Ask a Question

What is Surge Immunity Testing?

What is Surge Immunity? What are the EMC standards used for Surge Immunity Testing? what are the test methods and equipment required for performing Surge Immunity Testing?

1 Answer
Can you answer this question?

Editorial Team - EMC Directory

Aug 22, 2022

What is Surge Immunity?

The ability of electronic/electrical devices to withstand the sudden current and/or voltage surge from power lines is surge immunity. Indirect lightning strikes, routine power switching events, insulation faults, switching of reactive loads, etc. cause a sudden surge in the AC power lines. These sudden surges cause electrical, thermal, and/or energy overstress. The surges occurring at the AC lines usually are rated in some kV. Even a surge of 1 kV can easily burn a PCB of a device that is only rated for 100 V. Hence, it can be said that devices meeting surge standards are more reliable to withstand the surges.

Fig: Surge Immunity Test

What is the EMC Standard used for Surge Immunity Testing?

The IEC 61000-4-5 is an EMC standard by the International Electrotechnical Commission on surge immunity. It specifies the tests, methods, and recommended limits for equipment to unidirectional surges caused by overvoltages from switching and lightning events. The IEC 61000-4-5 focuses on immunity tests and procedures for power transmission and telecommunication lines.

IEC 61000-4-5 specifies several levels of tests in association with an environment. The standard has classified the operating environments for which the equipment has been designed. They are as follows:

  • Class 1: Partly protected electrical environment.
  • Class 2: Electrical environment where the cables are well-separated, even at short runs.
  • Class 3: Electrical environment where cables run in parallel.
  • Class 4: Electrical environment where the interconnections are run as outdoor cables along with power cables, and the cables are used for both electronic and electric circuits.
  • lass X: Special conditions specified in the product specification.

The following table summarizes the surge voltages for different classes:

Class    
Test Voltage (±10% kV)
10.5
21
32
44
XSpecial

What is the Test Equipment Required for Surge immunity Testing?

Following test equipment is required for Surge Immunity Testing:

  • Surge Generator
  • 3 Phase Coupling/Decoupling Networks
  • Telecom/Data Line Couplers
  • Connecting cables of the length of or less than 2 m

What is the Test Method for Surge Immunity Testing?

As per IEC 41000-4-5, surge immunity testing is done in two methods: the open-circuit test and the closed-circuit test. These two tests are conducted at the same time as a 1.2/50 µs voltage impulse into an open-circuit, and as an 8/20 µs impulse into a closed-circuit test. A similar method is applied for surge testing in telephone lines. IEC 61000-4-5 requires AC or DC supply ports of the EUT to be tested for surge immunity. However, EN 61000-4-5 directs that all the ports of the EUT should be tested for immunity. Application of at least five positives and five negative surges is advisable. A gap of one minute should be given between two consecutive surges to allow for the recovery of any protection devices.

Technical Articles

../ 33 [{"category":"Questions","label":"what is cispr 16?","url":"../community/what-is-cispr-16","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is fcc part 15?","url":"../community/what-is-fcc-part-15","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61000-6-4?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61000-6-4","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is fcc part 18?","url":"../community/what-is-fcc-part-18","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61000-4-3?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61000-4-3","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61000-4-8?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61000-4-8","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61000-4-4?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61000-4-4","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61000-4-6?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61000-4-6","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is cispr 32?","url":"../community/what-is-cispr-32","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61000-4-11?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61000-4-11","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61000-4-2?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61000-4-2","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61000-4-5?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61000-4-5","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is radiated emissions testing?","url":"../community/what-is-radiated-emission-testing","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61000-3-3?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61000-3-3","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is conducted emissions testing?","url":"../community/what-is-conducted-emissions-testing","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is radiated immunity testing?","url":"../community/what-is-radiated-immunity-testing","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is cispr 22?","url":"../community/what-is-cispr-22","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is voltage drop testing?","url":"../community/what-is-voltage-drop-testing","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what are electro-static discharge(esd) immunity tests?","url":"../community/what-is-esd-testing","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is magnetic field testing?","url":"../community/what-is-magnetic-field-testing","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is open area test site (oats)?","url":"../community/what-is-open-area-test-site-oats","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is harmonic and flicker testing?","url":"../community/what-is-harmonic-and-flicker-testing","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61000-4-9?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61000-4-9","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is the difference between emc and emi?","url":"../community/what-is-the-difference-between-emc-and-emi","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is emc testing? why is it important?","url":"../community/what-is-emc-testing-why-is-it-important","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"emc testing for household appliances","url":"../community/what-is-emc-testing-for-household-appliances","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is surge immunity testing?","url":"../community/what-is-surge-immunity-testing","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is eft immunity testing?","url":"../community/what-is-eft-immunity-testing","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61000-3-2?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61000-3-2","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is cispr 12?","url":"../community/what-is-cispr-12_12","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is cispr 25?","url":"../community/what-is-cispr-25_13","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is cispr 35?","url":"../community/what-is-cispr-35_14","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what are emc emissions tests?","url":"../community/what-is-emc-emissions-tests","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is emc pre-compliance testing?","url":"../community/what-is-emc-pre-compliance-testing","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is immunity testing for emc?","url":"../community/what-is-immunity-testing-for-emc","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is cispr 31?","url":"../community/what-is-cispr-31","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"emc testing for a medical device","url":"../community/what-is-emc-testing-for-a-medical-device","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what are helmholtz coils?","url":"../community/what-are-helmholtz-coils","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"emc testing for automotive","url":"../community/what-is-emc-testing-for-automotive","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is conductive coupling?","url":"../community/what-is-conductive-coupling","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is inductive coupling?","url":"../community/what-is-inductive-coupling","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is a tem cell?","url":"../community/what-is-a-tem-cell","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"emc testing for printed circuit boards (pcbs)","url":"../community/what-is-emc-testing-for-pcb-what-are-the-design-consideration","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"emc testing for iot/wireless devices","url":"../community/what-is-emc-testing-for-iot-wireless-devices","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is an emc test site?","url":"../community/what-is-an-emc-test-site","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"iso 11452: emc testing standards for automotive components","url":"../community/what-is-iso-11452","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is crosstalk?","url":"../community/what-is-crosstalk","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is near-field shielding?","url":"../community/what-is-near-field-shielding","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is far-field shielding?","url":"../community/what-is-far-field-shielding","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is cispr 11?","url":"../community/what-is-cispr-11","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61000-6-2?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61000-6-2","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61000-6-3?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61000-6-3","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is pulse width modulation (pwm)?","url":"../community/what-is-pulse-width-modulation-pwm","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what are common mode chokes?","url":"../community/what-are-common-mode-chokes","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iso/iec 17025?","url":"../community/what-is-iso-17025","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is esd?","url":"../community/what-is-esd","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is mil-std-461?","url":"../community/what-is-mil-std-461","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is rtca do-160?","url":"../community/what-is-rtca-do-160","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is def-stan 59-411?","url":"../community/what-is-def-stan-59-411","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iso 14302?","url":"../community/what-is-iso-14302","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"fast measurements with real-time spectrum analyzers for emc testing","url":"../community/fast-measurements-with-real-time-spectrum-analyzers-for-emc-testing","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what are semi-anechoic chambers?","url":"../community/what-are-semi-anechoic-chambers","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is electromagnetic interference (emi)?","url":"../community/what-is-electromagnetic-interference-emi","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is radio frequency interference (rfi)?","url":"../community/what-is-radio-frequency-interference-rfi","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61967-4?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61967-4","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61967-5?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61967-5","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what are the emc testing standards specification for integrated circuits?","url":"../community/what-are-the-standardized-emc-test-methods-standards-published-by-iec-for-integrated-circuits-ics","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61000-6-1?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61000-6-1","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61000-6-2?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61000-6-2_102","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61000-4-39?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61000-4-39","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is characteristic impedance?","url":"../community/what-is-characteristic-impedance","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is common-mode noise?","url":"../community/what-is-common-mode-noise","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is a ferrite clamp?","url":"../community/what-is-the-ferrite-clamp","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is conducted immunity testing?","url":"../community/what-is-conducted-immunity-testing","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61967-1?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61967-1","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61967-2?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61967-2","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what are the differences between anechoic and semi-anechoic chambers?","url":"../community/what-are-the-differences-between-anechoic-and-semi-anechoic-chambers","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what are anechoic chambers?","url":"../community/what-are-anechoic-chambers","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is mil-std-1275?","url":"../community/what-is-mil-std-1275","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 60601-1-2?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-60601-1-2","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is ansi c63.10?","url":"../community/what-is-ansi-c63-10","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is ansi c63.4?","url":"../community/what-is-ansi-c63-4","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is an emi filter?","url":"../community/what-is-an-emi-filter","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is an electromagnetic reverberation chamber?","url":"../community/what-is-an-electromagnetic-reverberation-chamber","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what are coupling decoupling networks in emc?","url":"../community/what-are-coupling-decoupling-networks-in-emc","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is cispr 14?","url":"../community/what-is-cispr-14","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is cipsr 36?","url":"../community/what-is-cipsr-36","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"shielding and grounding techniques for reducing emi and ems","url":"../community/what-are-the-shielding-and-grounding-techniques-for-reducing-emi-and-ems","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is cispr 17?","url":"../community/what-is-cispr-17","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is cipsr 15?","url":"../community/what-is-cipsr-15","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61000-6-8?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61000-6-8","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61000-6-4?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61000-6-4_57","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61000-6-3?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61000-6-3_58","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is conducted susceptibility?","url":"../community/what-is-conducted-susceptibility","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is cispr 18?","url":"../community/what-is-cispr-18","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is power line transient?","url":"../community/what-is-a-power-line-transient","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what are emc antennas?","url":"../community/what-are-emc-antennas","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61967-3?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61967-3","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61967-6?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61967-6","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is iec 61967-8?","url":"../community/what-is-iec-61967-8","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is the directive 2014/30/eu?","url":"../community/what-is-the-directive-2014-30-eu","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is ieee/ansi c63.15?","url":"../community/what-is-ieee-ansi-c63-15","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is propagation constant?","url":"../community/what-is-propagation-constant","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is a transmission line? balanced vs unbalanced transmission lines?","url":"../community/what-is-a-transmission-line-balanced-vs-unbalanced-transmission-lines","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is ieee c95.3?","url":"../community/what-is-ieee-c95-3","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is fcc mp-5-1986?","url":"../community/what-is-fcc-mp-5-1986","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is ieee/ansi c63.17?","url":"../community/what-is-ieee-ansi-c63-17","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is radiated emission?","url":"../community/what-is-radiated-emission","type":null},{"category":"Questions","label":"what is electromagnetic pulse (emp)?","url":"../community/what-is-electromagnetic-pulse-emp","type":null},{"category":"Topics","label":"cispr standards","url":"~/community/filter?topic=;CISPR Standards;","type":null},{"category":"Topics","label":"conducted immunity","url":"~/community/filter?topic=;Conducted Immunity;","type":null},{"category":"Topics","label":"emission testing","url":"~/community/filter?topic=;Emission Testing;","type":null},{"category":"Topics","label":"iec standards","url":"~/community/filter?topic=;IEC Standards;","type":null},{"category":"Topics","label":"immunity testing","url":"~/community/filter?topic=;Immunity Testing;","type":null},{"category":"Topics","label":"medical","url":"~/community/filter?topic=;Medical;","type":null},{"category":"Topics","label":"military","url":"~/community/filter?topic=;Military;","type":null},{"category":"Topics","label":"radiated immunity","url":"~/community/filter?topic=;Radiated Immunity;","type":null}] community community question-details content_more