General Technical Information
Vishay Roederstein
Radio Interference Suppression Capacitors
Introduction
RADIO INTERFERENCE SUPPRESSION
1. Origin and Spreading of Interference:
There are two main sources of radio interference:
B
A/2
A/2
G
• Devices, which due to their construction produce RF
energy. These include generators for use in industry,
medicine and science, as well as oscillators, radio
and TV receivers etc.
B
• Devices, which produce a wide spectrum of
frequencies, due to rapid variations in electrical
current intensity. These include devices with switching
components, thyristors, triacs, commutators and
similar.
A
A) Asymmetrical Terminal
Voltage/Current
B) Symmetrical Terminal
Voltage/Current
Interference from source to receiver is spread in three ways:
alonwiring
by coupling, and
by radiation
Interference Voltage
Interference Power
100
90
dB
(µV)
To frequencies of 30MHz approximately, interference is
spread mainly along the installed electrical wiring. In this
range inductive and capacitive coupling also occurs between
the wiring and other metal parts of the devices acting as
supports of interference transfer.
80
70
65
60
56
50
45
40
55
Frequencies higher than 30MHz are spread by radiation
since interference source dimensions and terminal wiring
are in order of size to the wave length of the radiated
interference. The metal parts therefore act as antennas.
30
20
0.1
0.5
1
5
10
30
100
300
The device connected to the mains supply produces two
kinds of interference currents, running along wiring as seen
in figure A.
MHz
Symmetrical interference current B runs in different
directions in the phase and neutral wires.
2. Maximum Permitted Interference Limits:
Asymmetrical interference current A runs in the same
direction in both leads and ends in the same device via the
earthing connection. An earthing connection can either be
an earthing wire or capacitance between the device and
the surrounding.
In order to guarantee good operation of communicational
and other equipment, radio interference must be tolerably
limited. Interference produced from the source are
measured as follows:
• Up to frequency 30MHz, interference voltages are
measured which spread along the terminal in the
supply network.
Interference on long or medium radio waves is generally
greater if the device is earthed. In this case impedance to
the surrounding is short circuited and the asymmetrical
interference current increases.
• Above 30MHz, strength of radiated field or radiated
power on the terminal in the supply network is
measured.
The two types of interference appear according to duration
time; continuous interference and discontinuous
interference. The latter occurs as impulses with less effect
than continuous interference. They are treated and
suppressed from continuous interference separately. Exact
definitions are given in the regulations e.g.
Permitted levels of interference are given in the national
and international regulations. Recommendations given by
CISPR (Comité International Spécial de Perturbation
Radioélectriques) are as follows:
EN 55 011
EN 55 014
CISPR 11,
EN 55 011
EN 55 014
CISPR 11,
CISPR 14-1 etc.
CISPR 14-1
Document Number 26529
Revision 04-Sep-02
To contact us: RFI@Vishay.com
www.vishay.com
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