Voltech PM3000ACE User manual

IEC61000-3
HARMONICS & FLICKER
SOFTWARE FOR THE
PM3000ACE
USER MANUAL
VPN: 98-025 Issue: 7
August 2006

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development. Hence product specification and the information given in this
manual are subject to change without notice.
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and/or other countries.

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any difficulty during the installation or use of this software, please do not
hesitate to contact your supplier or one of the Voltech main offices listed
below and ask for assistance.
Voltech Instruments Ltd.
148 Sixth Street
Harwell International Business Centre
Harwell, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0RA
UK
Tel. [phone]
Fax. [phone]
[email protected]
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Fax: + 1 239 437 3841
[email protected]

Table of Contents
1. Introduction.................................................................. 1
1.1. Standards Implemented By This Software ........................................ 1
1.2. How These Standards are Referenced ............................................... 4
1.3. General ............................................................................................... 5
2. What is IEC61000-3?................................................... 6
2.1. Background ........................................................................................ 6
2.2. Test Equipment Required................................................................... 9
2.3. Equipment Classification - 2001 Standard ...................................... 13
2.4. Limits ............................................................................................... 16
3. Installation.................................................................. 18
3.1. PC Requirements.............................................................................. 18
3.2. IEEE 488 Interface Cards supported................................................ 19
3.3. Power Analyzers Supported............................................................. 19
3.4. Installing the Software To Your PC................................................. 20
3.5. Registering the Software.................................................................. 21
3.6. Transferring the Software to a Different PC.................................... 22
3.7. Setting up your IEEE488 interface card .......................................... 23
4. Getting Started........................................................... 26
4.1. Starting the Software........................................................................ 26
4.2. Setting Up the Test Equipment ........................................................ 26
4.3. Set-up Power Analyzer and AC Source Communications .............. 27
4.4. Setup AC Source.............................................................................. 30
4.5. Power Analyzer Shunt and Scaling.................................................. 33
4.6. Entering a New Product ................................................................... 34
4.7. Configuring a Fluctuating Harmonics Test...................................... 37
4.8. Performing a Harmonics Test .......................................................... 42
4.9. Changing Test Details...................................................................... 44
4.10. Viewing Results ............................................................................. 45
4.11. Viewing Fluctuating Harmonics Results ....................................... 46
4.12. Performing a Repeatability Test .................................................... 55
4.13. Performing a Flicker Test .............................................................. 57
4.14. Performing a Manual Switching Test ............................................ 64

4.15. Results Printing ..............................................................................66
4.16. Results Export ................................................................................68
4.17. Exiting from the IEC1000-3 Software ...........................................68
5. On-Line Help ............................................................. 69
6. Reference Information.............................................. 73
6.1. How the Analyser Performs a 2001 Edition Harmonics Test..........73
6.2. Glossary of Terms ............................................................................76
6.3. Equipment without limits .................................................................79
6.4. Control Methods Not Allowed.........................................................79
6.5. IEC61000-3-2 2001 harmonics test duration ...................................81
6.6. Harmonic Test Conditions IEC61000-3-2 2001 ..............................82
6.7. Flicker Test Conditions IEC61000-3-3 2001..................................88

EN61000-3 Software for Windows User Manual Introduction
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1. INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Voltech IEC61000-3 Harmonics and Flicker Software.
Voltech has been leading the field in providing IEC harmonics
measurement solutions for over 10 years now, and with this edition of the
software (details below) Voltech continues to provide a complete
measurement solution that is accurate, easy to use and in complete
accordance with the requirements of the relevant standards.
This manual is intended to accompany version 4 of the software, which was
released in May 2006. If you have an earlier version of the software, please
contact your Voltech supplier for an upgrade. The software version is
displayed in the software in the 'About' section of the 'Help' menu.
1.1. STANDARDS IMPLEMENTED BY THIS SOFTWARE
Together with the Voltech PM3000ACE, this software tests to the
standards listed below. As these standards are under constant review, it is
the responsibility of the user to ensure that the correct version of a standard
is being used. This is usually the most recent version of the standard
available. For the most up-to-date guidance and upgrades, please see our
website at www.voltech.com.
At the time of the publication of this manual in September 2006, the IEC
Standard 61000-4-7 (Guide to Harmonics and Inter-harmonics
Measurements) is in a transitional state.
This software product (part number 250-024) is for the Voltech
PM3000ACE power analyzer only and will make harmonic measurements
in accordance to IEC61000-4-7:1993 and to the transitional clause of
IEC61000-4-7 edition 2.1 (2001). The transitional clause will be removed
at the end of 2007, making compulsory the requirement to measure in a

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200ms window and with inter-harmonic grouping which is not possible
with the PM3000ACE. While measurements with this software and the
PM3000ACE are valid in 2006, it is recommended that all future testing be
carried out with the Voltech PM6000 and its associated PC software which
does comply to the full requirements of IEC61000-4-7 edition 2.1.
The standards implemented are:
Harmonics
IEC61000-3-2 2001
Latest date of publication: July 2001
Date of withdrawal of previous standards: January 2004
(This edition of the standard incorporates Amendment 4 [also referred
to as prA14], which radically alters the way in which the harmonic
limits are applied).
IEC61000-4-7 (2001) – Testing and measurement techniques
(The PM3000ACE and this software only comply with the transitional
allowances, which will be withdrawn at the end of 2007).
Flicker
IEC61000-3-3 1995 First Edition
Date of withdrawal of previous standards: January 2001.
(This date of withdrawal makes the previous standards IEC555-3 and
EN60555-3 obsolete).
IEC61000-3-3 1995 Incorporating Amendment No. 1
(This version includes manual switching requirements).

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IEC61000-4-15 2003 Flicker - Functional and Design Specifications
(This standard defines the flickermeter required for IEC61000-3-3 testing.)
IMPORTANT. 61000-4-15 replaced IEC60868 in 2003. PM3000ACE
Firmware v2.19 or greater is REQUIRED for compliance testing.
Standards
The standards discussed here are published by the IEC (www.iec.ch) and
implemented by national bodies such as BSI (www.bsi.org.uk). Copies may
be purchased from them and it is always the users responsibility to ensure
that they are making measurements in accordance with the regulations and
standards in force at the time of test.

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1.2. HOW THESE STANDARDS ARE REFERENCED
IMPORTANT:
Because the limit checking methods of the two versions of the harmonic
part of the standard (IEC61000-3-2) are different, different results will be
obtained and different views of those results are possible.
Throughout the software and this user manual, the following conventions
are used:
IEC61000-3-2 1995 Incorporating Amendment No. 1 is referred to as:
'IEC61000-3-3 1995' or the '1995' version
IEC61000-3-2 Ed. 2:2001 is referred to as:
'IEC61000-3-2 2001' or the '2001' version
(This edition incorporates the working document commonly known as
'prA14'.)

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1.3. GENERAL
The Software runs on a PC, and works with a Voltech PM3000A or
PM3300 Power Analyzer and the programmable ac source of your choice.
The test equipment may be connected to the PC using either an RS232 or
IEEE488 interface.
Not only does the software allow you to quickly set up the tests to be done,
but it then also goes on to control the ac source and Power Analyzer to
make the measurements. It then reads back the measurement data, and
presents the results in easy-to-read tables and graphs, including
comparisons with the specification limits and highlighting the Passes and
Fails.
When the test is finished, all results can be archived to disk, printed or
passed on to another application, for example to be included in a document
produced by a word processor.

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2. WHAT IS IEC61000-3?
The specifications IEC61000-3-2/3 (equivalent to EN61000-3-2/3) and
their now obsolete predecessors IEC60555-2/3 are concerned with low
frequency emissions on the power supply connection of equipment rated at
less than 16 Amps per phase.
The standards specify limits for:
a) The distortion of the current waveform drawn by equipment.
b) The voltage changes that the equipment may impose on the supply line
when connected.
2.1. BACKGROUND
Historically, the need for IEC61000-3 has come about due to the increased
use of electronic circuits in controlling the power taken by products from
the ac supply.
Before the advent of power electronics, most loads connected to the ac
supply lines were resistive (e.g. filament lamps and heaters) or inductive
(e.g. fixed speed ac motors). The currents taken by such loads are
sinusoidal, and do not cause any special problems to the ac supply.
Today almost every product - computers, television and audio equipment,
lamp dimmers, variable speed motor control in portable tools and washing
machines, (the list is almost endless) - uses some form of electronic power
supply capable drawing a highly distorted (non-sinusoidal) current.

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As an example, the simple rectifying circuit seen at the input to many
switch-mode power supply designs presents a highly distorted load, which
draws current only at the peak of the voltage waveform.
Distorted current waveforms are undesirable because they can lead to
several problems in the ac supply. Examples include: reduction of power
factor, causing excessive heat losses in the transmission cables, and
excessive neutral currents in balanced three phase systems; and distortion
of the supply voltage, which may interfere with other equipment using the
same supply.
In the particular case of the switch mode power supply example shown
above, IEC61000-3-2 would impose limits on the amplitude of each
harmonic of the current.
Another subject covered by the IEC61000-3 specifications is fluctuations in
load.
Nowadays, more and more products are incorporating controls such as
timers and thermostats, which can cause frequent changes to the load seen
by the supply. Examples are cooking appliances, heaters air conditioners
and photocopiers.
L
AC
Supply
N
Voltage
Current

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The problem that this may cause can be seen in the situation where several
appliances are connected to the ‘same’ ac source (say within a building)
and one of the appliances is presenting a fluctuating load to the supply.
The ac supply must have a certain amount of source impedance between
the generator and distribution point (i.e. the building), and therefore the
fluctuating current taken by one appliance will produce a fluctuating
voltage drop across this source impedance, resulting in a fluctuating source
voltage being presented to the other appliances connected to the same
distribution point.
Of crucial importance is the effect caused by the changing supply voltage
in the light output of a filament lamp. This output is proportional to the
square of the source voltage, and therefore even small changes of voltage
can cause significant changes in light intensity. The effect on a human
observer of this variation of light output is known as flicker.
IEC61000-3-2 specifies separately the limits for the harmonic amplitudes
of the current taken by a fluctuating load. It also specifies two tests for the
voltage disturbance produced by load currents flowing in a given source
impedance: a maximum voltage deviation test and a flicker test; these
should be applied to all equipment.

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2.2. TEST EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
The following circuits show examples of how to connect the test equipment
when testing products to the IEC61000-3 specifications:
a) Full Compliance Testing
Full compliance testing is required by test laboratories offering
traceable certification to customers that their products meet the
required standard. In this case, all the test equipment used (ac source,
reference impedance and Power Analyzer) has to meet all the
requirements of the IEC61000-3 specification.
Harmonic Current Measurements
Flicker and Voltage Deviation
Measurements
Equipment Required
N
L
Source
Impedance
AC
Source
AC
Source
VA
PC
Power Analyser
Product
Under
Test
Product
Under
Test
Product
Under Test
IEEE488 or RS232
Interface
A
V
AC Source Impedance

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Power Analyzer The Voltech ‘PM3000ACE-002’with
version 2.19 firmware or greater is
recommended for full compliance testing.
Impedance Network The Voltech ‘IEC Reference Impedance
Network’ should be used. It is equipped
with a shorting link to allow you to switch
out the impedance (when measuring the
current harmonics) without rewiring.
AC Source You may use the programmable ac source
of your choice. Ensure that it is fully
compliant with the requirements of
IEC61000-3, and that it has a dynamic
output impedance of less than 20mΩ.
Wiring The wiring must have the effect of adding
less than 10mΩto the impedance network.
Suitable leads are supplied with the
Voltech Reference Impedance Network.
b) Pre-Compliance Testing
Pre-compliance testing requires a test environment that can give a
high degree of confidence that the product meets the required
specification, but without the traceability of full compliance. This
environment is less expensive to create on your own site, and could be
used for the initial testing of new products. As well as giving valuable
feedback to engineering departments during product development, it
will also give confidence that your product should meet the

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requirements of the standard when it is eventually submitted to a fully
compliant test house for certification.
Harmonic Current Measurements Flicker and Voltage Deviation
Measurements
Equipment Required
Power Analyzer Again, you may use the Voltech
‘PM3000ACE-002’ or ‘PM3300-002’
Analyser, though any version of the
PM3000A or PM3300 is suitable for pre-
compliance work.
Impedance Network Not needed, as the PM3000A Analyser
can compute the flicker and voltage
deviations from the measured current and
the theoretical value of the reference
impedance.
N
L
AC
Source
AC
Source
VA
PC Power Analyser
Product
Under
Test
Product
Under
Test
Product
Under
Test
IEEE488 or RS232
Interface
AA
computed
voltage
AC Source

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AC Source A low cost alternative to a programmable
ac source is to use the regular ac supply.
Choose an outlet where the voltage is as
clean and as stable as possible. As the
IEC61000-3 Software includes voltage
source qualification, the quality of your
source is known at all times.
In general, if your product meets the
standard with a good margin when testing
with your ac line voltage, there should be
no problems when you submit it for fully
compliant testing.
Wiring Without the measurement of voltage drop
across the Impedance Network, the
requirement for very low impedance
wiring can be relaxed slightly. Less than
100mΩof wiring impedance will be
adequate.

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2.3. EQUIPMENT CLASSIFICATION - 2001 STANDARD
Equipment classification details for the old '1995' version of the standard
may be found in the 'Help' system provided with the software.
Class A equipment is defined as:
• Balanced three-phase equipment
• Household appliances excluding equipment defined to be Class D
• Tools excluding portable tools
• Dimmers for incandescent lamps
• Audio equipment
• Equipment not specified in one of the three other classes
Class B equipment is defined as:
• Portable tools
Class C equipment is defined as:
• Lighting equipment
Class D equipment is defined as:
Equipment having a specified power less than or equal to 600W, of the
following types:
• Personal computers and personal computer monitors;
• Television receivers
Class D limits are reserved for equipment that, by virtue of:
• Number in use;
• Duration of use;
• Simultaneity of use;
• Power consumption;

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• Harmonic spectrum including phase.
Can be shown to have a pronounced effect on the public electricity supply
system.
Such equipment 'may be reclassified in a future edition of the standard.'