EMC behaviour (How can I improve the EMC performance of my luminaire?)
- Keep cables between the electronic ballast and lamp (HF cables) short (reduction of the electromagnetic influences). Lamp cables with a high potential must be kept short, especially on tube luminaires. These lamp cables are marked on the wiring diagram of the print plate with an " * ".
- Mains and lamp cables must be routed separately and not parallel to each other where possible. The distance between HF cables and mains cables should be as large as possible, e.g. 5 - 10 cm (coupling interference between mains and lamp cables is avoided).
- Lay HF cables at a distance (a few centimetres if possible) from earth metal surfaces (reduces capacitive coupling). If longer HF cables are unavoidable, such as for fluorescent tube lamps or for primary-secondary switching, twisting may be appropriate (the HF radiation is reduced).
- Keep mains cables in the luminaire short (reduction of interference coupling).
- The electronic ballast must have good contact to the metal luminaire case or be earthed using a PE connection. This must be laid as a separate cable and enables a better deflection of the HF leakage current. The EMC becomes more favourable at frequencies above 30MHz.
- Do not route the mains cable too closely along the electronic ballast or lamps (particularly applies to through wiring).
- Do not cross over mains cables and lamp cables. If this is not possible, the crossover points should be designed at right angles where possible (avoid coupling mains and each is influences).
- Cable recesses through metal parts should never be unprotected, and should always be provided with an additional insulation (insulation sheathing or recess bushing).
- The luminaire body or parts thereof may never be "misused" as conductors nor have contact with the mains or lamp cables in any other way e.g. bare cables, insulation too long, screws piercing through the installation or sharp metal edges. This can result in an acute danger to persons or the destruction of the ballast.
- When looping-through several luminaires, e.g. with a 5-pole cable, you must always ensure that the two phases are never connected to the electronic ballast mains clamps instead of the group phase, the neutral cable and the protective earth cable. In case of any faults, switch off the electronic ballast in good time or immediately where appropriate.
