LAPLACE INSTRUMENTS RF300 User manual

LAPLACEINSTRUMENTSLTD RF300 USER GUIDE
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LAPLACEINSTRUMENTS LTD
RF300 LARGELOOP ANTENNA
USERGUIDE
SerialNumber 9072
Issue5 May 2010

LAPLACEINSTRUMENTSLTD RF300 USER GUIDE
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INDEX
Introduction 3
Packinglist 3
Assembly 5
Calibration loop 12
Calibration 13
Operation 14
In usewith the
EMCEngineer software 14
AppendixA...Calibration data 16
AppendixB… CISPR16 20

LAPLACEINSTRUMENTSLTD RF300 USER GUIDE
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Introduction
TheRF300 largeloop antennahas been developed to meettherequirements of
EN55015, section 9.9.1, which refers to CISPR16-1-4, section 4.6.1. This specifies the
limits formagneticfield induced currentforluminaires with lamp operating
frequencies in excess of100Hz.
Construction oftheRF300 is as detailed in annexCofEN55016. This antennais fully
compliantwith thestandard and details ofthecalibration factors are included in this
manual. Theseantennafactors should beadded to theresults to obtain correct
measurements thatcan becompared directlywith thelimits.
Testsetup and limits should beconducted as required byEN55015, section 4.4.
PackingList
On receiptoftheRF300, check thecontents ofthepackages againstthediagramshown
in fig1.
Identifyeach componentand check forshortages.
See also listoverleaf.
Qty4 Cornerposts Qty3loops
Qty4 Baseextensions Qty3Loop
transducers Switchunit
with cable Centralpillar
Qty4 Post stabilisers
Qty8 long +
8short wood
screws
Qty5
tiewraps
10dB
attenuator
Qty1 5m
cable
Qty3
loop
leads
Qty4 Cornerposts Qty3loops
Qty4 Baseextensions Qty3Loop
transducers Switchunit
with cable CentralpillarCentralpillar
Qty4 Post stabilisers
Qty8 long +
8short wood
screws
Qty5
tiewraps
10dB
attenuator
Qty1 5m
cable
Qty3
loop
leads

LAPLACEINSTRUMENTSLTD RF300 USER GUIDE
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QtyItem
3 Largeloops fitted with connectors ateach end
4 Corner posts
4 Baseextensions
4 Poststabilisers
1 Centralpillar
1 Switch unit
1 Shortco-axpatch cablefitted with BNCconnectors
3 Loop transducers
5 Tiewraps
8 1¾ x8 wood screws
8 1”x8 wood screws
1 5mBNC-BNClead
3 2mBNC-BNClead fitted with ferriteabsorbers
1 10dBin-lineBNCattenuator

LAPLACEINSTRUMENTSLTD RF300 USER GUIDE
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Assembly
1. Establish an appropriatearea to erecttheRF300. This needs to beaclear area at
least4msquare with aflatfloorand aceilingheightofatleast3m.
2. In thecentre ofthis area, stand thecentralpillar and fit thebaseextensions as shown
in fig2.
Figure2.
Baseassembly.
Setcentre andbase
extensions
Figure2.
Baseassembly.
Setcentre andbase
extensions
3.Attach corner poststabilisers with 2 shortbrass screws as shown in fig3aand then
slotthecorner posts into thesquare holeattheend ofeach base. Secure each with the
longbrass wood screws as shown in fig3b.
Figure3a
Screwpost
stabilisers to
post bases
Figure3a
Screwpost
stabilisers to
post bases
Figure3b
Securepoststo
baseextensions
Figure3b
Securepoststo
baseextensions

LAPLACEINSTRUMENTSLTD RF300 USER GUIDE
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Figure4
Loopassembly
Figure4
Loopassembly
4. Prepare the3 loops. Theconfiguration oftheseloops is as shown in fig4 and fig5.
Theconnectors on each end oftheloop are mated with thesockets either sideofeach
loop transducer. Theretainingringon each connectorneeds to bescrewed firmlyto the
socketbuttakecare. Theserings will bind and bedifficult to turn unless theloop is
aligned properly. Force is notnecessary, simplejiggletheloop into alignmentand the
ringwill turn easily.
Screwloops connectorsinto
transducersockets. Do not
force,adjustalignmenttoease
tightening
BNCoutletforcable toselector
unit
Figure5
Loop transducerconnection
Screwloops connectorsinto
transducersockets. Do not
force,adjustalignmenttoease
tightening
BNCoutletforcable toselector
unit
Figure5
Loop transducerconnection

LAPLACEINSTRUMENTSLTD RF300 USER GUIDE
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5. Thefirstloop to mountis thehorizontalloop. To mounttheloops, atleasttwo
peopleare required. Do nottryto do this singlehanded....it will onlyend in tears.
Mounttheloop in therecesses atthetop ofeach corner postwith theloop transducer
closeto (within 5 cm)ofacorner post. See fig6.
Slight‘drooping’oftheloop between theposts has no effecton theperformance ofthe
antenna.
Rest horizontalloop
ontopofposts
Position transducer
closetoonepost
Figure 6
Mountingofhorizontalloop
Rest horizontalloop
ontopofposts
Position transducer
closetoonepost
Figure 6
Mountingofhorizontalloop
6. Thesecond loop is nowfitted. Figs 7, 8, 9 showthedetails.
This loop is fitted insidethefirst(horizontal)loop, orientated so thatit fits in thelower
‘slot’in thecentralpillar (fig9)and is held between the‘ears’on thecorner posts (fig
8). Arrangetheloop so thatthetransducer is within 20 cmofthecentralpillar.
Forthemoment, theloop will sagand generallynothold its shape. This will be
resolved later.

LAPLACEINSTRUMENTSLTD RF300 USER GUIDE
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Installfirstverticalloop.
Noteorientationof
centralpost.Position
transducernearbottom
Figure7
Mounting of second
loop
Installfirstverticalloop.
Noteorientationof
centralpost.Position
transducernearbottom
Figure7
Mounting of second
loop
Figure9
Centralpostconfiguration
Secondloop
Thirdloop
Figure9
Centralpostconfiguration
Secondloop
Thirdloop
Add tywrapas
shown
Figure8
Attachment of loopsto
posts
Add tywrapas
shown
Figure8
Attachment of loopsto
posts
Add tywrapas
shown
Figure8
Attachment of loopsto
posts

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7. Thefinalloop is nowfitted INSIDE theother two. See fig10.
This fits in theupper slotin thecentralpillar, between thecorner post‘ears’and under
theother verticalloop atthetop. Again arrangetheloop so thetransducer is closeto
thecentralpillar.
Adjustloopsto
optimum
configurationand
addtywrapat peak
Figure10
Mountingofthirdloop
Adjustloopsto
optimum
configurationand
addtywrapat peak
Figure10
Mountingofthirdloop

LAPLACEINSTRUMENTSLTD RF300 USER GUIDE
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8. Theloops can nowbeadjusted forbestshapeand position. Generallythevertical
loops will tend to saginto thelower halfoftheantenna. Theseare held up in position
byusingthetiewraps as shown in fig8 on each corner postto takesomeon theweight
oftheloop. Thetop oftheverticalloops can beadjusted forbestshapeand thetwo
loops fastened together with thefifth tiewrap. With care, thetiewraps can beadjusted
to produce reasonablecircles foreach loop.
Notethattheexactshapeis notcritical. Deviation fromperfectcircles is inevitablebut
this has no significanteffecton antennaperformance. EN55015 states in section 7.2
thateven theposition oftheUUT in theantennais notcritical.
9. Within theloop, constructawooden stand ortableto suit theproducts to betested.
This is notincluded with theRF300 becauseit needs to bematched to individual
customers requirements. Thestand should hold theproductroughlycentralwithin the
loop.
10. Connecttheloop transducers to theswitch unit as shown in fig11. The3
transducer cables are identified byhavingthick RFabsorber filters alongtheirlength.
Fit thecables so thatthesefilters are nearestto theswitch unit.
Theswitch unit is intended forfloormounting, ormaybemounted on asuitabletable
ifpreferred. Theshortco-axcableacts as apatch cableto switch each input, oneata
time, to theoutput.
Theoutputfromtheswitch unit is connected directto theanalyser orreceiver.

LAPLACEINSTRUMENTSLTD RF300 USER GUIDE
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Figure11
Connectionsto
selectorunit
Toanalyser
Horiz
(X)
Vert
(Y) Vert
(Z)
Looptransducers
Ferriteabsorbersare
at thisendof cables
Select loop
using link cable
Figure11
Connectionsto
selectorunit
Toanalyser
Horiz
(X)
Vert
(Y) Vert
(Z)
Looptransducers
Ferriteabsorbersare
at thisendof cables
Select loop
using link cable

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Calibrationloop
TheRF300Ccalibration loop is manufactured to complywith CISPR16.
Full details oftheuseofthis loop are provided in this standard.

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Calibrationdata
See appendix A
Thecalibration dataforeach loop is virtuallyidentical. Thefollowingdetails therefore
applyto all three axes, although full dataforeach axis is given in theappendix.
Forreference, the‘ideal’curveis shown in graph 1. This is taken directlyfrom
EN55016, annexC, Figure C8.
TheantennafactordatafortheRF300 are also given.
This ‘antennafactor’ correction dataeffectivelyconverts theoutputfromtheRF300
(measured in dBuV) directlyto dBuA.
Thedatacan beused with anyanalyser orreceiver capableofEMCmeasurements.
Theestimated measurementuncertaintyis 3dB.
Foradetailed explanation ofthecalibration oftheRF300 and discussion ofchanges to
CISPR15 (EN55015)and CISPR16, see appendixB
IfusingtheSA1002 orSA3000 analyser:
TheRF300 is listed under thenormal Inputs menu. Justselectthis device and the
software automaticallyapplies theappropriatecorrection factors so thatthetrace reads
correctlyin dBuAand can becompared directlywith theEN55015 limits.
Further details are given overleaf.

LAPLACEINSTRUMENTSLTD RF300 USER GUIDE
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Operation
Details ofthemeasurements and limits are given in EN55015, section 4.4. Acopyof
this should beconsulted ifperformingcompliance tests.
TheUUT should bemounted on awooden frameortablein thecentre oftheantenna.
Theposition is notcritical.
Connectingcables to theEUT should leavethevolumeenclosed bytheloops in such a
wayas to bekeptawayfromtheloops to avoid capacitivecoupling. See FigC6 in
CISPR16.
Each axis (loop)should bemeasured in turn. Each should meettherequirements ofthe
standard. Theloops are individuallyselected byconnectingtheshortpatch lead to the
appropriateinputsocketas shown in fig11.
MeasurementwiththeSA1002 orSA3000 and EMCEngineer Windows software.
1. Selectthe RF300 itemunder theinputmenu. Theverticalscalewill indicateunits
ofdBuA. (Ifthis itemis notavailable, you need alater version ofthesoftware.
Contactyoursupplier)
2 Under the limits menu, selectthe EN55015 ......... 2mloopantenna limit line.
3. Connecttheswitch unit to theanalyser input.
4. With theUUT switched off, check thebackground signallevel. Atfrequencies
below1MHz, thebackground can beverystrong. Ifstrongsignals do exist, check that
theanalyser is notin compression bychangingtheinputattenuatorsettingon the
analyser and comparingscans. Apartfromthebaseline, thetraces should overlay. If
this happens then it is OK to usetheanalyser with thatattenuatorsetting. Ifnot,
increasetheattenuation and tryagain.
5. Ifthebackground is strong, it is advisableto either find a‘quieter’ location orscreen
theroom.
6. Switch theUUT on. Check thelevels ofsignalover thebackground levels usingthe
techniques used forconventionalradiated testingas described in theuser guide.
Thelevels displayed are fullycompensated fortheRF300 characteristics and can be
compared directlywith thelimit lines.
7. ALWAYScheck forcompression (overload)when takingmeasurements. The
amplitudeofthereadingon thescreen cannotbeused directlyas aguidefor
compression becausethereadings havebeen adjusted fortheRF300 characteristics.
Ifit is suspected thatthesignals are too strongeven with theattenuatorswitched in,
install the10dBattenuatorin theinputlead to theswitch unit. This additional

LAPLACEINSTRUMENTSLTD RF300 USER GUIDE
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attenuatorcan beautomaticallycompensated forin thesoftware byadjustingthepre-
amp settings on thescreen.
8. Ifthebackground and theproductis ‘quiet’, and especiallyatfrequencies above
20MHz, use0dBattenuation.

LAPLACEINSTRUMENTSLTD RF300 USER GUIDE
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APPENDIXA
CALIBRATIONDATA
1. CISPR16 ‘ideal’plot
2. Calibration data.
3. RF300 actualsensitivityplots and RF300 correction
plot(AntennaFactor)

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EN55015 Standardantenna response
CISPR16LLA(2mdiameter)
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
1100.01 0.1 1 10 100
Freq(MHz)
Validationfactor(dBohms)

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Calibrationdata
Calibrationsources
Laplace Instruments Ltd, RF300Ccalibration loop to CISPR16, annexC5.
Laplace Instruments Ltd, SA1002 Spectrumanalyser s/n 1010
Calibration:Laplace:16.03.2009
MarconiTF2016Asignalgenerator, s/n 118032/004
Calibration:Checked againstMarconiTF2019A, s/n 118449-169
AdvantestR4131Dcalibrated bySchaffner, 20.11.02 and checked against
MarconiTF2019A, s/n 118449-169
MarconiTF2019A, serialnumber 118449-169, calibrated byIndustrial
Calibration Ltd, 22.06.07
Freq.
Calibration
Freq. EN
MHz 9072A 9072B 9072C MHz Average Max Min Range Freq 55015 Freq A.F
0.01 37.68 37.68 36.68 0.01 37.35 37.68 36.68 1.00 0.01 46 0.01 8.65
0.04 48.68 47.68 48.68 0.04 48.35 48.68 47.68 1.00 0.04 46.5 0.04 -1.85
0.10 55.68 55.68 55.68 0.10 55.68 55.68 55.68 0.00 0.10 46.5 0.10 -9.18
0.20 62.68 62.68 62.68 0.20 62.68 62.68 62.68 0.00 0.20 46.5 0.20 -16.18
0.50 69.68 69.68 69.68 0.50 69.68 69.68 69.68 0.00 0.50 46 0.50 -23.68
1.00 71.68 71.68 71.68 1.00 71.68 71.68 71.68 0.00 1.00 45.5 1.00 -26.18
2.50 71.68 71.68 71.68 2.50 71.68 71.68 71.68 0.00 2.50 44 2.50 -27.68
5.00 67.68 67.68 67.68 5.00 67.68 67.68 67.68 0.00 5.00 41 5.00 -26.68
10.00 62.68 62.68 62.68 10.00 62.68 62.68 62.68 0.00 10.00 37.5 10.00 -25.18
15.00 60.68 59.68 59.68 15.00 60.01 60.68 59.68 1.00 15.00 35 15.00 -25.01
20.00 55.68 55.68 55.68 20.00 55.68 55.68 55.68 0.00 20.00 32.5 20.00 -23.18
25.00 55.68 55.68 55.68 25.00 55.68 55.68 55.68 0.00 25.00 30.5 25.00 -25.18
30.00 52.68 52.68 53.68 30.00 53.01 53.68 52.68 1.00 30.00 28 30.00 -25.01

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Actualoutputplots fortheloops
Output
OutputRF300s/n9072
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0 0 1 10 100
Frequency(MHz)
Output (dBuV)
Antennafactor
Antennafactor s/n9072
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
0.01 0.10 1.00 10.00 100.00
Frequency(MHz)
Antennafactor (dB)

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Appendix B
TechnicalReport Laplace Instruments Ltd January2010
RF300 Largeloop antenna, an analysis ofchanges to thestandards
ThesechangesareduetotheamendmentstoCISPR15 andCISPR16
Thelatestversionsarenow…..
CISPR15:2006 + A2:2009 and
CISPR16-1-4:2007 + A1:2008
ThekeychangesrelatedtoLLAsare:
1. SectionsrelatedtotheconstructionandspecificationofLLAsaremovedfromCISPR15 to
CISPR16. Note that inthenewCISPR15, therequirementsfor theLLAarereferredtoSection
4.7.1inthenewCISPR16, whichdoesnotexist!Itseemsthat thereference shouldbetoSection
4.6.1. Thesameerror isrepeatedinCISPR16 whichagainrefersinAnnexCtothenon-existent
section4.7.
2. Thedefinitionofthecalibrationdata hasbeenre-defined.
Note 1.
ThedetailsoftheLLAweregiveninAnnexBofCISPR15. ThesearenowtransferredtoAnnexCof
CISPR16. Mostofthecontenthasremainedthesame, butTable 1summarisesthechanges.
Previous
CISPR15 New CISPR16 Notes Significantchanges
AnnexB AnnexC Description, constructionand
validationofLAS Bothannexescombinedintoone.
AnnexC
ClauseB1 ClauseC1 Introduction Loop antennanamedLAS(Loop
AntennaSystem
ClauseB2 ClauseC2 ConstructionofLAS Additional requirementsfor cables
andconnectors.
ClauseC3 Constructionofloop Informationpreviouslyincludedwith
diagramsnowincludedintext. Note
lowRfor inner conductor isrequired.
ClauseB3 ----- Positioning oftheLAS Requirementfor minimumdistance to
nearbyobjects,…… notincludedin
newCISPR16
ClauseB4 ClauseC4 Validation Newdefinitionfor validationfactor.
(see below).
FigureB1 FigureC1 General view None
FigureB2 FigureC2 Positionofslits None
FigureC3 Constructionofslits None
FigureC5 Metal boxfor currentprobe None
FigureB3 FigureC4 Example slit construction None
FigureB4 FigureC8 Validationfactor ConvertedfromdBuAtodB( ). See
below.
FigureC7 Positionsofcalibrationloop None
FigureC9 Constructionofcalibration
loop None
FigureC1 FigureC11 Sensitivityvsdiameter None
FigureC2 FigureC10 Conversionfactorsbetween
loop currentandmagnetic
fieldstrengthat adistance.
Factorsfor magnetic fieldwith
electric fieldadded. Factorsfor
distance 30mremoved.