Surge testing, also known as transient voltage testing or lightning impulse testing, which use to simulate the lightning or other transient voltage impulses that the electrical equipment may experience during normal operation. The purpose of surge testing is to evaluate electrical equipment's tolerance to such impulses.
Surge testing is one of the important means to ensure the stable operation of electronic equipment under extreme electromagnetic interference. By selecting the appropriate test method and equipment, the tolerance ability of the equipment can be accurately evaluated when it is subjected to sudden voltage changes, which provides strong support for the research and development, production and quality control of the equipment. With the continuous development of electronic technology, it will also continue to improve and optimize, to provide a more solid guarantee for the stability and reliability of electrical and electronic equipment.
Surge test generator is based on the international standard IEC/EN 61000-4-5.
The international standard IEC 61000-4-5 defines the waveforms used for surge testing.
A typical surge pulse has a 1.2/50μs voltage waveform and an 8/20μs current waveform, meaning the voltage reaches its peak in 1.2 microseconds and decays to half that value in 50 microseconds while the current reaches its peak in 8 microseconds and decays to half that value in 20 microseconds.
1.2/50μs waveform
1.2/50μs open circuit voltage wave: simulates scenarios such as power system switching transients and lightning transients. This waveform is mainly used for testing the power supply port of communication equipment and signal lines in building wiring.
8/20μs waveform
8/20μs short-circuit current wave: simulating the scenario of induced lightning. The standard waveform for testing the lightning overcurrent tolerance level of equipment is mainly used for testing the power port, signal port, and antenna port of communication equipment.
Circuit diagram
1.2/50μs and 8/20μs combined wave: a waveform output by a surge generator with specific open/short circuit characteristics. When the generator outputs an open circuit, the output waveform is an open circuit voltage wave of 1.2/50us; When the generator outputs a short circuit, the output waveform is an 8/20us short-circuit current wave. This waveform mainly tests the power supply end of communication equipment and the signal line testing of wiring inside buildings.
Another combination wave for surge testing is 10/700μs, 5/320μs for telecommunication/data line testing.
10/700μs waveform
5/320μs waveform
10/700μs voltage wave: When simulating lightning strikes lightning rods, large trees, and nearby buildings, strong magnetic field changes will be generated in the surrounding space. This magnetic field may induce voltage and current on nearby communication lines and other conductors. The wavefront time of induced lightning overvoltage or overcurrent open circuit voltage is 10μs, and the half peak time of open circuit voltage is 700μs. The main testing range of this waveform is signal line testing for external wiring of buildings.
Circuit diagram
Test Methods
1. Use a surge generator and set the required test mode (surge waveform), voltage, phase, coupling, interval, test counts, and other parameters.
2. Open the oscilloscope and connect the differential probe (used to monitor the output waveform voltage, residual voltage, etc. at both ends of the sample).
3. Open the oscilloscope and connect the current probe (used to monitor the output waveform current).
3. Install the EUT (test sample) onto the fixed fixture.
4. Click the start button of the surge generator and conduct testing.
5. Record test data and analyze it.
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