CISPR 15:2005/ISH2:2013

CISPR/F/Publication CISPR 15 (2005) including Amendment 1 (2006)
and Amendment 2 (2008), Seventh edition/I-SH 02
LIMITS AND METHODS OF MEASUREMENT
OF RADIO DISTURBANCE CHARACTERISTICS
OF ELECTRICAL LIGHTING AND SIMILAR EQUIPMENT

INTERPRETATION SHEET 2
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/584/ISH CISPR/F/592/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: Test conditions for wall dimmers
Introduction
More and more incandescent lamps are replaced by energy saving lamps (fluorescent and
LED). Some types are dimmable by phase control of the supply voltage. New wall dimmers
are developed to improve the dim performance when the dimmer is loaded with energy saving
lamps. CISPR 15 is not clear on how to test these types of wall dimmers.
This interpretation sheet has been prepared by the Joint 17B-23B-34A-77A IEC Forum on the
dimming of electronic self-ballasted lamps and was finalized during the CISPR/F/WG2
meeting in Bangkok.
Question: How to test a wall dimmer which is suitable for energy saving lamps?
Relevant text CISPR 15:
Clause 8 of CISPR 15 specifies the ‘Method of measurement of disturbance voltages’.
8.3.1 ‘Directly operating devices’ specifies the test arrangement of independent directly
operating light regulating devices such as wall dimmers.
The second paragraph reads:
‘Unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer, the regulating device shall be measured with
the maximum allowed load consisting of incandescent lamps as specified by the
manufacturer.’
Answer:
1) Independent directly operating light regulating devices (e.g. wall dimmers) which are
suitable for incandescent lamps and other types of lighting equipment (e.g. self-
ballasted lamps) shall be tested with incandescent lamps.
2) Independent directly operating light regulating devices which are only suitable for
lighting equipment other than incandescent lamps shall be tested with the appropriate
lighting equipment as provided by the manufacturer.
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The above will be included in the full revision of CISPR 15, following the 8 edition.

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February 2013 ICS 33.100.10
CISPR/F/Publication CISPR 15 (2005) incluant l'Amendement 1 (2006)
et l'Amendement 2 (2008), Septième édition/I-SH 02
LIMITES ET MÉTHODES DE MESURE DES PERTURBATIONS
RADIOÉLECTRIQUES PRODUITES PAR LES APPAREILS ÉLECTRIQUES
D'ÉCLAIRAGE ET LES APPAREILS ANALOGUES

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