⚡ Immunity to conducted disturbances induced by radio-frequency fields — range 150 kHz to 80 MHz, levels 1 V, 3 V and 10 V

Electronics and EMC PN-EN 61000-4-6

Overview

The standard relates to the immunity requirements of electrical and electronic equipment to conducted disturbances coming from intended radio-frequency transmitters in the range from 150 kHz to 80 MHz. Equipment not having at least one conductor or cable — such as a mains supply, a signal line or an earth connection — which can couple it to the disturbing radio-frequency fields is excluded from the scope of this publication.

The object of the standard is to establish a common reference for evaluating the functional immunity of equipment subjected to conducted disturbances induced by radio-frequency fields. The standard notes that the simulation and measurement of these disturbances are not adequately exact for the quantitative determination of effects, and that the test methods have been structured primarily to ensure adequate repeatability of results in different laboratories. Like part 4-3, it is a basic EMC publication according to IEC Guide 107, and product committees are responsible for deciding whether to apply it and for determining the test levels and performance criteria.

The rationale for the test is that conductors and cables connected to devices can become antennas receiving electromagnetic waves propagating in space, and the effectiveness of such antennas depends, among other things, on the ratio of their length to the wavelength of the radio disturbances. Disturbance currents induced in the conductors flow into the interior of the devices and may cause malfunction. Power ports and interface ports are exposed: input, output, signal and control.

SEARCH KEY CORRECTED (23.09.2026). The key field had the form "PN-EN IEC 61000-4-6", and the "Laboratories" tab searches by the beginning of the notation — as a result it showed 11 entries at 7 laboratories. In the accreditation scopes the same standard appears in two parallel forms, because the IEC element entered the number only with the newer edition: "PN-EN 61000-4-6" — 14 entries at 12 laboratories, "PN-EN IEC 61000-4-6" — 11 at 7; there are 3 laboratories in common, 16 in total (counted by the beginning of the notation, with a number boundary). The key has been set to the more numerous form; we give the other one here explicitly, because matching by the beginning of the notation does not cover both at once. HOW MANY LABORATORIES REMAIN OUTSIDE THE TAB: 4 laboratories use only the form with the IEC element for this standard, so no matching by the beginning of the notation will show them (the tab shows 12). THE COST OF CHOOSING ONE FORM DEPENDS ON THE BREADTH OF THE SUBJECT OF THE ENTRY: for an entry on the whole PN-EN 61000-4 series the key without the IEC element does not lose a single laboratory — all twelve using IEC also have notations without it for other parts of the series; for an entry on a single part from one to six are lost.

Method principle

A radio-frequency disturbance signal is injected into the conductors of the equipment under test, simulating the currents induced in cables by an electromagnetic field. The test levels are given as the open-circuit electromotive force voltage, in r.m.s. value, for the unmodulated signal: level 1 corresponds to 1 V, i.e. 120 dBµV, level 2 — 3 V, i.e. 129.5 dBµV, level 3 — 10 V, i.e. 140 dBµV; level "X" may be any level, above, below or in between the others, and must be specified in the equipment specification. The levels are set at the port of the coupling device on the side of the equipment under test. For the test this signal is amplitude-modulated to a depth of 80 % with a 1 kHz sine wave in order to simulate real threats. The test system consists of a signal generator, a power amplifier and a coupling/decoupling network, whose task is to provide coupling to the exposed line, to stabilise the impedance and to isolate other, non-exposed associated equipment.

Applications

• Compliance testing of electrical and electronic equipment with the electromagnetic compatibility directive
• Assessment of the immunity of power ports and input, output, signal and control lines
• Testing of electricity meters and measuring instruments subject to the MID directive
• Testing of devices with extensive cabling, in which the cables act as receiving antennas
• Complement to the radiated field immunity test below the transition frequency of 80 MHz

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN IEC 61000-4-6:2024-03

Title (PL)

Kompatybilność elektromagnetyczna (EMC) — Część 4-6: Metody badań i pomiarów — Odporność na zaburzenia przewodzone, indukowane przez pola o częstotliwości radiowej

Title (EN)

Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) — Part 4-6: Testing and measurement techniques — Immunity to conducted disturbances, induced by radio-frequency fields

Step-by-step procedure

1. Checking applicability

   Confirm that the equipment under test has at least one conductor or cable — mains supply, signal line or earth connection — that can couple it to the disturbing radio-frequency fields; equipment without such a conductor is outside the scope of the standard.

2. Determining the test level

   Adopt level 1 (1 V, 120 dBµV), level 2 (3 V, 129.5 dBµV), level 3 (10 V, 140 dBµV) or level "X" specified in the equipment specification; the levels relate to the unmodulated signal, in r.m.s. value, as the open-circuit electromotive force.

3. Setting up the test system

   Connect the signal generator, the power amplifier and the coupling/decoupling network so that the level is set at the port of the coupling device on the side of the equipment under test.

4. Selection of exposed ports

   Include in the test the power ports and the interface ports: input, output, signal and control; for cable bundles that cannot be covered by a coupling/decoupling network, use a coupling clamp.

5. Setting the modulation

   Switch on amplitude modulation to a depth of 80 % with a 1 kHz sine wave, simulating real threats from transmitters.

6. Frequency sweep

   Sweep the frequency in the range from 150 kHz to 80 MHz, observing the operation of the equipment under test in each port configuration tested.

7. Decoupling the surroundings

   Make sure that the coupling/decoupling network stabilises the impedance and isolates the associated equipment, so that the disturbance does not spread beyond the circuit under test.

8. Assessment and report

   Assess the operation of the equipment according to the performance criteria from the product requirements. In the report state the test level in volts and in decibels relative to one microvolt, the frequency range and step, the modulation parameters, the ports tested, the coupling method and the result.

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• High-frequency voltages in the signal path and in the coupling networks — risk of RF burns, do not touch conductors under power
• The equipment under test remains supplied from the mains during the test — protection against electric shock at the test bench
• A power amplifier operating into a mismatched load may be damaged — check the matching before switching on the power
• Emission of disturbances beyond the test bench via the exposed cables — carry out the tests in a shielded room if the conditions require it
• Unforeseen reactions of the equipment under test during exposure — securing of moving parts and actuating circuits

Frequently asked questions