SMA5005 & SMA5015 MANUAL
MANUAL# 5005-2040-000-F UPDATED: 6/1/2021
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European Union EMC Directives: Electromagnetic
Compatibility Guidelines
For Machine Design
This document provides background information about Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and
machine design guidelines for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC).
Introduction
Perhaps no other subject related to the installation of industrial electronic equipment is so
misunderstood as electrical noise. The subject is complex and the theory easily fills a book. This
section provides guidelines that can minimize noise problems.
The majority of installations do not exhibit noise problems. However, these filtering and shielding
guidelines are provided as counter measures. The grounding guidelines provided below are simply
good grounding practices. They should be followed in all installations.
Electrical noise has two characteristics: generation or emission of electromagnetic interference
(EMI) and response or immunity to EMI. The degree to which a device does not emit EMI, and is
immune to EMI is called the device’s Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC).
Equipment, which is to be brought into the European Union legally, requires a specific level of
EMC. Since this applies when the equipment is brought into use, it is of considerable importance
that a drive system, as a component of a machine, be correctly installed.
“EMI Source-Victim Model” shows the commonly used EMI model. The model consists of an EMI
source, a coupling mechanism and an EMI victim. A device such as servo drives and computers,
which contain switching power supplies and microprocessors, are EMI sources. The mechanisms
for the coupling of energy between the source and victim are conduction and radiation. Victim
equipment can be any electromagnetic device that is adversely affected by the EMI coupled to it.
Immunity to EMI is primarily determined by equipment design, but how you wire and ground the
device is also critical to achieving EMI immunity. Therefore, it is important to select equipment that
has been designed and tested for industrial environments. The EMI standards for industrial
equipment include the EN61000-4-X series (IEC 1000-4-X and IEC8O1-X), EN55011 (CISPR11),
ANSI C62 and C63 and
MIL-STD-461. Also, in industrial environments, you should use encoders with differential driver
outputs rather than single ended outputs, and digital inputs/outputs with electrical isolation, such as
those provided with optocouplers.
Figure I.1- EMI Source-Victim Model
CONDUCTED
EMI
SOURCE
EMI
VICTIM
EMI
VICTIM
RADIATE
D