emc categories

3. EMC categories

The norm IEC/EN 61800-3 defines 4 drive categories:

emc CATEGORIES

Drive category	Description	Use
C1	Drive with a nominal voltage less than 1000V for use in a residential environment. Can be used in the industrial area if the immunity is sufficient	Home appliances etc. You are not allowed to interfere with other devices. Portable inverter air conditioners
C2	Drive of a nominal voltage less than 1000V for use in a Residential environment but where the Installation and start-up are done by a professional.	Installed by an Electrician. Using screened cable. Also you may need to consider the use of a B class filter in special cases
C3	Drive of a nominal voltage less than 1000V for use in an industrial environment	Heavy industry. Screened cable still used so not to interfere with control signals
C4	Drive of a nominal voltage greater than 1000V or the nominal current >= 400A for use in an Industrial environment	Nobody has every asked to comply to this so everyone goes by C3 when in C4 environment.

4. IEC/EN 61800-3 Edition 2

For each environment the category of the drive defines the generic test norm, and the level to be respected.

C1	B class filter. hospitals, domestic house and special order VSD required. B Class filters are indent for almost all suppliers.
C2	A class filter. Screened VSD cable, large earth to supply. Standard for all suppliers
C3	A class filter. Screened VSD cable, large earth to supply. Standard for all suppliers
C4	Speak to the manufacturer.

Radiated and conducted emissions from cables need to be considered as well as solutions that filter out any emissions. The specified EMC levels are guaranteed if the wiring conforms to the installation recommendations.