The first line of defense for product safety? Electromagnetic testing.

Indian manufacturers rely on electromagnetic testing to ensure product development and quality assurance, and adherence to regulations in current product development.

With the widespread adoption of electronics, wireless communications, and digital products across all fields, it is now more crucial to ensure that these products are secure, dependable, and free from electromagnetic interference (EMI).

This informative article details what electromagnetic testing does and why it is important, the most popular types as well as the standards, and how manufacturers can utilise the appropriate equipment and capabilities to gain the proper level of compliance and success in the marketplace including what Sunren, a leading NABL-accredited testing facility in India, specializes in electromagnetic testing and compliance solutions has to offer.

What is Electromagnetic Testing?

Electromagnetic testing is a test procedure developed through electromagnetic fields to check the integrity, safety, and compatibility of materials, components, or electronic devices. It has become commonly used both in non-destructive testing (NDT) of materials and in compliance testing of electronic devices. The essence is that products must be able to work without provoking unnecessary electromagnetic disturbances.

Types of Electromagnetic Testing

Electromagnetic testing is a large field of testing methods and applications, such as:

• Eddy Current Testing (ECT): In this test, alternating current and magnetic fields are used to find the cracks, corrosion, or a change of thickness in conductive materials.
• Alternating Current Field Measurement (ACFM): Detects surface-breaking cracks by measuring disturbances in a conditioned magnetic field. Useful for offshore and structural inspections.
• Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT): Causes the conductive materials to vibrate, therefore, the creation of ultrasonic signals, which are used to detect the level of corrosion or inspect welds, without the need to touch the place under investigation.
• Remote Field Testing (RFT): A probe is applied to the surface and then to a defect inside a tube or a pipe in ferromagnetic materials.
• Pulsed Eddy Current Testing (PECT): Senses the corrosion beneath an insulation layer or through a coating layer, examining the degradation of the pulsed Eddy currents.
• Electromagnetic Compliance Testing ( EMC ): Electronic devices are tested and made to meet emissions and immunity levels, thus should not generate or be affected by EMI.

Electromagnetic Compliance Testing

Electromagnetic compliance testing (commonly abbreviated as EMC testing) is a testing of a device to see whether it can be used safely without producing an excessive amount of electromagnetic noise and whether it malfunctions when subjected to foreign electromagnetic fields. This is very vital in regulatory approval in India and overseas.

Key EMC Tests Include:

• Radiated Emissions: It quantifies the amount of electromagnetic power a device releases to the air.
• Conducted Emissions: Measures EMI conducted along power or signal lines.
• Radiated Immunity: Assesses a device’s resistance to external electromagnetic fields.
• Conducted Immunity: Checks if a device can function when EMI is present on its power or signal lines.
• Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Immunity: Tests a device’s resilience to static electricity shocks.
• Surge and Burst Immunity: Ensures devices can withstand power surges or fast transients.

Electromagnetic Testing Equipment

Modern electromagnetic testing equipment is highly specialized and includes:

• Eddy Current Probes and Instruments: For flaw detection in metals.
• Anechoic Chambers: Shielded rooms for radiated emission and immunity tests.
• Spectrum Analyzers and EMI Receivers: To measure electromagnetic emissions across frequencies.
• Signal Generators: For immunity testing by simulating real-world electromagnetic environments.
• Current Clamps, LISNs (Line Impedance Stabilization Networks): For conducted emission and immunity tests.
• Electromagnetic Compatibility Testing Equipment: Combines antennas, test chambers, and analyzers to assess both emissions and immunity for compliance with standards.

How to Test an Electromagnet

Testing an electromagnet involves:

• Powering the Coil: Connect the electromagnet to a power source.
• Measuring Field Strength: Use a gaussmeter or teslameter to measure the magnetic field.
• Checking Continuity: Use a multimeter to ensure the coil is not broken.
• Load Testing: Place a ferromagnetic object near the electromagnet to check its pull strength.

How to Test Electromagnetic Field

To test an electromagnetic field:

• Use a Field Meter: Specialized electromagnetic field (EMF) meters detect and measure field strength in gauss, tesla, or volts/meter.
• Survey the Area: Move the meter around the device or installation to map field intensity and distribution.
• Compare to Standards: Ensure readings are within safety and compliance limits for the intended environment.

How Radiated Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Field Immunity Test is Done

This test evaluates a device’s ability to function correctly when exposed to strong radio-frequency (RF) fields:

• Place Device in Anechoic Chamber: The room isolates the device against the outside RF, as well as reflections.
• Expose RF Source: The RF source can be controlled either with the help of antennas or by using RF energy to propagate at the device in a variety of frequencies and field strengths.
• Monitor Performance: Use the device and test its responses to signs of malfunction, error, or slowed performance.
• Compared to Standards: Results are measured against limits set by standards like IEC 61000-4-3.

How to Test Electromagnetic Choke of Tube Light

An electromagnetic choke in a tube light limits current flow:

• Continuity Test: Use a multimeter to check for a closed circuit across the choke terminals.
• Resistance Measurement: Measure resistance; a very high or infinite reading indicates a faulty choke.
• Operational Test: Install the choke in a working circuit and observe if the tube light operates correctly.

How to Test Magnetic Coil Electromagnetic Flowmeter

To test a magnetic coil in an electromagnetic flowmeter:

• Visual Inspection: Look for visual damage or corrosion.
• Continuity and Resistance: Measure resistance of coils with a multimeter; check against manufacturer values.
• Signal Output: When the flowmeter is powered on, an oscilloscope should be used when monitoring the signal provided by the coil when a fluid is being pumped, to ensure that the signal output is as expected.

Standards for how to test magnetic coil electromagnetic flowmeterTesting

Electromagnetic testing and compliance are governed by international and Indian standards:

• IEC 61000 Series: Core EMC standards for emissions and immunity.
• CISPR 11/22: Emissions standards for industrial, scientific, and IT equipment.
• FCC Part 15: US standard for EMI limits.
• MIL-STD-461: Military EMI/EMC standard.
• ASTM/BS Standards: For eddy current and magnetic particle NDT.

Applications of Electromagnetic Testing

Electromagnetic testing is used in:

• Electronics Fabrication: Assuring the devices go through BIS, TEC standards, besides global EMC requirements.
• Automotive and Aerospace: Trace cracks and corrosion, as well as inspection of component quality.
• Telecom and IoT: wireless, RF, and networked device EMC compliance testing.
• Medical Devices: Ensuring safety and sound performance in critical spaces.
• Industrial Inspections: Test and analysis on pipelines, structures, and machinery conducted in a non-destructive way.

Importance of Electromagnetic Testing

• Regulatory Compliance: Needed to certify BIS, TEC, and exports.
• Product Safety: Eliminates EMI malfunction and hazards.
• Reliability: Minimizes the chances of product failure in a real-life setting.
• Market Access: Opens markets across the world, as it fits international standards.
• Brand Reputation: Shows concern towards quality and safety.

How Sunren Supports Electromagnetic Testing

Sunren provides:

• EMC/EMI compliance testing for electronics, telecom, and IoT devices.
• NABL-accredited laboratory services to produce tested results that are relied on.
• Standards, documentation, and troubleshooting technical consultancy.
• Full-range electromagnetic test sets to include Emissions, Immunity, and NDT set.
• Quick response and assistance in regulatory submissions to India and other parts of the world.

Frequently Asked Questions: Electromagnetic Testing

What is electromagnet testing?

Testing the performance, strength, and continuity of an electromagnet using meters and load checks.

What are the different types of electromagnetic testing?

Eddy current testing, ACFM, EMAT, remote field testing, pulsed eddy current, and electromagnetic compliance testing.

What is electromagnetic field testing?

Measuring the strength and distribution of electromagnetic fields using specialized meters to ensure safety and compliance.

What are the advantages of electromagnetic testing?

It is non-destructive, highly sensitive, fast, and suitable for both material flaw detection and electronic compliance.

Conclusion

In the case of Indian manufacturers, electromagnetic testing would be key to the product safety, reliability, and compliance.

Regardless of whether you are checking the materials you are working with to see whether they contain faults or checking whether your electronic stuff is compatible, the correct method, standards, and equipment are instrumental.

Quality testing of finishes is conducted using recognized, certified laboratories such as Sunren, enabling manufacturers to guarantee their products or simply assure their customers and enter the Indian and international marketplace.