IEC 62153-4-3 Metallic Communication Cable Test Methods - Part 4-3: Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) - Surface Transfer Impedance - Triaxial Method

The IEC 62153-4-3 standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) defines a test method for determining the shielding effectiveness of a cable shield by applying a well-defined current and voltage to the cable shield and measuring the induced voltage to determine its surface transfer impedance. With this test method, only the magnetic component of the transfer impedance is measured. The measurement of the electrostatic component is included in the IEC 62153-4-8 standard.

The triaxial measurement method is generally suitable in the frequency range up to 1 MHz for a sample length of 30 m and up to 0,3 MHz for a sample length of 100 m.

The latest update of this standard includes these important technical changes:

• Three new test configurations are described.
• Formulas are added to calculate the maximum frequency using different test configurations.
• The effect of ground loops is explained.

The two performance parameters of a cable or connector shield are surface transfer impedance and surface transfer acceptance. The use of two different terminations for the cable or conductor under test allows these two parameters to be determined. The characterization of the inner and outer transmission lines of the triaxial cell is determined in terms of amplitude as well as phase, using time domain reflectometry.

Measurement of the transfer impedance of cables, connectors and assemblies with the triaxial test procedure has been made since 1934. The triaxial procedure is still practiced and used worldwide today. The latest developments regarding this test procedure are the following standards:

• IEC 62153-4-9 Coupling attenuation of shielded balanced cables, triaxial method
• IEC 62153-4-15 Test method for measuring transfer impedance and shielding attenuation, or coupling attenuation with triaxial cell
• IEC 62153-4-16 Extension of the frequency range to higher frequencies for transfer impedance and lower frequencies for shielding attenuation measurements using a triaxial setup

Our organization, among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it has given for businesses in various sectors, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment, within the scope of IEC 62153-4-3 standard, between metallic cables and other passive components test methods, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) also provides surface transfer impedance triaxial method testing services.