Hello Chris (and group), I hope no one feels offended by saying hello to "the group". :). You are right Chris, as a UK citizen you may certainly have experienced the way our fellow engineers at the other side of the Ocean treat the problem of EMC. I think however that, just as in Europe were other factors as interference limiting were influencing the "EMC laws", the same will happen in the US.
Asymmetric load in 3-phase cables and excessive neutral current caused by 3th harmonics of the main current were reason for the introduction of the EN 61000-3-2 for limiting harmonics current. This problem is valid anywhere in the world. Dips caused by switching loads and introducing flicker effects in lighting equipment nearby is irritating everywhere. The item of opening the market has the same impact on the global market as it has just in the EC. If you look at the Australian EMC regulations, then you may conclude it is very similar to the ce-system. I think that the way we handle essential safety and EMC-matters in Europe based on the so-called new approach directives using harmonized international standards is an extremely clever chosen system. Combined with the routes of self certification for less critical human safety related issues and the European type test modules which rely (partially) on ISO 9000 we found a means of relatively easy and market conformance to the new directives leading not only to an open market , but to better products. Already now we can see that product quality improves. Customers of me state that the number of service calls for newer products drastically lowers, especially those that lead to a no-error-on-service-dept conclusion. I therefore draw the conclusion that those problems were EMC-related. Please, hello there in the US what do YOU think of this. To provoke some reactions: Don't say that it's not relevant to you, or that US regulations are enough. I personally am very happy to receive US apparatus on my test bank, because it is a lot of work (= money) to get them within EU specs. Every time i am surprised by the number of safety and emc problems US equipment contain. Just point to them with a GSM phone, and they virtually short circuit. ! Regards, Gert Gremmen == CE-test, qualified testing, Consultancy, Compliance tests for EMC and Electrical Safety 15 Great EMC-design tips available ! Visit our site : http://www.cetest.nl The Dutch Electronics Directory http://www.cetest.nl/electronics.htm == -----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- Van: Chris Dupres [SMTP:chris_dup...@compuserve.com] Verzonden: zondag 22 februari 1998 0:09 Aan: Ing. Gert Gremmen CC: emc-pstc Onderwerp: RE: FCC Questions. Hi Gert. At the end of your interesting response you said: <Its my opinion that within a few years, the American market will somehow copy the European set-up. > I've worried about this. The Euro rules are in place, as I need not remind you, (but the left hand side of the Atlantic mayneed a reminder), because of the Treaty of Rome in the '60s which brought about the need to get all Euro products to the same technical standard for the purposes of Free Movement Of Goods across borders within Europe. i.e the Common Market. The primary reason for the Euro EMC rules being there is therefore political/trade related, and not the need to reduce EMC emissions - though that is not a bad thing. The USA and other countries round the world have quite different reasons for introducing EMC controls, some of which may protectionist, some born of the need to keep interference down. The reasons are many, and because of this technical standards have a different bias. In order to trade with Europe, the USA and others will need to climb over the CE walls of Fortress Europe which they will almost certainly do, but I doubt that they will need to go as far as, for instance, BSEN 61000-3-2, and -3-3. Harmonics and dips, for their own internal purposes. Just a thought... Chris Duprés Surrey, UK.
