IEC TR 61000-1-4:2005

TECHNICAL IEC
REPORT TR 61000-1-4
First edition
2005-05
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) –
Part 1-4:
General – Historical rationale for the limitation
of power-frequency conducted harmonic current
emissions from equipment, in the frequency range
up to 2 kHz
Reference number
IEC/TR 61000-1-4:2005(E)
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TECHNICAL IEC
REPORT TR 61000-1-4
First edition
2005-05
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) –
Part 1-4:
General – Historical rationale for the limitation
of power-frequency conducted harmonic current
emissions from equipment, in the frequency range
up to 2 kHz
 IEC 2005  Copyright - all rights reserved
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– 2 – TR 61000-1-4  IEC:2005(E)
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.4
INTRODUCTION.6

1 Scope.7
2 Normative references .7
3 Definitions .8
4 General appraisal .8
5 Acceptable provisions in standards related to regulatory legislation.9
6 History of IEC 61000-3-2 and its predecessors .10
6.1 Before 1960 .10
6.2 1960 to 1975 .10
6.3 1975 to 1982 .11
6.4 1982 to 1995 .11
6.5 1995 to 2000 .13
6.6 The 'Millennium Amendment' .14
6.7 Future development of IEC 61000-3-2 .14
7 History of IEC 61000-3-12 and its predecessor.14
7.1 1989 to 1998 .14
7.2 After 1998 .15
8 Economic considerations taken into account in setting limits in IEC 61000-3-2
before publication in 1995, and before the finalization of the text of the Millennium
Amendment .15

Annex A (informative) Compatibility level and compensation factor .16
Annex B (informative) Comparison of Class A limits and the harmonic spectra of
phase-controlled dimmers of incandescent lamps at 90° firing angle.20
Annex C (informative) Comparison of Class C ( Table 2 of IEC 61000-3-2) limits and
the harmonic spectrum of a discharge lamp with inductive ballast.21
Annex D (informative) Comparison of Class D limits and the harmonic spectra of
capacitor-filtered single-phase rectifiers with 35° and 65° conduction angles .22
Annex E (informative) Economic considerations taken into account in setting limits,
before finalization of the text of the Millennium Amendment to IEC 61000-3-2 .23
Annex F (Informative) Concept plan for the full revision of IEC 61000-3-2.25
Annex G (informative) Derivation of the limits in IEC 61000-3-12 .27
Annex H (informative) Explanation of the reasons for using the concepts of total
harmonic distortion (THD) and partial weighted harmonic distortion (PWHD) .39

Bibliography.41

Figure 1 – Diagram showing compatibility level in relation to disturbance and
immunity levels .9
Figure A.1 – Allocation of harmonic voltage drops over the transformer impedances in
a typical system .17
Figure B.1 – Comparison of Class A limits and spectra of dimmers.20
Figure C.1 – Comparison of Class C limits and the harmonic spectrum
of a discharge lamp .21

TR 61000-1-4  IEC:2005(E) – 3 –
Figure D.1 – Comparison of Class D limits and harmonic spectra of single-phase
230 W rectifiers with capacitor filters .22
Figure E.1 – Illustration of the concept of total aggregate cost trade-offs for meeting
compatibility levels.24
Figure H.1a – Diagram of a LV system consisting of a transformer, a busbar and n
equal feeders.40
Figure H.1b – Equivalent circuit for the LV system with "fictitious" feeders.40
Figure H.2 – Relative total distortion weight “tdw” as a function of the short-circuit
ratio R .40
sce
Table A.1 – Compensation factors k .18
p,h
Table A.2 – Sub-factors of k .19
p,h
Table G.1 – Relative total distortion weight depending on the point x where the
distorting load is connected .31
Table G.2 – Comparison of limit values of IEC 61000-3-12 (columns 2 and 4) with the
approximation by equation (8) (columns 3 and 5).32
Table G.3 – Compatibility levels.35
Table G.4 – Maximum harmonic currents and voltages for one piece of single phase
equipment (from Table 2 of IEC 61000-3-12) .35
Table G.5 – Maximum harmonic currents and voltages for one piece of balanced three
phase equipment (from Table 3 of IEC 61000-3-12) .36
Table G.6 – Maximum harmonic currents and voltages for one piece of balanced three
phase equipment (from Table 4 of IEC 61000-3-12): .36
Table G.7 – Maximum harmonic currents and voltages for n pieces of single phase
equipment (from Table 2 of IEC 61000-3-12) .36
Table G.8- Maximum harmonic currents and voltages for n pieces of balanced three
phase equipment (from Table 3 of IEC 61000-3-12): .37
Table G.9 – Maximum harmonic currents and voltages for n pieces of balanced three
phase equipment (from Table 4 of IEC 61000-3-12): .37
Table G.10 – Maximum harmonic currents and voltages for n pieces of single phase
equipment (from Table 2 of IEC 61000-3-12): .37
Table G.11- Maximum harmonic currents and voltages for n pieces of balanced three
phase equipment (from Table 3 of IEC 61000-3-12): .38
Table G.12 – Maximum harmonic currents and voltages for n pieces of balanced three
phase equipment (from Table 4 of IEC 61000-3-12): .38

– 4 – TR 61000-1-4  IEC:2005(E)
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY (EMC) –

Part 1-4: General – Historical rationale for the limitation
of power-frequency conducted harmonic current emissions
from equipment, in the frequency range up to 2 kHz

FOREWORD
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