IEC 62153-4-12:2009

Metallic communication cable test methods - Part 4-12: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Coupling attenuation or screening attenuation of connecting hardware - Absorbing clamp method

IEC 62153-4-13:2009(E) details the method of test to determine the coupling attenuation or screening attenuation for connecting hardware used in analogue and digital communication systems. The test method details means to test one part of a connecting hardware (e. g. wall outlet or plug alone) as well as testing a mated pair of connecting hardware.
This publication is to be read in conjunction with IEC 62153-4-5:2006.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 05-Aug-2009
• ICS: 33.100.10 - Emission
• ICS: 33.120.10 - Coaxial cables. Waveguides
• Technical Committee: TC 46 - Cables, wires, waveguides, RF connectors, RF and microwave passive components and accessories
• Drafting Committee: WG 5 - TC 46/WG 5
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 06-Aug-2009
• Completion Date: 31-Oct-2009

Overview

IEC 62153-4-12:2009 specifies an electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test method - the absorbing clamp method - to measure coupling attenuation (also called screening attenuation) of connecting hardware used in analogue and digital communication systems. The standard covers testing a single part of connecting hardware (for example a wall outlet or plug) or a fully mated pair, and is intended to be read in conjunction with IEC 62153-4-5:2006.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope of measurement: Determination of coupling/screening attenuation at the near end using an absorbing clamp arrangement; typical set-up measures surface waves and common-mode coupling.
• Test equipment: Signal generator, absorbing clamp(s) with ferrite tube absorbers, current transformer, measuring receiver, reflector plate, test head and extension cables.
• Balun requirements: When measuring balanced connecting hardware, a balun or 180° splitter is required. Key balun parameters (30 MHz–1 GHz) include:
  • Primary impedance typically 50 Ω; secondary 100 Ω or 150 Ω depending on cable type
  • Operational attenuation ≤ 10 dB
  • Return loss ≥ 6 dB
  • Output signal balance ≥ 50 dB (30–100 MHz) and ≥ 30 dB (100 MHz–1 GHz)
• Test head and extension cables: Use cable types and terminations matching the connecting hardware under test. Extension cables must have the same nominal characteristic impedance, similar velocity of propagation, and the near-end terminating cable (including test head) should have operational attenuation < 1 dB up to 100 MHz.
• Calibration and measurement: Procedures include calibration of the absorbing clamp and verification of test set-up and measurement sensitivity. Measurement sensitivity must be at least 6 dB better than the applicable requirement limit.
• Test reporting: Standard specifies expression of results and required test report content for reproducibility and compliance documentation.

Applications and users

This IEC standard is practical for:

• Cable and connector manufacturers verifying EMC performance of plugs, outlets, patch cords, and connector assemblies.
• Independent test laboratories conducting compliance and quality assurance measurements for coupling or screening attenuation.
• EMC engineers and system integrators assessing susceptibility to common‑mode or surface‑wave coupling in communication systems.
• R&D teams optimizing connector designs, terminations and shielding for improved screening effectiveness.

Related standards

• IEC 62153-4-5:2006 (absorbing clamp method - related procedures)
• IEC 60050-726 (vocabulary for transmission lines/waveguides)
• IEC 61196-1 (coaxial communication cables)
• ITU‑T G.117 and O.9 (measurement of unbalance and balance)

Keywords: IEC 62153-4-12, coupling attenuation, screening attenuation, absorbing clamp method, EMC test method, connecting hardware, balun, test head, extension cables.

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 62153-4-12 ®
Edition 1.0 2009-08
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Metallic communication cable test methods –
Part 4-12: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Coupling attenuation or
screening attenuation of connecting hardware – Absorbing clamp method

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IEC 62153-4-12 ®
Edition 1.0 2009-08
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Metallic communication cable test methods –
Part 4-12: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Coupling attenuation or
screening attenuation of connecting hardware – Absorbing clamp method

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
PRICE CODE
M
ICS 33.100; 33.120.20 ISBN 978-2-88910-639-4
– 2 – 62153-4-12 © IEC:2009(E)
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3

1 Scope.5
2 Normative references.5
3 Terms and definitions .5
4 Test method .5
4.1 Equipment .5
4.1.1 General .5
4.1.2 Balun requirements.6
4.1.3 Test head and extension cable requirements.7
4.1.4 Impedance matching.8
4.2 Test sample.8
4.2.1 Length of the extension cables.8
4.2.2 Tested length.8
4.2.3 Preparation of extension cable and test head .8
4.2.4 Balanced connecting hardware.8
4.3 Calibration procedure .9
4.4 Test set-up .9
4.4.1 General .9
4.4.2 Test set-up verification.10
4.5 Measuring procedure .11
5 Expression of test results.11
6 Test report.11
6.1 General .11
6.2 Evaluation of test results.11

Figure 1 – Measurement of surface wave at near end of connecting hardware .6
Figure 2 – Termination of extension cables.9
Figure 3 – Test set-up for a near end measurement of connecting hardware.10
Figure 4 – Test set-up for a near end measurement of connecting hardware.10
Figure 5 – Typical measurement of screened connecting hardware.12
Figure 6 – Typical measurement of an unscreened balanced connecting hardware .13
Figure 7 – Typical measurement of a screened balanced connecting hardware .13

Table 1 – Balun performance characteristics (30 MHz to 1 GHz).7

62153-4-12 © IEC:2009(E) – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
METALLIC COMMUNICATION CABLE TEST METHODS –

Part 4-12: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) –
Coupling attenuation or screening attenuation
of connecting hardware – Absorbing clamp method

FOREWORD
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International Standard IEC 62153-4-12 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 46:
Cables, wires, waveguides, R.F. connectors, R.F. and microwave passive components and
accessories.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
CDV Report on voting
46/312/CDV 46/328/RVC
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication is to be read in conjunction with IEC 62153-4-5 (2006).

– 4 – 62153-4-12 © IEC:2009(E)

This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts of the IEC 62153 series, under the general title: Metallic communication cable
test methods, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until the
maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data
related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
A bilingual version may be issued at a later date.

IMPORTANT – The “colour inside” logo on the cover page of this publication indicates
that it contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct understanding
of its contents. Users should therefore print this publication using a colour printer.

62153-4-12 © IEC:2009(E) – 5 –
METALLIC COMMUNICATION CABLE TEST METHODS –

Part 4-12: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) –
Coupling attenuation or screening attenuation
of connecting hardware – Absorbing clamp method

1 Scope
This part of IEC 62153 details the method of test to determine the coupling attenuation or
screening attenuation for connecting hardware used in analogue and digital communication
systems. The test method details means to test one part of a connecting hardware (e. g. wall
outlet or plug alone) as well as testing a mated pair of connecting hardware.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For
dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of
the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
IEC 60050-726, International Electrotechnical Vocabulary – Chapter 726: Transmission lines
and waveguides
IEC 61196-1, Coaxial communication cables – Part 1: Generic specification – General,
definitions and requirements
IEC 62153-4-5:2006, Metallic communication cables test methods – Part 4-5: Electromagnetic
compatibility (EMC) – Coupling or screening attenuation – Absorbing clamp method
ITU-T Recommendation G.117:1996, Transmission aspects of unbalance about earth
ITU-T Recommendation O.9:1999, Measuring arrangements to assess the degree of unbalance
about earth
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60050-726 and
IEC 61196-1 apply.
In this document, connecting hardware is defined as a complete connecting device including
compensating or matching networks (if any), connectors and cable terminations.
4 Test method
4.1 Equipment
4.1.1 General
See 5.1.1 of IEC 62153-4-5, and Figure 1 below.

– 6 – 62153-4-12 © IEC:2009(E)
The connecting hardware under test shall be terminated using the termination method and a
cable type for which it is constructed. If only one part of the connecting hardw
...