The residential level of 3m V/m was in IEC 1000-4-3 predates portable phones, 
WiFi, Bluetooth and all the other mobile and portable transmitters widely in 
use today.

The 20+ V/m field strengths in these standards are what is obtained from a 
cellular phone at maximum power, or WiFi device, at approximately 0.3 m / 1 ft.

Now, on live networks the 99% percentile transmit power of a cell phone is 
around 1% of maximum power, but that's not considered in safety standards such 
as SAR testing

Best regards
Charlie

Charlie Blackham
Sulis Consultants Ltd
Tel: +44 (0)7946 624317
Web: https://sulisconsultants.com/
Registered in England and Wales, number 05466247

From: Brian Gregory <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2023 10:49 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [PSES] Woodgate's reply on residential Immunity field strength


The reference for 20 V/m to EV chargers comes from UL 2231-2.  This is not a 
medical standard, but Annex A does call out the medical standard 60601-1-2 as a 
reference, as well as CENELEC 50204.  We can't figure out why;  cell phones 
produce less than half that, and our WiFi transmitter is probably 
representative, and is rated well under 1 W.  I could see a higher immunity 
standard as needed for commercial environments, say in a bank of 4-5 chargers.

Following along in 61000-4-3, we agree with John that residential applications 
are clearly best matched to the definition for Class 2 environment, and the 
table in Clause 5 says the limits for Class 2 equipment is 3 V/m.  20 V/m does 
not show up in Clause 5 of 61000-4-3 for any class.

So, I've should to reach out to a UL standards group and find out if this is 
really necessary for residential applications.   Our local lab can't do more 
than 10, and an overseas affiliated lab is similarly limited.  I'd like to know 
were this requirement comes from.   This is more a question for EV Charging 
safety than a mainstream EMC question.

As a backup, I could request a comment to Ken's point is if they define the 
peak of the modulation as 20 V/m.  I don't know where these are defined.

Thanks for all the detailed replies!

Colorado Brian
720-450-4933


---------- Original Message ----------
From: John Woodgate <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
To: Brian Gregory <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Subject: Re: [PSES] Immunity test field strength, residential setting
Date: Fri, 21 Jul 2023 18:05:59 +0100

61000-4-3 is a Basic Standard. It does not specify test levels but indicates 
possible test levels. You need to look in detail at Clause 5, but look at these 
words:

 Product committees shall select the appropriate test level for each frequency 
range needing to be tested as well as the frequency ranges.

The residential environment is usually designated Class 2 (see Annex E of the 
standard), which calls for 3 V/m.
======================================================================================
Best wishes John Woodgate OOO-Own Opinions Only
www.woodjohn.uk<http://www.woodjohn.uk>
Rayleigh, Essex UK

I hear, and I forget. I see, and I remember. I do, and I understand. Xunzi (340 
- 245 BC)
On 2023-07-21 17:44, Brian Gregory wrote:
 Hello colleagues,

We are building EV Chargers for residential markets (not just US) and one of 
the safety applicable standards is UL 2231-2.  It calls out  IEC 61000-4-3 for 
immunity testing parameters, which states a requirement for a field strength of 
20V/m.  Our EMC expert says typically testing is "done at 3 Vrms, which is 
standard for most products in residential environments."   He can only test up 
to 10V, and we're hearing the same from an overseas lab to whom our 
manufacturer refers.

Does FCC Part B have guidelines for field strength we can cite?   Can some 
offer this "DC guy" (aka, 60 Hz) a quick definition of what the 20V/m 
represents?

I'm guessing 20 V/m is for higher density commercial applications, aka charging 
stations, so we probably need an exception for residential.

Thank you!

Colorado Brian
720-450-4933
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