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General measures when
using electronic control
systems
So that even complicated regulatory tasks can be presented to the user
in a manner which is clear and simple and ensures high measurement
accuracy, today's electronic control systems make increasing use of
microprocessors. However, the benefits of these systems are countered
by the disadvantage that increased measurement accuracy is accom-
panied by sensitivity to interference. In order to minimise the effect
which interference may have on the regulator, the user also must take
account of a number of points when installing a new regulator.
Assistance here is provided by standard DIN VDE 0843 on the electro-
magnetic compatibility (EMC) of measurement, control and regulatory
devices in industrial process technology. The following table shows, for
example, the maximum interference levels to which, according to the
standard, an appliance may be exposed.
Degree of
severity
Environment
class
Test voltage
Power supply
Test voltage
Signal/control line
As the values given in the table are maximum values, operational values
should remain well below them. However, in practice this is possible only
with difficulty, as even a normal contactor without interference suppres-
sion produces interference pulses of up to 3.0 kV. For this reason we
recommend that the following principles be taken into account during
installation:
Try to eliminate all sources of interference, by carrying out interference
suppression and minimising the interference level. Radio interference
suppression is required under VDE 0875, and confirmed by VDE 0874.
In principle, interference must be eliminated at source. The nearer the
interference suppresser is to the source of interference, the greater its
effect.
Interference spreads through wires or by electromagnetic radiation. It is
usually the former which interferes most seriously with regulation
systems.
Possible interference sources (to name but a few) include:
!
bouncing contacts when switching loads
!
switching off inductive loads (contactors, motors, solenoid valves,
etc.)
!
unsatisfactory routing of wires, too small cross-sections
!
loose contacts
!
rhythmically changing power stages (power converters)
!
power breakers
!
high-frequency generators
a.
1
well-protected
environment
0.5 kV
0.25 kV
2
protected
environment
1.0 kV
0.5 kV
3
typical industrial
environment
2.0 kV
1.0 kV
4
Industrial environ-
ment with very high
interference level
4.0 kV
2.0 kV
