Westek Electronics supplies Surge Generator Testing equipment for IEC 61000-4-5 applications, supporting practical EMC development and compliance work.
Surge generator testing helps engineering teams evaluate how electrical and electronic equipment responds to high-energy transient disturbances before formal assessment or release. At Westek Electronics, we supply EMC test equipment for Australian applications, including Schlöder surge generators and coupling accessories for IEC 61000-4-5 test environments.
What IEC 61000-4-5 Surge Testing Actually Assesses
IEC 61000-4-5 establishes a common method for evaluating equipment immunity to unidirectional surges associated with switching and lightning effects. The standard defines test levels, equipment, setups and procedures rather than simply requiring a product to withstand an arbitrary high-voltage pulse.
A typical combination-wave surge generator produces a 1.2/50 µs open-circuit voltage waveform and an 8/20 µs short-circuit current waveform. Our Schlöder surge generator range includes systems designed for IEC and EN 61000-4-5 applications, with options ranging from compact combination-wave generators to modular high-energy test systems.
For engineering teams, the practical objective is to select equipment that matches the relevant product standard, port type, required test level and intended test environment.
Why the Test Setup Matters
Buying a generator with the right voltage rating is not enough. Surge generator testing depends on the generator, coupling arrangement, equipment under test and monitoring method working together correctly.
Important setup decisions include:
- Correct coupling network: Coupling and decoupling networks apply the surge to the intended power or signal lines while helping isolate auxiliary equipment.
- Relevant ports: AC or DC power inputs, interconnection lines and other ports may require different arrangements under the applicable standard.
- Suitable test level: The required level should come from the relevant product or generic standard and the intended operating environment, not from guesswork.
- EUT monitoring: Engineers need to observe the equipment during and after each test to determine whether resets, performance degradation or other effects occur.
- Verification and records: Generator verification, test settings, polarity, coupling mode and observed results should be documented so the work can be reproduced and reviewed.
Westek also supplies coupling networks and surge-generator accessories that can be configured around different test requirements, including grid, three-phase and signal-line applications.
Choose Equipment Around the Test Requirement
The highest available kV rating should not be the only selection criterion. Before specifying a system, we recommend defining the surge waveform, required test level, line voltage and current, coupling requirements, number of phases, automation needs and whether future standards or product families will require broader test capability.
For example, the CWG 1500 and CWG 2500 are combination-wave generators intended for IEC/EN 61000-4-5 testing, while the PSURGE 30.2 is a modular system designed for higher-energy overvoltage applications. The right platform depends on the actual test program rather than a generic “surge testing” requirement.
This distinction matters for in-house engineering and pre-compliance work. A correctly specified system can support repeatable development testing, troubleshooting and preparation for formal EMC assessment without paying for capability the laboratory does not need.
Get the Surge Test Setup Right Before You Buy
Westek Electronics supplies EMC testing and measurement equipment to Australian engineering teams, laboratories and technical organisations. We can help match Schlöder surge generators, coupling networks and related accessories to the required IEC 61000-4-5 application.
Surge generator selection should be based on the standard, test severity, supply configuration and equipment being evaluated. Request a quote with these details and we can review the application and recommend a practical system for your EMC testing setup.