Impact of higher frequency emission above 2kHz on electronic mass-market equipment

Due to the increasing use of modern technologies (e.g. PWM inverters in PV installations, equipment with active power factor correction circuits, PLC, ...) the emission levels in the frequency range between 2 kHz and 150 kHz are rising continuously. In the recent time the number of reported disturbances (e.g. malfunctions of coffee machines, audible noise of electronic ballasts) caused by this emission is growing. Beside these obvious interferences the question arises, if electronic mass-market equipment is affected by this higher frequency (HF) emission as well. Especially in shunt elements with low impedance at higher frequencies, like DC-link capacitors in rectifier circuits, larger high frequency currents can occur, which may result in additional thermal stress and lifetime reduction. Based on a laboratory setup the paper analyses the impact of HF components in the supply voltage on the operating temperature within different lamps with electronic ballast. Using a laboratory setup the frequency-dependent input behaviour of different electronic equipment was measured up to 50 kHz. For selected lamps detailed temperature studies were carried out.