What Is Flicker — IEC 61000-3-3?
Flicker test is an experiment in which the fluctuations in the mains voltage caused by the changes in the current drawn by the device and the visual flicker effect this creates on the lighting are measured. Short-term (Pst) and long-term (Plt) vibration intensity is calculated.
Purpose of Flicker — IEC 61000-3-3
The purpose is to verify that device switching on and off or load changes do not create voltage fluctuations that would disturb other users on the network.
Which Products Is Flicker — IEC 61000-3-3 Applied To?
- Motorized white goods (washing machine, dishwasher)
- Devices with heaters and thermostats
- Kaynak makineleri
- Compressor devices
- Electric vehicle chargers
In Which Sectors Is Flicker — IEC 61000-3-3 Used?
Standards Related to Flicker — IEC 61000-3-3
- IEC 61000-3-3voltage fluctuation and flicker test
Flicker — IEC 61000-3-3 Conditions
- Evaluation quantities
- Pst (short term), Plt (long term), dmax, dc and d(t)
- Reference grid impedance
- Reference impedance defined in the standard is used
- Measurement duration
- 10 minutes for Pst, 2 hours for Plt (12 Pst periods)
- Duty cycle
- The most negative operating program of the device
Equipment for Flicker — IEC 61000-3-3
- Flicker metre (IEC 61000-4-15 uyumlu)
- Reference impedance network
- Programmable AC power supply
- Data logging system
Sample Requirements for Flicker — IEC 61000-3-3
- The sample should be run on the most unfavorable operating schedule
- Duty cycle time must be documented
- Rated current and power should be recorded
- The cycle must be repeatable
Duration of Flicker — IEC 61000-3-3
At least 2 hours for Plt measurement; It may take longer depending on the operating cycle.
Flicker — IEC 61000-3-3 Procedure
- 1The measurement setup is established with reference impedance.
- 2The sample is run on the most unfavorable operating schedule.
- 3Voltage changes are recorded with a flicker meter.
- 4Pst values are calculated in 10-minute periods.
- 5Plt value is calculated in a 2-hour window.
- 6dmax and dc values are compared to the limits.
Flicker — IEC 61000-3-3 Acceptance Criteria
The acceptance criteria are the limits given in IEC 61000-3-3: The defined maximum values for Pst, Plt, dmax and dc must not be exceeded.
Evaluation of Results
Limit exceeding is usually caused by the sudden activation of high current loads. Soft start solutions are taken into account in the evaluation.
Flicker — IEC 61000-3-3 Report
- Standard applied
- Study program and duration
- Referans empedans
- Pst, Plt, dmax and dc values
- border comparison
Accreditation
EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.
Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Regulations
- EMC 2014/30/EU
EMC / EMI Testleri — What Does This Testing Field Cover?
The section below describes the field that the Flicker test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
EMC testing answers a question with two sides: does the device emit an unacceptable level of electromagnetic interference into its surroundings (emission), and does it withstand the interference coming from them (immunity)? The two sides are measured with separate tests and separate set-ups, and both are required.
The field exists because of a simple physical fact: every conductor carrying current behaves like an antenna. A switched-mode power supply, a motor drive or the clock signal of a microcontroller radiates radio frequency energy even though it was never designed to. The same conductor also works in reverse: an external field induces a voltage across it. In an environment crowded with devices, this mutual effect means devices disturbing one another.
On the emission side, conducted and radiated emission are measured separately. Conducted emission is the interference the device imposes on its mains and communication cables and dominates at lower frequencies. Radiated emission is the field the device releases into the air and comes to the fore at higher frequencies. The two are measured in different set-ups, and the limits vary by product group.
On the immunity side, real-world sources of interference are simulated: electrostatic discharge (human touch), radiated radio frequency fields (a nearby transmitter), electrical fast transients (switching), surges (lightning and mains events), conducted radio frequency, power-frequency magnetic fields, voltage dips and short interruptions.
The standard to be applied depends on WHERE the product is used, and that choice determines the entire outcome. Residential and industrial environments carry different sets of limits; in vehicles the UNECE R10 regime applies rather than CE; for medical devices IEC 60601-1-2 brings additional requirements; and for products containing a radio, radio legislation comes into play and harmonised ETSI standards are used.
In immunity testing the acceptance criterion is a PERFORMANCE CRITERION class, not a binary pass/fail. A device continuing to function without interruption during the test, being temporarily affected and recovering by itself, or recovering only through user intervention are different classes. Which class is acceptable is defined in the product standard; the tolerance for a device carrying a safety function differs from that of a consumer device.
The most common shortcoming of an EMC file is that it covers only one side. A file carrying an emission report alone is not complete in terms of the EMC directive. The second common gap is a test set-up that does not represent actual use: if the device is measured on a bare bench with cables different from its real ones, the result does not carry over to the field.
Method groups in this field
Conducted emission
Interference imposed on the cable through mains and communication ports, measured via an artificial mains network (LISN).
Radiated emission
The field released into the air by the device, measured at a defined distance in an anechoic or semi-anechoic chamber.
Harmonics and flicker
The harmonic content of the current drawn from the mains and voltage fluctuation; the side that affects mains quality.
Electrostatic discharge
Contact and air discharge together with indirect discharge; the most frequently applied immunity test.
Radiated and conducted RF immunity
The device is exposed to a defined field strength and to an RF signal injected into the cable.
Mains-borne events
Electrical fast transients, surges, voltage dips and short interruptions.
Commonly confused in this field
- An emission report alone does not complete an EMC file; immunity must be demonstrated as well.
- An FCC report is not accepted in a CE file; the limits, measurement distances and set-ups are different.
- The EMC Directive does not apply to vehicles; the UNECE R10 regime does. Specifications requiring both together should be reviewed.
- The warning that a Class A device may cause interference in a residential environment is mandatory in the manual; market surveillance checks that this warning is present.
- The test set-up is part of the report. If cable type, length or routing changes, the result changes; measurement must be made in the series-production configuration.
- CISPR 22 and CISPR 13 have been withdrawn; their current counterparts are CISPR 32 and CISPR 35.
Which decisions these results support
- CE declaration under the EMC Directive
- The EMC part of radio equipment conformity
- A UNECE R10 file for a vehicle component
- Resolving field interference complaints and correcting the design
- Assessing the EMC impact of a board or wiring-harness change
Related Tests
Frequently Asked Questions About Flicker — IEC 61000-3-3
According to which standard is Flicker made?
Flicker is executed in scope IEC 61000-3-3, IEC 61000-3-11 and IEC 61000-4-15. The limit values and acceptance criteria to be applied are defined in the product standard; The version valid for your product is confirmed in writing at the offer stage.
Which products does Flicker apply to?
Mainly applied to Motorized white goods (washing machine, dishwasher), Devices with heaters and thermostats, Kaynak makineleri, Compressor devices and Electric vehicle chargers. Whether your product is included in the scope is determined by examining its technical specifications and intended use.
Under what conditions is Flicker done?
The determining parameters are: Evaluation quantities — Pst (short term), Plt (long term), dmax, dc and d(t), Reference grid impedance — Reference impedance defined in the standard is used and Measurement duration — 10 minutes for Pst, 2 hours for Plt (12 Pst periods). The full terms are in the "Test Conditions" section on the page and vary depending on the product standard.
What kind of sample is needed for Flicker?
The sample should be run on the most unfavorable operating schedule, Duty cycle time must be documented and Rated current and power should be recorded. The number of samples is determined according to the product standard and the scope to be reported.
How long does Flicker take?
At least 2 hours for Plt measurement; It may take longer depending on the operating cycle. This duration belongs to the experiment itself; sample preparation, queuing and reporting are also evaluated. A realistic schedule for your product is given in the offer.
What is the Flicker result called "appropriate"?
The acceptance criteria are the limits given in IEC 61000-3-3: The defined maximum values for Pst, Plt, dmax and dc must not be exceeded.