EMC chamber fits into small spaces

ETS-Lindgren’s SpaceSaver 26H reduces the footprint needed for 3-m emissions testing.

EMC test chambers take up space. It’s what they do. Physics has something to do with that. Even so, ETS-Lindgren has developed the SpaceSaver 26H EMC chamber, which the company installed at the E3 Compliance test lab facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The chamber pushes the boundaries of RF shielding design ever smaller.

The modular, RF shielded, semi-anechoic chamber addresses space constraints often found in test labs. Its nominal inside shield dimensions are 7.45 m L × 3 m W × 3 m H (24 ft L × 10 ft W × 10 ft H). That’s smaller than a typical chamber but still maintains the needed 3-meter dimension critical for radiated and conducted emissions measurements. ETS-Lindgren claims “exceptional anechoic test environment and superior performance surpassing stringent standards.”

The RF-shielded door, equipped with a limit switch, measures 1.1 m W × 2 m H (3.9 ft W × 6.8 ft H), thus providing convenient access to the chamber while maintaining its shielding effectiveness. To enhance accessibility when moving equipment into or out, the chamber door includes a two-piece aluminum ramp with a weight capacity of 317 kg (700 lb).

ETS-Lindgren engineers installed DuraSorb absorbers on the chamber walls, which produce high-performance test results across various frequency bands by absorbing reflections. The chamber’s reflectivity exceeds 35 dB at frequencies above 8 GHz. The absorber’s power handling capacity is 106 W/m² (0.068 W/in²). Because most test chambers require some customization, ETS-Lindgren specifies the chamber’s frequency range to 7 GHz with up to 40 GHz available in request.

The chamber uses ETS-Lindgren’s 7-TR/POL tripod antenna positional, which uses non-metallic, non-reflective materials that will not distort measured data. The chamber’s floor features a raised 6.5-in ground plane equipped with access hatches and a dielectric floor underlay with vapor barrier that supports a turntable.