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Status : Current, Superseded   Published : September 2014 Replaced By : BS EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019

The standard is a technical revision of BS EN 61000-3-2: 2006. The Standard deals with the limitation of harmonic currents injected into the public low-voltage mains electricity supply system by electrical and electronic equipment.

The standard covers a large variety of electrical and electronic equipment having an input current up to and including 16 A per phase, intended for use by both the general public and professionals.

CONTENTS
Introduction
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 General
5 Classification of equipment
6 General requirements
6.1 Control methods
6.2 Harmonic current measurement
6.3 Equipment in a rack or case
7 Harmonic current limits
Annexes
Bibliography

Replaces BS EN 61000-3-2:2014

What is this standard about?

It deals with limiting the harmonic currents injected into the public low-voltage mains electricity supply system by electrical and electronic equipment. 

Who is this standard for?

• EMC test laboratories
• Electrical testing laboratories
• Manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment which can be operated from the public mains supply, particularly those manufacturers producing categories of equipment present in the market in large volumes (e.g. IT Equipment, lighting equipment)
• Inspectors and quality assessors

Why should you use this standard?

A public low-voltage mains distribution network exists if more than one independent consumer can draw power from it. It’s important to protect such networks from harmonic currents as these can cause overheating of electrical distribution system wiring, transformer overheating and shortened transformer service life.

Therefore this standard covers a large variety of electrical and electronic equipment having an input current up to and including 16A per phase and intended for use by both the general public and professionals. The standard specifies limits for harmonic components of the input current which can be produced by equipment tested under specified conditions. The tests according to this document are type tests. 

For systems with nominal voltages less than but not equal to 220 V (line-to-neutral), the limits have not yet been considered.

NOTE: Arc welding equipment which is not professional equipment, with a rated input current up to and including 16 A per phase, is included in this document. Arc welding equipment intended for professional use, as specified in IEC 60974-1, is excluded from this document and can be subject to installation restrictions as indicated in IEC 61000-3-12.

What’s changed since the last update?

This is a technical revision of BS EN 61000-3-2:2014 and includes the following significant technical changes:

1. An update of the emission limits for lighting equipment with a rated power ≤ 25 W to take into account new types of lighting equipment
2. The addition of a threshold of 5 W under which no emission limits apply to all lighting equipment
3. The modification of the requirements applying to the dimmers when operating non-incandescent lamps
4. The addition of test conditions for digital load side transmission control devices
5. The removal of the use of reference lamps and reference ballasts for the tests of lighting equipment
6. The simplification and clarification of the terminology used for lighting equipment
7. The classification of professional luminaires for stage lighting and studios under Class A
8. A clarification about the classification of emergency lighting equipment
9. A clarification for lighting equipment including one control module with an active input power ≤ 2 W
10. An update of the test conditions for television receivers
11. An update of the test conditions for induction hobs, taking also into account the other types of cooking appliances
12. For consistency with IEC 61000-3-12, a change of the scope of IEC 61000-3-2 from equipment with an input current ≤ 16 A to equipment with a rated input current ≤ 16 A

What is BS EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019+A1:2021 about?

This international standard sets limits on the harmonic current injected into the public low-voltage mains electricity supply system by electrical and electronic equipment. BS EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019+A1 is an amendment that updates the specification to ensure it stays relevant as electronic products evolve to meet the demands of a smart energy environment.

Who is BS EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019+A1 for?

• EMC test laboratories
• Electrical testing laboratories and product testers
• Manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment which can be operated from the public mains supply, particularly those manufacturers producing categories of equipment present in the market in large volumes (e.g. IT Equipment, lighting equipment)
• Inspectors and quality assessors
• Regulatory and certification bodies

Why should you use BS EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019+A1?

A public low-voltage mains distribution network exists if more than one independent consumer can draw power from it. It’s important to protect such networks from harmonic currents as these can cause overheating of electrical distribution system wiring, transformer overheating and shortened transformer service life.

Therefore this standard covers a large variety of electrical and electronic equipment having an input current up to and including 16A per phase and intended for use by both the general public and professionals.

It specifies limits for harmonic components of the input current which can be produced by equipment tested under specified conditions. The tests according to this document are type tests.

NOTE: Arc welding equipment which is not professional equipment, with a rated input current up to and including 16 A per phase, is included in this document. Arc welding equipment intended for professional use, as specified in IEC 60974-1, is excluded from this document and can be subject to installation restrictions as indicated in IEC 61000-3-12.

BS EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019+A1 contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 9 on building resilient infrastructure because helps underpin the resilience of power networks.

What’s new about BS EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019+A1:2021?

This is an amendment to BS EN 61000-3-2:2019 . It introduces many technical and editorial changes that update the standard, of which the following are the most significant:

• Extension and improvement of definitions related to lighting equipment
• Clarification of the use of the repeatability value
• Modification of Table 2 to simplify the standard and reflect modern lighting equipment
• Classification of appliances whose primary function is to present lighting devices for exhibition purposes as Class A equipment
• Consideration of multifunction equipment
• Revision of clause 6.2 on control methods
• Addition of a new clause explaining how to handle alternative methods
• Modification of test conditions for luminaires and lighting control gear
• Defining more precise test conditions for microwave ovens
• Addition of test conditions for equipment with external power supplies
• Addition of a new annex with a clarification for the calculation of the POHC parameter

This part of IEC 61000 deals with the limitation of harmonic currents injected into the public
supply system.
It specifies limits of harmonic components of the input current which may be produced by
equipment tested under specified conditions.
Harmonic components are measured according to Annexes A and B.
This part of IEC 61000 is applicable to electrical and electronic equipment having an input
current up to and including 16 A per phase, and intended to be connected to public low-voltage distribution systems.
Arc welding equipment which is not professional equipment, with input current up to and
including 16 A per phase, is included in this standard.
Arc welding equipment intended for professional use, as specified in IEC 60974-1, is excluded
from this standard and may be subject to installation restrictions as indicated in IEC 61000-3-4.
The tests according to this standard are type tests. Test conditions for particular equipment are given in Annex C.
For systems with nominal voltages less than 220 V (line-to-neutral), the limits have not yet
been considered.

This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- a clarification of the repeatability and reproducibility of measurements;
- a more accurate specification of the general test conditions for information technology equipment;
- the addition of optional test conditions for information technology equipment with external power supplies or battery chargers;
- the addition of a simplified test method for equipment that undergoes minor changes or updates;
- an update of the test conditions for washing machines;
- a clarification of the requirements for Class C equipment with active input power ≤ 25 W;
- an update of the test conditions for audio amplifiers;
- a clarification of the test conditions for lamps;
- an update of the test conditions for vacuum cleaners;
- the addition of test conditions for high pressure cleaners;
- an update of the test conditions for arc welding equipment;
- the reclassification of refrigerators and freezers with variable-speed drives into Class D;
- and the addition of test conditions for refrigerators and freezers.

This part of IEC 61000 deals with the limitation of harmonic currents injected into the public supply system.

It specifies limits of harmonic components of the input current which may be produced by equipment tested under specified conditions.

Harmonic components are measured according to Annexes A and B.

This part of IEC 61000 is applicable to electrical and electronic equipment having an input current up to and including 16 A per phase, and intended to be connected to public low-voltage distribution systems.

Arc welding equipment which is not professional equipment, with input current up to and including 16 A per phase, is included in this standard.

Arc welding equipment intended for professional use, as specified in IEC 60974-1, is excluded from this standard and may be subject to installation restrictions as indicated in IEC 61000-3-4 or IEC 61000-3-12.

The tests according to this standard are type tests. Test conditions for particular equipment are given in Annex C.

For systems with nominal voltages less than 220 V (line-to-neutral), the limits have not yet been considered.

NOTE The words apparatus, appliance, device and equipment are used throughout this standard. They have the same meaning for the purpose of this standard.