EMC Hub

5 Best EMC Books to Read in 2024 (Recommended by EMC Experts)

Written by DENPAFLUX Editorial Team | Mar 7, 2024 11:59:52 AM

The EMC world has grown quite rapidly in the past few years. Technology and standards are continuously evolving and becoming more complex to fit our needs better. To keep up with the latest trends, it's essential to stay educated on all things EMC-related by reading books, attending conferences, or taking classes that offer certifications in this field. In this article, the DENPAFLUX team of EMC experts shares with you some of their must-read EMC books.

1. Electromagnetic Compatibility Engineering by Henry W. Ott

Complete with over 250 problems with answers, it remains one of the most  important reads for professionals/engineers interested in the EMC field.

If you want to learn about EMC in-depth, Electromagnetic Compatibility Engineering will be the best choice. The author of this book has done an excellent job of making complex subjects easy to understand. The book is a comprehensive resource, covering everything about electromagnetic compatibility starting from basic principles through circuit design techniques, electromagnetic transients, shielding, etc.

"Henry Ott has literally 'written the book' on the subject of EMC.... He not only knows the subject but has the rare ability to communicate that knowledge to others." —EE Times

  • Publisher: Wiley (2009)
  • Language: English
  • Length: ‎880 pages

This book explains core information—cabling, grounding, filtering, shielding, digital circuit grounding and layout, ESD—and includes coverage of the following:

  • Equipment/systems grounding
  • Switching power supplies and variable-speed motor drives
  • Digital circuit power distribution and decoupling
  • PCB layout and stack-up
  • Mixed-signal PCB layout
  • RF and transient immunity
  • Power-line disturbances
  • Pre-compliance EMC measurements
  • New appendices on dipole antennas, the theory of partial inductance, and the ten most common EMC problems

The reader will also find different examples of circuit simulations and practical designs that can be used for implementing circuits and systems or even developing new products with good EMC properties.

This book is helpful for engineers and researchers who are interested in developing new products with good EMC characteristics. They can use this book as excellent resource material since it has all the necessary information on how to implement these features in existing products or develop new ones based on current practices at companies such as Boeing, Airbus, and Ford.

2. EMC for Product Designers
by Tim Williams

EMC is an important part of product design but can be complicated. EMC for Product Designers by Tim Williams is a great resource for beginners to get started with EMC and learn the basics.

This book covers all the fundamentals you need to know, including electromagnetic theory and the basics of EMI/RFI testing. It also has chapters on common problems in products (such as ground loops or power supply noise) to help you avoid them in future designs.

About the author: "Tim Williams worked for a variety of companies as an electronic design engineer and has monitored the progress of the EMC Directive and its associated standards since it was first made public, over the last 25 years."

  • Publisher: Newnes; 5th edition (2016)
  • Language: English
  • Length: 552 pages

EMC for Product Designers shows you how to incorporate EMC principles into the product design process, avoiding cost and performance penalties while meeting the needs of specific standards and producing a better overall product. As well as covering the 2016 versions of the EU EMC and Radio directives, this new edition has been thoroughly updated to be in line with the latest best practices in EMC compliance and product design. 

New material added in this book:

  • A chapter on EMC and functional safety
  • A chapter on international compliance requirements
  • Design and installation aspects of switch-mode power converters, including DC/DC converters and variable-speed motor drives
  • New details on CISPR 32
  • Update to new versions of DEF STAN 59-411, DO-160, and MIL-STD 461, with more commentary on implications and requirements of military and aerospace standards, an added reference to CE Marking for military products, and problems of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) systems
  • New sections on IC emissions measurements per IEC 61967, and immunity tests per IEC 62132
  • New coverage of FFT/time-domain receivers
  • Expanded section on military/aerospace RF and transient immunity
  • The latest practice in PCB layout with more discussion of slots in ground planes
  • Current practices for decoupling
  • The latest 2016 mandatory regulations of the Radio Equipment Directive and the EMC Directive

3. Printed Circuit Board Design Techniques for EMC Compliance
by Mark I. Montrose

Printed Circuit Board Design Techniques for EMC Compliance is the perfect book for everyone who wants to learn about PCB design. This book is ideal for designers with knowledge of EMC who are seeking information about the required testing standards for their product.

The author, Mark I. Montrose, has explained all of the techniques in detail so that they are easy to understand and implement by anyone with some experience with circuit boards or electronics. He explains how to determine whether a new design meets EMC requirements before building anything, and he provides a list of common sources of RFI problems and ways to fix them.

About the author: Mark Montrose specializes in electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) as well as system-level design for both domestic and international regulatory requirements and functionality.

  • Publisher: Wiley-IEEE Press; 2nd edition (2000)
  • Language: English
  • Length: 336 pages

The DENPAFLUX EMC team recommends this book to anyone who designs circuit boards professionally or as a hobbyist. Key topics discussed include:

  • Introduction to EMC
  • Interconnects and I/O
  • PCB basics
  • Electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection
  • Bypassing and decoupling
  • Backplanes, ribbon cables, and daughter cards
  • Clock circuits, trace routing, and terminations

4. Grounds for Grounding by Elya B. Joffe and Kai-Sang Lock

Grounding is a critical aspect of EMC. Good knowledge of grounding is critical for every single person interested in building reliable electronics. Grounds for Grounding is a comprehensive guide to designing electrical and electronic circuits and systems. It combines theory and practical examples to show how a few fundamental principles can be applied to a wide range of situations.

The authors start by introducing the foundational concepts of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), including the often misunderstood concept of a "ground loop." They then delve into the various types of grounding, including safety grounding, grounding for electromagnetic interference control, and case studies related to grounding.

  • Publisher: Wiley-IEEE Press (2010)
  • Language: English
  • Length: 1088 pages

The following topics are covered in subsequent chapters:

  • Fundamentals of grounding design
  • Bonding principles
  • Grounding for power distribution and lightning protection systems
  • Grounding in wiring circuits and cable shields
  • Grounding of EMI terminal protection devices
  • Grounding on printed circuit boards
  • Integrated facility and platform grounding systems

The book includes practical case studies to help readers understand the concepts, and each chapter concludes with a bibliography. Grounds for Grounding is an essential resource for electrical and electronic engineers who design circuits, systems, and facilities.

5. Signal and Power Integrity by Eric Bogatin

This best-selling book focuses on the fields of signal and power integrity. Dr. Bogatin gives clear explanations about the fundamentals of both areas.

About the author: Eric Bogatin is a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in signal integrity and system design. In 2011, his company, Bogatin Enterprises, which he founded with his wife Susan in 1990, was acquired by Teledyne LeCroy. He also created the Signal Integrity Academy, a web portal that provides his classes and training content online, for individuals and for companies.

  • Publisher: Prentice Hall; 3rd edition (2018)
  • Language: English
  • Length‏: ‎992 pages

The book starts by introducing concepts such as time and frequency domains, and explaining the relationship between switching speed and bandwidth. It continues with discussions of impedance in ideal situations as well as in real ones, considering losses and parasitic components. It ends with S-parameters and their use in signal and power integrity. Each chapter is completed with a set of review questions.

This book covers the following topics:

  • The basics of signal integrity and power integrity
  • Impedance and its effects on signal integrity
  • Transmission lines: reflections, skin effect, losses, crosstalk
  • S-parameters and their relevance to signal integrity

The Ever-Evolving Field of EMC

Our EMC experts have extensive experience with EMC and have worked with some of the best professionals in the industry. They understand the importance of staying educated on the latest trends. We've looked at five books that can help you do this, and DENPAFLUX's personalized consulting services can also help. Contact us today to schedule a free meeting and learn how DENPAFLUX can help you understand and overcome your EMC challenges.