Low-Cost EMI Pre-Compliance Testing Using A Spectrum Analyzer

EMI regulations are in place to provide users with improved reliability and safety for users of electrical and electronic equipment. It is common today to perform pre-compliance measurements during the design and prototyping stages to identify and address potential EMI issues before the product is sent out for compliance testing. This application note provides an overview of EMI compliance testing, pre-compliance testing, and the measurement regulations, and presents test setups using the RSA306 and similar low cost products are used to perform both radiated and conducted emission measurements that can help minimize both the expense and schedule for getting products EMI certified.