It can cause electrical and electronic devices to malfunction or even break down completely.
So, what causes EMI?
How does it affect your electronics, and how can you protect against its harmful effects?
What Causes EMI?
In general, EMI has three causes: natural, man-made, and inherent.
Natural EMI is some of the most dangerous types of EMI.
Man-Made Interference
Man-made EMI is generated by human-manufactured devices, equipment, and structures.
This problem often stems from poor product designs being manufactured without proper testing.
Inherent EMI is often the hardest to protect against, as the interference comes from the machine itself.
A coupling mechanism is the various modes or ways energy is transmitted from source to gadget.
By doing so, you might determine what areas should be shielded from it.
These are the four coupling mechanisms of EMI that you should focus on to protect your gear.
It is caused when two or more devices utilizing different frequencies get connected through cables causing them to malfunction.
This key in of EMI is often a problem for various power supplies.
Radiation
This pops up if electronic devices are overwhelmed by radio waves.
Capacitive EMI is often a result of poor design or malfunctioning components inside a circuit.
It is also the most common coupling mechanism for Inherent EMIs.
This is often observed when cables without proper shielding get bundled together, generating Eddy currents that affect devices.
This, however, doesn’t guarantee that your gear is safe from EMI.
venture to implement as many of the following whenever applicable.
Proper Cable Shielding
Cables and wiring are common pathways where EMI can creep into your gear or equipment.
Shielded cables are simply cables that come insulated with an extra layer of aluminum.
Proper Distance
All electronic devices will emit some level of noise into the atmosphere.
It is best to allocate proper distances between them to ensure these signals don’t interfere with each other.
This, however, cannot be further from the truth.
In fact, you’re probably already experiencing EMI inside your household.
EMI doesn’t always result in devices malfunctioning.
Household EMI isn’t often strong enough to affect the performance of your devices.
Although the effect might not show immediately, the weak but constant interferences lower your electronics' life span.
