EMC testing, C Tick, CISPR22 radiated emissions

[Eeyore]

Eeyore

I think that is called a 'mutual recognition agreement' and knowing
about this got us through a sticky situation in Canada where we argued
that since Canada and Europe have an MRA then our product should
comply. MRA's work at the national level but they bought it.

Yuh, getting there. It's like MCB or something. Basically means mutual
accreditation, so work done in one lab will be accepted by another.

Sorry I can't remember the details better.

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

I knew the 5 essential elements the auditors look for and included
these. Later, I was told that the ACA did an EMC audit on this comapny
and they found no issues.

And the 5 essential elements are??? : )

Paperwork obviously.

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

and the technician who did the testing was (to be polite) minimally
qualified.

The first 'official' EMC tests I had to conduct were on a marine radar at
the Admiralty Research Establishment Portsmouth.

Having learnt from my tame consultant previously, the first thing I had to
do was to explain to the tech HOW THE **** to use his measuring kit
PROPERLY. He hadn't a CLUE. In particular he was interested only in wideband
measurements, whereas for diagnosis you need NARROW BAND analysis.

Says it all really. Jobs for the boys. And take no shit from them. If they
can't provide a useful report, don't pay them and sue them for incompetence
in the courts.

Graham

 

[Den]

Sure, it knocked me out too. Sorry my readily accesible records don't go
back
that far but did it all on the internet.

Maybe they clamped up now but it sure WAS the way.

Graham

It's as tight as a fish's bum now. In my limited experience (testing once
every couple of years for the last decade or so) most of our problems have
been with "C-tick compliant" parts (LCD monitors & boxed SMPSs in
particular) making noise. Once these were fixed all was good. In the main
EMC compliance seems to be a farcical rort.

 

[Den]

I knew the 5 essential elements the auditors look for and included
these. Later, I was told that the ACA did an EMC audit on this comapny
and they found no issues.

And the 5 essential elements are??? : )

1. The product name is the same in the test report, documentation and
DOC.
2. The Australian standard referenced on the DOC.
3. There is a clear statement of the conclusion of a pass in the
report.
4. Graphs of spectrum plots.
5. A photo of the product with its covers off.

Of course you should also check the completeness of the technical info
and other details but the above list is what they like to see. You'll
notice that photos are not required by law, but if they ask for them,
I say thats a good enough reason to supply.



Cheers. The inspectors here on the west coast seem pretty reasonable (with
one exception!)
The main test house http://www.qdl.com.au/ is pretty good to work with.
Roman who owns the business runs it hands on and is very helpful in getting
your stuff passed. He won't cut corners in the testing but he doesn't screw
you over either. Hourly rate used to be $200 or $250 / hour for DIY
documentation.

 

[[email protected]]

1. The product name is the same in the test report, documentation and
DOC.
2. The Australian standard referenced on the DOC.
3. There is a clear statement of the conclusion of a pass in the
report.
4. Graphs of spectrum plots.
5.     A photo of the product with its covers off.

Of course you should also check the completeness of the technical info
and other details but the above list is what they like to see. You'll
notice that photos are not required by law, but if they ask for them,
I say thats a good enough reason to supply.

Cheers. The inspectors here on the west coast seem pretty reasonable (with
one exception!)

Any anecdotes you'd like to share? No names needed.

 

[Moonshadow]

Sorry, I don't know any cheaper ones. There are some consultants
around but I don't have any names any more. If you let us know the
type of equipment we may have more suggestions, if it is simple.

I have found with the test houses that I actually knew more sometimes
than they did about the detail of the standards, and in some cases the
tests themselves. (this was due to a lot of hard work myself, and I
only knew a couple of standards, whereas they have to cope with
dozens). If I was not there monitoring the tests, we would have
achieved a fail and a wasted day and $'s.

The benefits of high charges appear to go to the top guys, they do
very nicely but they pay peanuts to the test guys and admin staff.
Plenty of domestic air travel for conferences and the usual executive
trappings. The investment is pretty large though, and they also have a
huge calibration bill.

Thanks for your comments and advice Geoff and Graham.

I've decided that in the short term we'll sell this product overseas
only so as to avoid our draconian regs and penalties.

Moonshadow

 

[Moonshadow]

It was an ACA document.

I seem to recall that NZ had such provision, but not AU.

 

[Den]

1. The product name is the same in the test report, documentation and
DOC.
2. The Australian standard referenced on the DOC.
3. There is a clear statement of the conclusion of a pass in the
report.
4. Graphs of spectrum plots.
5. A photo of the product with its covers off.

Of course you should also check the completeness of the technical info
and other details but the above list is what they like to see. You'll
notice that photos are not required by law, but if they ask for them,
I say thats a good enough reason to supply.

Cheers. The inspectors here on the west coast seem pretty reasonable (with
one exception!)

Any anecdotes you'd like to share? No names needed.



Let's just say that it doesn't help having your know-all boss tell the guy
how to do his job and how well we'd done ours when it was patently obvious
we hadn't and that was the reason he was there. Subsequent follow up audits
were ok. The guys while not letting anything nasty get through were happy
that we had made reasonable efforts to get gear tested & documented - there
were quite a few products, all of them low risk.

%< %<

 

[Joe G \(Home\)]

They're all IEC standards (except in the USA - and even that's changing
and maybe Canada a bit ) no matter what anyone else tells you. And they
can't refuse an
IEC standard AIUI either.

All that happens with the 'national' standard is they put a new cover
sheet on it and add a 'national foreword'. LOL !

What's your kit ? I might be able to save you some trouble.

Graham

Yes.... The Aust puts a rapper on the IEC or EN55022 etc... but... in some
cases there are variations not tested in the international standards.

Joe