Our ESD simulator rentals provide economical and efficient testing to IEC 61000-4-2 by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). This portion of the IEC 61000 series, that covers broader EMC concepts, sets the requirements for testing an EUT (Equipment Under Test) to withstand specific levels of electrostatic discharge that relate to different environmental and installation conditions. This standard can be purchased at the IEC Webstore. The discharge event can occur between objects or people and is difficult to predict. This standard is not intended for a particular test equipment but as a general reproducible criterion to evaluate this occurrence effect on an EUT. ESD Simulators/ESD Guns duplicate the abrupt release of charge and waveform created under required conditions. This standard requires 150pF/330Ω discharge network, and defines typical waveform of the discharge current, range of test levels, test equipment, test setup, test procedure, calibration procedure, and measurement uncertainty.
IEC 61000-4-2 specifies characteristics and performance of the test equipment able to be used. The standards defines the energy storage capacitance (150 pF ± 10%), discharge resistance (330 Ω ± 10%), charging resistance (50 MΩ-100 MΩ), output voltage (8kV & 15kV), and many other considerations. It sets 10 discharges to each test point for direct testing. For indirect testing, 10 discharges are required at both the vertical and horizontal coupling planes to each face of the EUT. There are four test levels for this standard with different corresponding test voltages. This electrostatic discharge-based standard does not define testing with pass/fail criteria but on the impact the event had on the EUT.
This standard puts forth testing guidelines for both indirect and direct methods. IEC 61000-4-2 sets the ambient temperature (15°C to 35°C), humidity (30% to 60%), and atmospheric pressure (86 kPa to106 kPa). It also defines in detail all of the required components of the setup. It breaks the setup down into three main categorizes table-top, floor standing, and underground equipment. The major components of the standard include, ground reference plane, vertical coupling plane, horizontal coupling plane, distances, as well as many others. Exact specifications of allowed materials and sizing are provided within the standard. We offer rentals of ESD simulators that offer both connected and cordless solutions, making them ideal testing given setup requirements.
We offer EMC test equipment rental, including ESD simulators, from EMC Partner, EM Test, Teseq, and Thermo-Keytek. All of these simulators come with an 150pF/330Ω network, meet the requirements of IEC 61000-4-2, and each provides unique testing and reporting methods. All of the test equipment provides tips for both air and contact discharge modes allowing for both methods of testing. We provide flexible rentals terms, as short as a week, to allow customers a cost-efficient solution. As a policy, all of our test equipment comes with an A2LA accredited calibration and free technical support included with the rental. Even when not required, this provides the reassurance that testing is being completed to meet the same criteria used by testing labs.