How to Compromise between Electrical Safety and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)?

In our society today, the rapid development of digital systems using low current links (bus) has given rise to the critical problem formed by cohabitation of high and low currents.

The real problem is how to reconcile electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility. The following issues thus arise for which solutions must be found:

·        How to treat the problem of exposed conductive parts,

·        Which earthing system should be chosen,

·        Which shields, mitigating planes, Faraday cages should be chosen and for what purpose,

·        How to organise routing of high and low current circuits, and many others.

Although written with electrical engineers in mind, this Cahier Technique will certainly also be of interest to low current specialists since it mainly deals with low frequency disturbances of < 1 MHz.

Contents

1 Introduction

1.1 EMC: a discipline covering many professions

1.2 Review of disturbances and coupling mechanisms

1.3 Distinction between high and low currents

2 Earth and exposed conductive parts

2.1 Earth electrode

2.2 Equipotential bonding system

2.3 Mesh monting between protective ESB and other ESB

3 EMC in non-communicating electronic devices

3.1 Self-induced disturbances

3.2 Exposure to radiated fields

3.3 Conducted disturbances

4 EMC in communicating electronic devices

 4.1 Example of a disturbance caused by common impedance

4.2 Example of a disturbance caused by radiation

5 Conclusion

Appendix: bibliography 

You can download the technical paper from here