Historic AS/NZS CISPR 15 – LED Lighting EMC Testing (prior 2013).
Before 9th February 2013 lighting products could be tested in accordance with AS/NZS CISPR 15: 2006 for Australia and New Zealand. International equivalent standards such as EN 55015 were also accepted. The EMC framework at that time was the C-Tick scheme, this was later superseded by the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) scheme. AS/NZS CISPR 15: 2013 involved a conducted emissions test on the AC mains and radiated emissions (H-field) test on the enclosure. With both performed across the 9kHz to 30 MHz frequency band. EMC Bayswater found through testing to other standards that this may not have been adequate.
LED lighting caused much EMI than the previous lighting technologies.
As with many standards, AS/NZS CISPR 15 evolved as the European equivalent EN 55015 evolved. This evolution was based around the change in lighting technology used. Many new lighting products, particularly LED lighting devices produced excessive radiated emissions with significant radiated emissions above 30MHz. This was a particular issue for FM radio reception etc. And many products that had passed the older version of AS/NZS CISPR 15 (2006) did not pass the new requirements. It became mandatory for radiated emissions testing above 30MHz (30MHz to 300MHz, E-Field).
Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) enforcement under the RCM scheme.
The ACMA reported LED lighting products can cause interference in the real world. This included polluting the radio spectrum and affecting nearby radio communication devices, remote controls, radio receivers, and other sensitive electronics. Hence the importance of LED Lighting EMC Testing for both mandatory compliance requirements and also for electromagnetic compatibility.
Importing LED lights to Australia.
A device placed on the market or imported for personal use must be compliant with the compliance requirements. The supplier has an obligation to not pollute the RF spectrum and cause interference and meet the standards. Unfortunately, AS/NZS CISPR 15 did not keep pace with LED lighting technology at the time. Thus many lighting devices in Australia compliant with the older standard AS/NZS CISPR 15: 2006 would fail the new standard and may cause interference when installed. The supplier is still responsible for this and must take steps to resolve the matter.
RCM approvals using the current EN 55015 & AS/NZS CISPR 15 standards (after 2013).
The new version of AS/NZS CISPR 15 (2011 and newer) specifies Radiated emissions measurements from 30MHz to 300 MHz. These measurements were mandatory as of 9th February 2013. In the future, it is expected that Radiated emissions testing will be extended from 30MHz to 300MHz to 30MHz to 1000MHz.
How to test Lighting products tested with transformer!
The need to test a light fixture in a typical operating manner can pose several issues when the fixture is not supplied with a transformer. It may end up being used with a large number of completely different transformers other than the one used for the LED Lighting EMC Testing. Often a typical transformer, which passes the AC mains conducted emissions test is used in the test configuration. The problem is that the transformer may have extra EMI filtering that other transformers may not have. We advise that the particular type and make of electronic transformer used for testing are referenced in the supplied documentation. The electronic transformer should be compliant in its own right. A better method of compliance is to ensure that your product on its own without the transformer. Powering the unit directly via a suitable source achieves this.
LED Lighting orientation for EMC testing.
The standard describes the method of orientation during testing, in particular for Radiated emissions. Depending upon the end installation or use will determine how many orientations and what orientations will require testing.
Other Lighting Testing available at EMC Bayswater.
EMC Bayswater is NATA accredited for AS/NZS CISPR 15, IEC CISPR 15 and EN 55015. We also test for the European CE mark immunity standard for lighting (EN 61547). EMC Bayswater has the capability for NATA accredited Lamp Circuit Power (LCP) testing and AC mains power quality measurements. LCP a requirement for the Victorian Energy Upgrades program previously known as the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target (VEET) scheme in Victoria (VIC) or the Energy Savings Scheme (ESS / IPART) in New South Wales (NSW) for lighting equipment. Click here for more details about Accredited Lamp Circuit Power (LCP) testing.
EMC Bayswater is the first laboratory in Australia to offer a complete testing service to EN 62493:2010. EN 62493:2010 is the “Assessment of Lighting Equipment Related to Human Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields”. This involves testing lighting products to the radiated emissions testing with a special “Van Der Hoofden” test head. Please click here for a photo of the EN 62493:2010 testing test head.
