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The EMC Chamber –
one of Bovington’s
hidden assets
Challenger 2 in the EMCC
It is not common knowledge
that one of the buildings at
DSG Bovington houses an
Electro-Magnetic Compatibility
Chamber (EMCC). This facility
enables measurements to be
made of electrical emissions
from the equipment fitted into
vehicles that might otherwise
cause problems.
Electro-magnetic radiation often causes
interference, particularly when rapidlychanging
electrical currents are produced
by on-board equipment.
There is an increasing amount of
electronic and electrical devices being
fitted into military vehicles such as
sensors, air conditioning, computers and
weapons systems, as well as engine
ignition and management systems. It is
important that they all operate together
compatibly and particularly that they do
not interfere with the vehicle’s own radio
communications. The process also
eliminates the emission of electronic
noise, which could give away the vehicle’s
location in a hostile environment.
Constructed in 1992, it was the second
largest EMCC in Europe at that time.
Measuring 18.5 metres square, with a
height of seven metres, it is still one of the
biggest facilities of its type in regular use.
As well as being physically big, the
chamber has a strengthened floor,
enabling it to take loads of up to 70 tons.
Three different standards of measurement
are applied - DRE01, DRE03 and MVEE
595. Each one uses different antenna and
measuring parameters. MVEE 595 is the
test most commonly carried out, as it
specifically covers the frequency range of
standard military communications (HF 2 –
30Mhz and VHF 30 – 76Mhz).
Measurements taken by detectors flag up
whether or not predetermined pass limits
are achieved.
When there is a high emission or a
problem, the culprit can be identified and
remedial action taken. This usually means
adjusting the equipment, changing
components, improving its earthing, or
bonding to enable re-testing to take place.
Bovington use the EMCC for suppression
checks on Challenger tanks, Challenger
Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicles
and vehicles coming through on
programmed Economical Base Repair, but
it is also open to other users. Facility
Manager Steve Payne told Digest, “The
Bovington EMCC is available for use by
other Business Streams within DSG as
well as other parts of the MOD or the
Defence Industry. At one time or another
most of the standard range of in-service
military vehicles have been through the
chamber, but other types to have been
tested in the EMCC include prototype
police cars, fire engines and 4x4 vehicles.”
“
The Bovington
EMCC is available for
use by other Business
Streams within DSG
as well as other parts
of the MOD or the
Defence Industry.
”
www.dsg.mod.uk December/January 2011 DIGEST
17