This part of IEC 61000, which is an IEC technical report, reviews the sources and effects of power frequency conducted harmonic current emissions in the frequency range up to 2 kHz on the public electricity supply, and gives an account of the reasoning and calculations leading to the existing emission limits for equipment in the editions of IEC 61000‑3‑2, up to and including the second edition (2000) and its first amendment (2001), and in the first edition of IEC 61000‑3‑12 (2004).

The concepts in this technical report apply to all low voltage AC systems, but the numerical values apply specifically to the European 230 V/400 V 50 Hz system.