16 Amps Three-Phase LISN for MIL-STD-461 CE102 Testing

General

• Product Type: Three-Phase LISN
• Application: CE102 Conducted Emissions Testing
• Standards: MIL-STD-461D/E/F/G
• Network Type: 50 Ω / 50 µH Four-Conductor
• Frequency Range: 10 kHz–10 MHz

Insertion Loss

• 10 kHz–150 kHz: <26 to <21 dB
• 150 kHz–10 MHz: <21 dB

Input Power Ratings (EUT)

• Maximum Current: 16 A per phase (continuous)
• AC Voltage: 865 V rms (L-L), 500 V rms (L-G); 50/60 Hz
• AC Voltage: 270 V rms (L-G) at 400 Hz; 135 V rms (L-G) at 800 Hz
• DC Voltage: 600 V DC

Connections

• 25A receptacle pins / plug sockets / receptacle sockets / plug pins
• RF Port: 50 Ω N-Type (female)
• Fiber Optic Ports: Avago Duplex Latching POF
• Remote Power Input: 6 VDC, 500 mA
• Fan Power Input: 15 VDC, 500 mA

Environmental / Cooling

• Cooling: Louvered panels with dual forced-air internal fans

Product Weight

• Weight: 41.20 lbs (18.69 kg)

LI-3P-416 V2.0 MIL-STD-461 Three-Phase LISN FAQs

What is the LI-3P-416 and what military standard does it satisfy?

The LI-3P-416 V2.0 is a four-conductor, 50Ω, 50 μH three-phase Line Impedance Stabilization Network (LISN) designed specifically for CE102 power-line conducted emission compliance testing in accordance with MIL-STD-461D, E, F, and G. It provides a defined, stable impedance reference for the Equipment Under Test, isolates the EUT from the facility power source, and couples disturbance voltages to the coaxial measurement port for connection to an EMI receiver or spectrum analyzer.

How does the LI-3P-416 differ from the LI-3P-116 and LI-3P-216 commercial LISN models?

The LI-3P-116 is designed for commercial testing under CISPR 16-1-2 and ANSI C63.4 from 150 kHz to 30 MHz. The LI-3P-216 uses a V-AMN 50/250 μH +5Ω network for CISPR 16-1-2 V-network testing from 9 kHz to 30 MHz. The LI-3P-416 uses a standard 50 μH network calibrated to MIL-STD-461 for CE102 testing from 10 kHz to 10 MHz, operates across military power frequencies including 400 Hz and 800 Hz, and is required when the applicable standard is MIL-STD-461 rather than a commercial EMC framework.

What is CE102 and why does it require a dedicated military-compliant LISN?

CE102 is the conducted emissions test requirement in MIL-STD-461 for power leads, covering 10 kHz to 10 MHz. It applies to equipment on military platforms including ships, aircraft, vehicles, submarines, and ground installations. CE102 specifies a 50Ω, 50 μH LISN calibrated to MIL-STD-461 requirements. A LISN calibrated only to CISPR 16-1-2 or ANSI C63.4 does not satisfy the CE102 measurement requirements and would not be accepted by a DoD-recognized test facility.

What frequency range does the LI-3P-416 cover and how does this compare to commercial LISN products?

The LI-3P-416 covers 10 kHz to 10 MHz — the CE102 range defined by MIL-STD-461. This differs from commercial LISNs: the LI-3P-116 covers 150 kHz to 30 MHz, and the LI-3P-216 covers 9 kHz to 30 MHz. The 10 MHz upper limit is sufficient for CE102 compliance, while the 10 kHz lower limit captures low-frequency conducted emissions critical for military power systems operating at 50/60 Hz, 400 Hz, and 800 Hz.

What military platform power frequencies does the LI-3P-416 accommodate?

The LI-3P-416 accommodates multiple military and aerospace power frequencies: 50/60 Hz commercial mains at up to 865 V RMS line-to-line and 500 V RMS line-to-ground; 400 Hz aircraft and shipboard power at up to 270 V RMS line-to-ground; and 800 Hz high-frequency military power at up to 135 V RMS line-to-ground. This multi-frequency capability allows the LI-3P-416 to be used across the full range of military platform power environments without requiring separate LISNs for each power frequency.

What versions of MIL-STD-461 does the LI-3P-416 comply with?

The LI-3P-416 is fully compliant with MIL-STD-461D, MIL-STD-461E, MIL-STD-461F, and MIL-STD-461G, covering all major revisions currently in use by the U.S. Department of Defense and allied defense organizations. This ensures acceptance by test laboratories conducting CE102 testing for programs under any of these specification generations.

What insertion loss does the LI-3P-416 provide across its 10 kHz to 10 MHz frequency range?

Insertion loss decreases from less than 26 dB at 10 kHz to less than 21 dB at 125 kHz, then remains below 21 dB from 125 kHz through 10 MHz. This profile is characteristic of the 50 μH LISN network at military test frequencies and meets MIL-STD-461 specification requirements for the CE102 measurement configuration.

How does the LI-3P-416 remote line switching system work in a military EMC test environment?

The RLI V2.0 Remote LISN Interface allows the operator to switch between L1, L2, L3, and Neutral via a 10-meter fiber optic cable from outside the shielded enclosure. Lines not selected are internally terminated into 50Ω, while the selected line is terminated by the 50Ω input impedance of the EMI receiver. This eliminates the need to enter the test enclosure or disturb the EUT configuration between line measurements — particularly important in defense facilities where EUT access may require safety procedural steps.

Why does the LI-3P-416 include forced-air cooling even at a 16 A current rating?

All models in the LI-3P-4x MIL-STD-461 series include two user-controlled internal fans as a standard feature. Military test programs often involve extended continuous-operation testing at full rated load, and 400 Hz and 800 Hz operation increases eddy current losses in LISN components compared to 50/60 Hz. The forced-air cooling system, powered by a dedicated 15 VDC rear-panel supply, ensures thermal stability during prolonged compliance test sequences at any supported power frequency.

How does a typical CE102 three-phase test setup using the LI-3P-416 look in a MIL-STD-461 test facility?

The LI-3P-416 is placed on a bonding plane inside a shielded enclosure, with the unpainted mounting plate bonded directly to the plane. The facility three-phase supply at the appropriate military power frequency connects to the mains input port. The EUT connects to the EUT output port using the color-coded 25A connectors. A 50Ω N-Type coaxial cable connects the RF measurement port to an EMI receiver configured for 10 kHz to 10 MHz. The RLI V2.0 fiber optic cable exits through a shielded penetration. Cooling fans are activated before the EUT is energized, and the operator performs sequential CE102 sweeps on L1, L2, L3, and Neutral from outside the enclosure.

In what military and defense application areas is the LI-3P-416 most commonly used?

The LI-3P-416 is most commonly used in test laboratories qualifying three-phase equipment for naval surface ships and submarines, military aircraft systems powered by 400 Hz three-phase supplies, ground vehicle and armored platform electronics, military ground installation equipment, and defense communications infrastructure. It is also used for 800 Hz aerospace subsystem testing and by prime contractors performing MIL-STD-461 qualification for Department of Defense programs across all service branches.

What are the EUT power ratings for equipment connected to the LI-3P-416?

The LI-3P-416 supports 16 A per phase continuous, 865 V RMS line-to-line and 500 V RMS line-to-ground at 50/60 Hz, 270 V RMS line-to-ground at 400 Hz, 135 V RMS line-to-ground at 800 Hz, and 600 V DC maximum. This accommodates military equipment in the lower three-phase current range, including avionics power distribution units, shipboard electronics, and vehicle subsystem controllers.

Why are air-core inductors essential in the LI-3P-416 for military conducted emissions testing?

Air-core inductors maintain constant inductance regardless of current, temperature, or frequency. This is critical because CE102 testing spans 10 kHz to 10 MHz across power frequencies including 400 Hz and 800 Hz. Ferrite or steel-core inductors would exhibit permeability variation across this range and could saturate at peak current, altering the 50 μH impedance characteristic required by MIL-STD-461 and introducing errors into CE102 results.

Why must the LI-3P-416 mounting plate be bonded to the bonding plane and how is this done correctly?

The unpainted mounting plate must make direct metal-to-metal contact with the bonding plane specified by MIL-STD-461. Equipment leakage currents must return to ground through the LISN chassis, and the bonding plane provides the reference ground required for valid CE102 measurements. A missing or high-impedance bond corrupts measurements and creates a safety hazard. The LISN must be positioned on a clean, bare metallic bonding plane surface before connecting the mains supply.

How is the LI-3P-416 calibrated and what documentation is supplied?

Every LI-3P-416 is individually calibrated per MIL-STD-461. Impedance and insertion loss data are supplied with each unit along with a certificate of calibration. ISO 17025 accredited calibration is available upon request for laboratories requiring traceable calibration documentation for DoD-recognized laboratory accreditation programs.

What connector types, current ratings, and optional accessories are available for the LI-3P-416?

The LI-3P-416 uses color-coded 25A rated receptacle and plug connectors on both the mains input and EUT output ports, with five positions for L1, L2, L3, Neutral, and Protective Earth. The RF port uses a 50Ω N-Type female connector. The optional LIA-COAX-E coaxial adapter with plug pins connects to the LISN EUT port, and the LIA-COAX-M coaxial adapter with plug sockets connects to the mains port — accommodating custom cable terminations common in military test configurations.

How does the LI-3P-416 fit within the full LI-3P-4x series for MIL-STD-461 CE102 testing programs?

The LI-3P-4x series covers four current tiers: LI-3P-416 at 16 A, LI-3P-432 at 32 A, LI-3P-463 at 63 A, and LI-3P-4100 at 100 A per phase. All four models share the same 50Ω 50 μH network topology, 10 kHz to 10 MHz range, MIL-STD-461D/E/F/G compliance, forced-air cooling, multi-frequency AC voltage ratings, and RLI V2.0 remote switching. Test procedures are identical across all four models, allowing laboratories to scale from 16 A subsystem testing up to 100 A platform equipment testing while maintaining the same CE102 methodology throughout.

How is the LI-3P-416 used when qualifying avionics or airborne equipment powered by a 400 Hz three-phase supply?

For airborne equipment powered by 115/200 V 400 Hz three-phase, the LI-3P-416 is connected to a 400 Hz power source such as a ground support frequency converter replicating the aircraft bus. The EUT — an avionics power distribution unit, aircraft motor controller, or electronic warfare subsystem — is operated at rated load while CE102 sweeps from 10 kHz to 10 MHz are performed on each phase and neutral via the RLI V2.0 remote switching. The 400 Hz power frequency falls far below the CE102 measurement band and does not interfere with conducted emissions data. This configuration is standard for MIL-STD-461 pre-compliance and formal qualification of airborne equipment at depot and prime contractor facilities.

What does a MIL-STD-461 CE102 pre-compliance screening session with the LI-3P-416 look like for a small three-phase military subsystem?

In a pre-compliance session, the LI-3P-416 is set up on a portable bonding plane in an engineering lab or screen room. A commercial three-phase power supply at the appropriate frequency feeds the LISN; the EUT — such as a small motor drive or power supply module — connects to the EUT output port. A spectrum analyzer replaces the formal EMI receiver for speed and cost efficiency. The engineer runs quick peak scans on each phase from 10 kHz to 10 MHz, noting frequencies approaching the CE102 limit before formal qualification. This early identification allows design modifications before the formal test event, reducing first-attempt failure probability, re-test costs, and schedule delays.

How is the LI-3P-416 used in a vehicle integration laboratory to test ground vehicle electronic subsystems?

In a ground vehicle integration lab, the LI-3P-416 tests three-phase electronic assemblies before they are installed in the vehicle platform. Powered from a simulated vehicle supply at the appropriate frequency, the EUT might be an auxiliary power unit controller, a gunner’s sight motor drive, or a three-phase battery charging module. CE102 sweeps confirm compliance before vehicle integration, where modification would be far more difficult. This subsystem-level testing strategy is standard practice in armored vehicle, tactical wheeled vehicle, and military ground mobility platform development programs.

Can the LI-3P-416 be used for shipboard equipment qualification at a naval test facility and what setup considerations apply?

Yes. Naval test facilities routinely use the LI-3P-416 for three-phase shipboard equipment drawing up to 16 A per phase from 440 V 60 Hz or 115/200 V 400 Hz ship distribution systems. The facility power supply must replicate the ship's nominal power characteristics before the test begins, and the LISN bonding plane must replicate the shipboard ground reference. The fiber optic remote switching allows the engineer to select measurement lines from the test control room without entering the shielded space. For 440 V 60 Hz shipboard power at 16 A, the LI-3P-416 is the correct and sufficient LISN without requiring the larger and heavier higher-current models.

How do defense test laboratories use the LI-3P-416 as part of a multi-step MIL-STD-461 qualification plan?

In a formal MIL-STD-461 qualification plan, CE102 with the LI-3P-416 is typically one of several concurrent or sequential test methods applied to the EUT. The same EUT configuration is also used for CS101 susceptibility testing on power leads with the LISN in place, and RE102 radiated emissions testing after the LISN is replaced by a direct mains connection. Careful documentation of the LISN insertion loss correction applied during CE102, and the specific operational mode of the EUT during each sweep, is essential for a defensible qualification test report accepted by the cognizant engineering authority or government program office.

How is the LI-3P-416 used during MIL-STD-461 CE102 testing of a military power supply module on a 400 Hz aircraft test stand?

On a 400 Hz aircraft test stand, the LI-3P-416 connects between the 115/200 V 400 Hz three-phase power source and the military power supply module EUT at rated output load. CE102 sweeps from 10 kHz to 10 MHz on all four conductors are performed via the RLI V2.0 remote interface from outside the shielded room. The 400 Hz test frequency is accommodated without modification, and results are compared against the CE102 limit applicable to the governing revision of MIL-STD-461 to determine whether the module is ready for formal qualification.

What is a typical use case for the LI-3P-416 at a Tier 2 defense subcontractor testing a three-phase power distribution assembly before delivery to a prime contractor?

A Tier 2 defense subcontractor is contractually required to demonstrate MIL-STD-461 CE102 compliance before delivering a three-phase power distribution assembly to the prime contractor. The subcontractor uses an LI-3P-416 in its own facility to perform pre-delivery CE102 testing at rated load, simulating the platform power supply conditions specified in the program’s test plan. If the assembly meets CE102 limits, the test data is included in the delivery documentation package. This pre-delivery testing prevents the prime contractor from discovering CE102 non-conformances during system-level integration testing, which would be far more costly to resolve.

How is the LI-3P-416 used in a DoD depot-level maintenance facility to verify CE102 compliance after a three-phase electronic assembly has been repaired or overhauled?

DoD depot-level maintenance facilities that repair and overhaul electronic assemblies are required to verify MIL-STD-461 CE102 compliance before returning assemblies to operational service. For three-phase assemblies drawing up to 16 A per phase, CE102 sweeps from 10 kHz to 10 MHz with the LI-3P-416 confirm that the repair has not introduced new conducted emissions sources or degraded existing EMI suppression. Measurement results are recorded in the assembly’s maintenance log as part of the return-to-service documentation.