and ELV LED lamp shall comply with the mains disturbance
voltage limits of Table 2a and the radiated disturbance limits of Tables 3a and 3b.
During the disturbance voltage measurement, the ELV LED lamp is mounted in a conical
metal housing as described in Figure 7. The ELV LED lamp is then connected to the
transformer by a flexible 3-core cable consisting of two ELV supply conductors and the earth
connection to the conical housing. The length of this cable shall be as short as possible. The
metal conical housing shall be positioned with its cable entrance close to the transformer.
The combination of transformer and conical metal housing shall be tested as a luminaire in
accordance with the requirements of 8.2.
When performing the radiated disturbance measurements in accordance with Clause 9, the
conical metal housing shall not be used.
References are to CISPR 15:2013.

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June 2013 ICS 33.100.10
CISPR/F/Publication CISPR 15 (2013), huitième édition/I-SH 01

LIMITES ET MÉTHODES DE MESURE DES PERTURBATIONS

RADIOÉLECTRIQUES PRODUITES PAR LES APPAREILS ÉLECTRIQUES

D'ÉCLAIRAGE ET LES APPAREILS ANALOGUES

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