IEC 61000-4-2 the new Edition 3.0 for ESD tests

IEC 61000-4-2 the new edition 3.0 for ESD tests - what needs to be considered?

On March 10, 2025, Edition 3.0 of IEC 61000-4-2 was made available, replacing Edition 2.0 from 2008. Due to the scope of the revision, it is not practical to list all the changes to the standard here. These are the main changes that are relevant for the majority of our customers. 

1. New pulse parameter Ip2
In order to limit the oscillation in the trailing edge of the pulse and thus ensure a more uniform and comparable load on the EUT, the new pulse parameter Ip2 has also been introduced. In addition to the already known pulse parameters such as First Peak Current, Rise Time, Current at 30ns, Current at 60 ns, the Second Peak Current (Ip2) must now also be calibrated.

Definition Ip2: second peak of the discharge current waveform (maximum current that occurs in the time frame of 10 ns to 40 ns from the time at which the current first reaches 10 % of the first peak of the discharge current)

Relevance for Schlöder devices of the SESD series:
All new devices already meet the requirements with regard to Ip2. As the pulse parameter Ip2 was not defined in the past, we recommend carrying out a factory calibration for existing devices to check whether the respective device is already within the new standard, can be adjusted accordingly or should be replaced if necessary.

2. Calibration requirement for air discharge tip
In the past, it was sufficient to calibrate the ESD generators with the contact discharge tip. In order to ensure that the specifications for the impulse curve are also met for use with the air discharge tip in the future, it is necessary to carry out a calibration at a test level of your choice for air discharge tips that contain “additional passive or electronic components”. 

Relevance for Schlöder devices of the SESD series:
The air discharge tips of the current series do not contain any additional passive or electronic components. Therefore, the requirement for additional calibration does not apply here. For older series, please contact us directly, stating the device designation and serial number. 

3. Earth leakage cable (Cable with bleeder resistors 2 x 470 kOhm)
For the first time, concrete length specifications for the earth leakage cable have been defined in the new edition. The cable between the horizontal coupling plate (HCP) and the ground plate (GRP) may be max. 1.5 m long. The cable between the vertical coupling plate (VCP) and the base plate (GRP) may now be up to a maximum of 3 m long. In addition, the maximum distance between the cable lug and the 470 kOhm resistor has been defined as max. 10 cm. 

Relevance for Schlöder earth leakage kits:
The addition of specific information on cable length to the standard has meant that the 2 m Schlöder earth leakage kit should no longer be used for the connection between HCP and GRP. We now offer the following cable lengths:

SESD 272-1:    1.5 m length
SESD 272:        2 m length
SESD 272-3:     3 m length

4. Calibration setup
For customers with their own calibration station, it is important to know that the set-up has changed significantly. In addition to the requirement for a significantly larger vertical calibration plate (new: 1.6 m x 1.2 m), a base plate of at least 1.5 m x 1.2 m is now also prescribed. Please refer to the standard for details on the construction of the new calibration station.

5. Calibration required for battery and/or mains operation
With the new edition, it is necessary to calibrate the ESD generator in the operating mode in which it is used for the tests in accordance with section 6.3.1. For our battery-operated SESD models, we carry out the calibration in battery mode as standard. If the SESD generator is also to be used for tests in mains operation, this must be taken into account when placing the order.

Information as PDF

Note: This list is not a complete overview of all changes in Edition 3.0 and will be updated if necessary.