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Re: EMI filtering on power cord


 

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Hi,

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The Common Mode Choke that I was referring to is one that is ¡°wired into¡± the EMI Filter. It has two counter-wound coils on a Ferrite Core (donut), and is wired into the AC Power path generally near the load side. Many EMI Filters have one, two or three of them in series with the Power path of the product. There is generally an X Capacitor between them if there are multiple frequency poles or even the same frequency pole. There generally one or more Y Capacitors in an EMI Filter. The values need to be selected to provide the amount of suppression desired and not exceed Leakage Current requirements. Below is a schematic of the Corcom 6EF1F Filter that I recommended¡­

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The Common mode Choke is 465uH, the X Capacitor (Line-to-Line), is 0.01uF, the Y Capacitors (Line-to-Chassis Ground), are 0.0049uF, the X Capacitor Discharge Resistor is 1.5Meg. The suppression values shown are for a 50 Ohm System. Rarely, have I ever seen a 50 Ohm System except when the Line is connected to a MIL-STD-461 LISN. The Load side is almost certainly much lower than 50 Ohms.

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A real good Filter has Multiple Pole sections. The more Poles, generally the better suppression. The schematic below is from the Corcom Catalog and is a Corcom 20EJT1 Filter. The values are 91uH Common Mode Chokes, 0.1uF X Capacitor and two sets of 0.0056uF Y Capacitors.

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It has two sections and filters very well as it creates a controlled High Impedance in (Line), and out (Load), of the Filter with Inductance (read that as High Series Impedance), on both sides. Each Common Mode Choke makes a high Impedance, each X Capacitor Makes a Low Impedance. The Y Capacitors sink Common Mode currents to a common low Impedance reference (Chassis Ground). Note that this filter includes two sets of Y Capacitors so they are each smaller in value to meet Leakage requirements. ?Notice that we get some decent suppression including some Differential Mode suppression.

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One caution when using High Impedance Filtering is that you need to make sure your Power Impedance presented to the Load is low enough and meets your Middlebrook Criteria Impedance (Impedance at Low Frequencies), to prevent Lop Stability in Switching Regulators.

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Ross

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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Ed Breya via groups.io
Sent: Wednesday, August 02, 2023 2:00 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Test Equipment Design & Construction] EMI filtering on power cord

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The only soldering irons that are relatively emission-free are the old fashioned heaters that just go when plugged in, or flame heated types. Ever since temperature controlled ones emerged, they have become EMI sources. So, you can't entirely escape EMI trouble just by changing irons, unless you take some steps back in the technology, or spend quite a bit of time and money.

The most common irons nowadays I think, are variable temperature-regulated types, typically using a phase-controlled TRIAC circuit for the power part - same as a light dimmer for incandescent lamps. So, you've got lots of EMI crap around all the line frequency harmonics, plus RF from the relatively fast edges of the device switching, with line harmonics surrounding each RF spur. It's really quite a mess. I'd think there would be at least a little filtering included in most products for sale, but just barely enough to meet certain regulatory specs. And some items probably just ignore the specs. Anyway, some may be much better than others, but you'd have to compare specs, which may be non-existent or false, or compare actual units.

So, you're kind of on your own, but there are plenty of very basic things that could have been built into these products (making them more expensive), that you can add. The first and easiest line of defense is common-mode chokes. Look into "clip-on EMI chokes" and such, which are split ferrite cores surrounded by a plastic clamp/holder thing. On a soldering iron for instance, you'd want chokes at the control box first - one at the line cord entry, and one at the power output to the iron cord. As Ross explained, the cordage makes great antennas for certain frequency ranges, so swamping that effect goes a long way toward peace and quiet.

Chances are that you'll get very noticeable reduction in interference. If you've never dealt with common-mode chokes, you'll see right away why you'd want "clip-on" types, so you don't have to worry about fitting over connectors and such. If you just have to pass a wire through, then a solid toroid is best, but usually you'll have cables with connectors. Look for clip ones big enough to fit on the cables, and with as much L as you can get. Typically 1-10 uH is available in common size ranges.

If you still need more suppression, you can try more CM chokes, and in different spots. You can get more improvement by adding more types of filtering, and figuring out how the junk gets out and around, as Ross explained.

Lastly, for situations needing very low interference, you may have to turn off any offending items of all types, not just irons. They'll never be perfect.

Ed

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