Deep Sea Electronics - making groundbreaking technology which is ...

TESTING
The importance of vigorous EMC
testing on products
Quality is extremely important to Deep Sea Electronics (DSE) at the forefront of the generator
control industry for over 35 years. Its new products are subjected to vigorous EMC tests which
need to be met before any product is launched, reports Technical Director, Dave Hartley.
Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (EMC)
testing is essential to ensure
electrical interference or 'noise'
levels are addressed and kept in check.
EMC can be simply defined as a product
not providing sources of electromagnetic
interference to other equipment, whilst
at the same time not being the subject of
interference from other equipment, such
that normal operation is compromised.
Generally, EMC 'noise' can be generated
by equipment, or natural sources, and be
transmitted through the air or be
conducted via cables as a potential
disturbance to a piece of equipment.
A piece of equipment can also be a
possible generator of EMC as well as also
susceptible to EMC from other equipment.
Therefore, EMC protection has to be
designed to cover both. The aim of
building in EMC protection circuitry is for
the equipment to be able to control all
reasonable levels of EMC and continue in
normal operation.
Years of testing and experience have
gone into developing Industry Standards
for a wide variety of applications, with
the BS-EN 61000 series being generally
accepted. The Standards subscribe to
acceptable test limits for Industry
Radiated Emission testing
applications, and are
widely accepted. Several
years ago, Deep Sea
Electronics (DSE) took a
decision to design and test
to EMC levels which
exceeded recognised
Standards.
Despite putting an extra
load on the design
elements of a Control
Module, the aim was to
provide additional EMC
protection as a more robust benefit in the
field. To achieve these aims, it was
necessary to provide an on-site
development and test facility, which is
now part of the fabric in DSE.
Initially, the investment level in
Industry-accepted test equipment, such as
Schaffner, was very high but this has
subsequently proved to be a wise
investment.
A screened room was built to
accommodate testing and now gives DSE
the ability to test to pre-Compliance
levels in the full confidence that results
will ultimately be confirmed at a
recognised laboratory for Certification
purposes.
There are currently seven Test and
Development Engineers trained in EMC
testing at DSE. Each engineer carries out
testing to a pre-defined set of test
procedures and standard reports.
Such is the quality of the testing and
equipment available that customers have
been known to ask if the facility could be
made available to them, for their own
equipment testing.
When all is said and done, the approach
taken by DSE can only be justified by
positive results in the field. This,
ultimately, is down to feedback from
Conducted Emissions testing
Readout from Conducted Emissions
testing.
Customers who are now increasingly
aware of EMC effects on their business.
One such major customer, in Brazil, who
carries out his own independent EMC
checks, has declared that DSE products
are the "most resilient products they have
tested", amongst all they have covered.
Based in the UK, Deep Sea Electronics is
the world's largest designer and
manufacturer of engine and generator
control modules.
Established in 1975 the company has
established a strong reputation for its
groundbreaking technology which is
simple to operate and extremely
reliable.
AIP
Internet link
www.deepseaplc.com
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A UTUMN 2010 • AMERICAN I NDEPENDENT P OWER