Flicker tests check the short- and long- term voltage droops, caused by these current spikes through building wiring, against a number of different criteria. Test limits depend on:

• How frequently the product is intended to be used, per day.
• Whether it is manually operated, or operates automatically.

The tables below summarizes the evolution of Flicker standards for commercial electronic products. Medical electronics and military electronics may have their own special requirements. The links take you to summaries of the standards and their amendments. "(Modified)" means that the standard/ amendment differs from the reference standard/ amendment. Entries in bold text are currently active for undated references. Please note that in Australia and New Zealand, products only need to comply with safety and emission standards to bear the C-Tick mark.

Evolution of Flicker Standards for Commercial Electronic Products Drawing <=16 A Per Phase

Year	Reference	Year	European Union	Year	Australia & New Zealand	Notes
1982	IEC 555-3:1982 Edition 1	1987	EN 60555-3:1987
1990	IEC 555-3:1982 +A1:1990	1991	EN 60555-3:1987 +A1:1991
1994	IEC 1000-3-3:1994 Edition 1	1995	EN 61000-3-3:1995
1997	IEC 61000-3-3:1994 Edition 1		EN 61000-3-3:1995
2001	IEC 61000-3-3:1994 +A1:2001 IEC 61000-3-3:2002 Edition 1.1	2001	EN 61000-3-3:1995 +A1:2001
2005	IEC 61000-3-3:1994 +A1:2001+A2:2005 IEC 61000-3-3:2002 +A2:2005	2005	EN 61000-3-3:1995 +A1:2001+A2:2005	2006	AS/NZS 61000.3.3:2006 (Modified)
2008	IEC 61000-3-3:2008 Edition 2	2008	EN 61000-3-3:2008

Evolution of Flicker Standards for Commercial Electronic Products Drawing <=75 A Per Phase

Year	Reference	Year	European Union	Year	Australia & New Zealand	Notes
2000	IEC 61000-3-11:2000	2000	EN 61000-3-11:2000

Equivalent to: EN 61000-3-3:1995+A1:2001+A2:2005 (modified) & IEC 61000-3-3:1994+A1:2001+A2:2005 (modified) & IEC 61000-3-3:2002+A2:2005 (modified)
Replaces:
Replaced by:

For: Australia & New Zealand
Ratified/printed: 25 AUG 2006
May use starting: 25 AUG 2006
Must use starting: 25 AUG 2008
Must use until:
May use until:

References:
* IEC 60050(161):1990
* IEC 60335-2-11:1993
* IEC 60725:1981
* IEC 60868:1986+A1:1990
* IEC 60974-1
* IEC 61000-3-2
* IEC 61000-3-5:1994
* IEC 61000-3-11

Referenced by:

Comments:

(hardcopy & d:\dbi\AS NZS 61000.3.3-2006.pdf)

Equivalent to: IEC 555-3:1982 Edition 1
Replaces:
Replaced by: EN 60555-3:1987+A1:1991

For: European Union
Ratified/printed: 27 FEB 1986
May use starting: 19 FEB 1992
Must use starting: 31 DEC 1995
Must use until: 16 SEPT 1995
May use until: 1 JAN 2001

References:

Referenced by:
* EN 50081-1:1992 (undated)

Comments:

(source)

Equivalent to: IEC 555-3:1982+A1:1990
Replaces: EN 60555-3:1987
Replaced by: EN 61000-3-3:1995

For: European Union
Ratified/printed: MAR 1991
May use starting: 16 SEPT 1995
Must use starting: 1 JAN 2001
Must use until: 16 SEPT 1995
May use until: 1 JAN 2001

References:

Referenced by:
* EN 50081-1:1992 (undated)

Comments: Clause 6.3 changed - added appliance motors. Appendix A4 added for direct flicker measurement.

(source)

Equivalent to: IEC 1000-3-3:1994 Edition 1 & IEC 61000-3-3:1994 Edition 1
Replaces: EN 60555-3:1987+A1:1991
Replaced by: EN 61000-3-3:1995+A1:2001

For: European Union
Ratified/printed: 8 MAR 1994
May use starting: 16 SEPT 1995
Must use starting: 1 JAN 2001
Must use until: 9 MAR 2002
May use until: 1 MAY 2004

References:
* IEC 50(161):1990
* IEC 335-2-7:1993
* IEC 335-2-11:1993
* IEC 725:1981
* IEC 868:1986+A1:1990
* IEC 1000-3-5:1994

Referenced by:
* EN 61000-6-3:2001 {undated)

Comments:

(hardcopy)

Equivalent to: IEC 61000-3-3:1994+A1:2001 & IEC 61000-3-3:2002 Edition 1.1
Replaces: EN 61000-3-3:1995
Replaced by: EN 61000-3-3:1995+A1:2001+A2:2005

For: European Union
Ratified/printed: 1 MAY 2001
May use starting: 9 MAR 2002
Must use starting: 1 MAY 2004
Must use until: 21 DEC 2006
May use until: 1 SEPT 2008

References:
* IEC 60050(161):1990
* IEC 60335-2-11:1993
* IEC 60725:1981
* IEC 60868:1986+A1:1990
* IEC 60974-1
* IEC 61000-3-2
* IEC 61000-3-5:1994
* IEC 61000-3-11

Referenced by:
* EN 61000-6-3:2001 {undated)

Comments: Section 1 changed- non-compliant equipment may be tested to EN 61000-3-11:2000 instead. Section 2 changed- additional references. Section 3 changed - some definitions changed or added. Section 4 changed- method of assessing relative voltage change. Section 5 changed- limits. Sections 6.1 and 6.6 changed - general test conditions changed. Section A.2 changed- test conditions for lighting and similar equipment. Section A.3 changed- test conditions for washing machines. Sections A.13 changed/added- test conditions for audio-frequency amplifiers. Section A.14 changed/added- test conditions for air conditioners, dehumidifiers, heat pumps, and commercial refridgerating equipment. Section A.15 changed/added- test conditions for arc-welding equipment. Annex B changed - test conditions and procedures for manual switching.

(hardcopy & d:\dbi\iec61000-3-3.pdf)

Equivalent to: IEC 61000-3-3:1994+A1:2001+A2:2005 & IEC 61000-3-3:2002+A2:2005
Replaces: EN 61000-3-3:1995+A1:2001
Replaced by: EN 61000-3-3:2008

For: European Union
Ratified/printed: 1 SEP 2005
May use starting: 21 DEC 2006
Must use starting: 1 SEPT 2008
Must use until: 19 MAR 2010
May use until: 1 SEP 2011

References:
* IEC 60050(161):1990
* IEC 60335-2-11:1993
* IEC 60725:1981
* IEC 60868:1986+A1:1990
* IEC 60974-1
* IEC 61000-3-2
* IEC 61000-3-5:1994
* IEC 61000-3-11

Referenced by:
* EN 61000-6-3:2001 {undated)

Comments:

(hardcopy & d:\dbi\iec61000-3-3.pdf & d:\dbi\iec61000-3-3-amd2{ed1.0}b.pdf)

Equivalent to: IEC 61000-3-3:2008 Edition 2
Replaces: EN 61000-3-3:1995+A1:2001+A2:2005
Replaced by:

For: European Union
Ratified/printed: 1 SEP 2008
May use starting: 19 MAR 2010
Must use starting: 1 SEPT 2011
Must use until:
May use until:

References:
* IEC 60050(161):1990
* IEC/TR 607251
* IEC 60974-1
* IEC 61000-3-2:2005
* IEC 61000-3-11
* IEC 61000-4-15

Referenced by:
* EN 61000-6-3:2001 (undated)
* EN 61000-6-3:2001+A11:2004 (undated)

Comments:

(hardcopy & d:\dbi\iec61000-3-3{ed2.0}b.pdf)

Equivalent to: IEC 61000-3-11:2000
Replaces:
Replaced by:

For: European Union
Ratified/printed: 1 NOV 2000
May use starting: 14 DEC 2000
Must use starting: 1 NOV 2003
Must use until:
May use until:

References:

Referenced by:

Comments:

(source)

Equivalent to: EN 60555-3:1987
Replaces:
Replaced by: IEC 555-3:1982+A1:1990

For:
Ratified/printed: 1 JAN 1982
May use starting: 1982
Must use starting: 1982
Must use until: APR 1990
May use until: APR 1990

References:

Referenced by:

Comments:

(source)

Equivalent to: EN 60555-3:1987+A1:1991
Replaces: IEC 555-3:1982 Edition 1
Replaced by: IEC 1000-3-3:1994 Edition 1 & IEC 61000-3-3:1994 Edition 1

For:
Ratified/printed: 1 APR 1990
May use starting: APR 1990
Must use starting: APR 1990
Must use until: DEC 1994
May use until: DEC 1994

References:

Referenced by:

Comments: Clause 6.3 changed - added appliance motors. Appendix A4 added for direct flicker measurement.

(source)

Equivalent to: EN 61000-3-3:1995 & IEC 61000-3-3:1994 Edition 1 (reissued 1 JAN 1997)
Replaces: IEC 555-3:1982+A1:1990
Replaced by: IEC 61000-3-3:1994+A1:2001

For:
Ratified/printed: DEC 1994
May use starting: DEC 1994
Must use starting: DEC 1994
Must use until: 2001
May use until: 2001

References:
* IEC 50(161):1990
* IEC 335-2-7:1993
* IEC 335-2-11:1993
* IEC 725:1981
* IEC 868:1986+A1:1990
* IEC 1000-3-5:1994

Referenced by:
* IEC 61000-6-3:1996 Edition 1

Comments:

(hardcopy)

Equivalent to: EN 61000-3-3:1995 & IEC 1000-3-3:1994 Edition 1 (reissued 1 JAN 1997)
Replaces: IEC 555-3:1982+A1:1990
Replaced by: IEC 61000-3-3:1994+A1:2001 & IEC 61000-3-3:2002 Edition 1.1

For:
Ratified/printed: DEC 1994
May use starting: DEC 1994
Must use starting: DEC 1994
Must use until: 2001
May use until: 2001

References:
* IEC 50(161):1990
* IEC 335-2-7:1993
* IEC 335-2-11:1993
* IEC 725:1981
* IEC 868:1986+A1:1990
* IEC 1000-3-5:1994

Referenced by:
* IEC 61326:2002 Edition 1

Comments:

(hardcopy)

Equivalent to: EN 61000-3-3:1995+A1:2001
Replaces: IEC 1000-3-3:1994 Edition 1 & IEC 61000-3-3:1994 Edition 1
Replaced by: IEC 61000-3-3:1994+A1:2001+A2:2005 & IEC 61000-3-3:2002+A2:2005

For:
Ratified/printed: 2001
May use starting: 2001
Must use starting: 2001
Must use until: AUG 2005
May use until: AUG 2005

References:
* IEC 60050(161):1990
* IEC 60335-2-11:1993
* IEC 60725:1981
* IEC 60868:1986+A1:1990
* IEC 60974-1
* IEC 61000-3-2
* IEC 61000-3-5:1994
* IEC 61000-3-11

Referenced by:
* EN 61326-1:2006
* EN 61326-2-3:2006
* IEC 61326-1:2005 Edition 1
* IEC 61326-2-3:2006 Edition 1

Comments: Section 1 changed- non-compliant equipment may be tested to IEC 61000-3-11:2000 instead. Section 2 changed- additional references. Section 3 changed - some definitions changed or added. Section 4 changed- method of assessing relative voltage change. Section 5 changed- limits. Sections 6.1 and 6.6 changed - general test conditions changed. Section A.2 changed- test conditions for lighting and similar equipment. Section A.3 changed- test conditions for washing machines. Sections A.13 changed/added- test conditions for audio-frequency amplifiers. Section A.14 changed/added- test conditions for air conditioners, dehumidifiers, heat pumps, and commercial refridgerating equipment. Section A.15 changed/added- test conditions for arc-welding equipment. Annex B changed - test conditions and procedures for manual switching.

(hardcopy & d:\dbi\iec61000-3-3.pdf)

Equivalent to: AS/NZS 61000.3.3:2006 (unmodified) & EN 61000-3-3:1995+A1:2001+A2:2005
Replaces: IEC 61000-3-3:1994+A1:2001 & IEC 61000-3-3:2002 Edition 1.1
Replaced by: IEC 61000-3-3:2008 Edition 2

For:
Ratified/printed: AUG 2005
May use starting: AUG 2005
Must use starting: AUG 2005
Must use until: 23 JUN 2008
May use until: 23 JUN 2008

References:
* IEC 60050(161):1990
* IEC 60335-2-11:1993
* IEC 60725:1981
* IEC 60868:1986+A1:1990
* IEC 60974-1
* IEC 61000-3-2
* IEC 61000-3-5:1994
* IEC 61000-3-11

Referenced by:

Comments:

(hardcopy & d:\dbi\iec61000-3-3.pdf & d:\dbi\iec61000-3-3-amd2{ed1.0}b.pdf)

Equivalent to: EN 61000-3-3:2008
Replaces: IEC 61000-3-3:1994+A1:2001+A2:2005 & IEC 61000-3-3:2002+A2:2005
Replaced by:

For:
Ratified/printed: 23 JUN 2008
May use starting: 23 JUN 2008
Must use starting: 23 JUN 2008
Must use until: 30 AUG 2000
May use until: 30 AUG 2000

References:
* IEC 60050(161):1990
* IEC/TR 607251
* IEC 60974-1
* IEC 61000-3-2:2005
* IEC 61000-3-11
* IEC 61000-4-15

Referenced by:
* AS/NZS 4251.1:1999 (undated)
* AS/NZS 61000.6.3:2007 (undated)
* EN 61000-6-3:2007 (undated)
* IEC 61000-6-3:2006 Edition 2 (undated)

Comments:

(hardcopy & d:\dbi\iec61000-3-3{ed2.0}b.pdf)

Equivalent to: EN 61000-3-11:2000
Replaces:
Replaced by:

For:
Ratified/printed: 30 AUG 2000
May use starting: 30 AUG 2000
Must use starting: 30 AUG 2000
Must use until:
May use until:

References:

Referenced by:
* AS/NZS 61000.3.3:2006 (undated)
* AS/NZS 61000.6.3:2007 (undated)
* EN 61000-3-3:1995+A1:2001 (undated)
* EN 61000-3-3:1995+A1:2001+A2:2005 (undated)
* EN 61000-3-3:2008 (undated)
* EN 61000-6-3:2007 (undated)
* EN 61326-1:2006
* EN 61326-2-3:2006
* IEC 61000-3-3:1994+A1:2001 (undated)
* IEC 61000-3-3:2002 Edition 1.1 (undated)
* IEC 61000-3-3:1994+A1:2001+A2:2005 (undated)
* IEC 61000-3-3:2002+A2:2005 (undated)
* IEC 61000-3-3:2008 Edition 2 (undated)
* IEC 61000-6-3:2006 Edition 2 (undated)
* IEC 61326-1:2005 Edition 1
* IEC 61326-2-3:2006 Edition 1

Comments:

(source)

These web pages can point you to regulations and standards applying to your product(s), but please refer to the regulations and standards themselves when deciding how to test your product(s). A regulation's or standard's title gives you strong clues as to what it covers, but its scope (usually section 1) tells you for sure. Carefully check the footnotes in tables, to see if your product falls into an exception that lets you avoid unnecessary tests (or sometimes requires additional special testing). Exceptions that can help you also sometimes hide in the Test Setup section (usually section 7). Also check the Test Report section (usually section 10) for any special documentation required.

Please send critiques, corrections, and/or additions to jrbarnes@iglou.com , or by snailmail to:
John Barnes
216 Hillsboro Ave
Lexington, KY 40511-2105

We'd like to thank all of the clients who chose dBi to test their products from 1995 to 2013. Below is a brief summary of our accomplishments during the 18 years we were in business.

From 1995 to 2001, under Don Bush's ownership and operation, dBi:

• Did the official approval testing of 141 products developed by 20 client companies.
• Did the official FCC/ Industry Canada (IC) Verification and Declaration of Conformity (DoC) testing of 92 products.
• Did the official FCC/IC Certification testing of 15 products.
• Did the official CE Marking testing of 100 products.

From 2002 to 2013, under John Barnes' ownership and operation, dBi:

• Tested 389 products and 2 testers developed by 44 client companies.
• Did the official approval testing of 357 products and 2 testers, getting all but 5 of them to meet all of the FCC, Industry Canada (IC), CE Marking, C-Tick, and Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) standards and requirements for their desired market areas.
• Did the official FCC/IC Verification and Declaration of Conformity (DoC) testing of 296 products.
• Did the official FCC/IC Certification testing of 24 products.
• Did the official CE Marking testing of 271 products and 2 testers.
• Did the official e-Mark testing of 3 products.
• Did the official Australia/New Zealand Verification testing of 170 products.
• Co-sponsored John's writing the Robust Electronic Design Reference Book, Volumes I and II.
• Served as an expert witness on electronics in three lawsuits.

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Last revised December 2, 2011.