Bob, thanks for that information. I guess the second question would be "is the device required to bear a part 15 complaince label?"
This iinformation is very helpful because most of the answers I get from the authorities indicate Canada's Digital Emission standard ( identical to FCC Part15) is for digital products or those containing mnicroprocessors. Thanks Ralph Cameron ----- Original Message ----- From: <r...@etlsemko.com> To: <ral...@igs.net>; <taniagr...@msn.com>; <dmck...@corp.auspex.com>; <emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org> Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2001 2:43 PM Subject: RE: Test Equipment ... > Part 15 does NOT address only digital devices. It does make a lot of > reference to digital devices, presumably because these are the worst > offenders. However, it defines incidental radiator as a product that > generates RF energy while it operates, but is not designed to intentionally > generate RF (e.g. clocks). Examples Part 15 gives include dc motors and > mechanical light switches. Part 2.802 defines a radiofrequency device as ANY > device which is capable of emitting RF energy including "The incidental, > unintentional and intentional radiators defined in part 15". > > Part 15 addresses incidental radiators with its 'motherhood and apple pie' > statement (15.5(b)) - it must not cause interference and must accept it. It > also says (15.13) that manufacturers "shall employ good engineering > practices to minimize the risk of harmful interference". > > 15.101 covers Class A and B external switching power supplies and says that > they are subject to verification. > > For many incidental radiators it may not make sense to do the testing > because the RF generated is very low. However, it may be wise to test some > items like lamp dimmers. > > The bottom line is that Ralph's observation, re: noisy analog devices. is > supported by the FCC. Regardless of being digital or analog, a product is > required to be verified to the limits/intent of Part 15. > > Bob Martin, P.E., N.C.E. > > Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc. > > ETL SEMKO > > 70 Codman Hill Road > > Boxborough, MA 01719 > > Tel (978) 263-2662 Fax (978)263-7086 > > www.etlsemko.com rmar...@etlsemko.com <mailto:rmar...@etlsemko.com> > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Ralph Cameron [mailto:ral...@igs.net] > Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2001 10:01 AM > To: Tania Grant; Doug McKean; EMC-PSTC Discussion Group > Subject: Re: Test Equipment ... > > > Many analog devices such as smps emit (conduct) terrible noise in the radio > spectrum yet they are exempt. How come? I can cite the supplies for low > level halogen/xenon lighting , exercise treadmills and some computer > displays. A switch is a switch is a switch and anything that breaks current > is capable of generating harmful interference- analog is no exception. The > higher the current - the worse the spectral effluent. Where's the rationale > there? > > Ralph Cameron > EMC Consulting and Suppression of Consumer Elelctronics > ( After sale) > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Tania Grant <mailto:taniagr...@msn.com> > To: Doug McKean <mailto:dmck...@corp.auspex.com> ; EMC-PSTC Discussion > Group <mailto:emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org> > Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2001 12:15 AM > Subject: Re: Test Equipment ... > > Doug, et al, > > FCC Part 15 addresses digital devices only. And they continue to use the > term "digital" over and over again. The scope of FCC Part 15 does not > address analog devices, whether they be industrial, commercial, or medical > test equipment. However, the FCC are exempting (and some say temporarily) > digital devices that are "used exclusively as industrial, commercial, or > medical test equipment." Therefore, no, a company that makes analog test > equipment does not have to EMC test such products. (And someone tell me > please how exactly they would test them if they wanted to!) > > taniagr...@msn.com <mailto:taniagr...@msn.com> > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Doug McKean > Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2001 5:46 PM > To: EMC-PSTC Discussion Group > Subject: Re: Test Equipment ... > > > "Price, Ed" wrote: > > > > Doug: > > > > The rationale that I recall is that test equipment is expected to be > used by > > people who understand the nature of electrical measurements and > safety. > > These people will have the knowledge and resources, beyond those of > a > > typical consumer, to recognize and ameliorate interference and other > > problems. Further, it is argued that compliance measures might > hinder > > absolute accuracy and sensitivity of measurement equipment. Also, > that test > > equipment is not usually manufactured in numbers comparable to > typical > > consumer equipment, so the impact on a society is less. > > > > IIRC, there is a somewhat shorter and simpler explanation buried > somewhere > > in Part 15. > > Okay, follow me on this for just a minute. > > " 47 CFR, 15.103, Exempted devices. > (c) A digital device used exclusively as industrial, commercial, > or medical test equipment." > > The important word is "digital". Why just digital? Does this mean > if a company makes analog industrial, commercial, or medical test > equipment, that equipment MUST be tested? > > Regards, Doug McKean (slowly becoming more confused ...) > > > > ------------------------------------------- > This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety > Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. > > Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ > > To cancel your subscription, send mail to: > majord...@ieee.org > with the single line: > unsubscribe emc-pstc > > For help, send mail to the list administrators: > Michael Garretson: pstc_ad...@garretson.org > Dave Heald davehe...@mediaone.net > > For policy questions, send mail to: > Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org > Jim Bacher: j.bac...@ieee.org > > All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: > http://www.rcic.com/ click on "Virtual Conference Hall," > > > > ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ To cancel your subscription, send mail to: majord...@ieee.org with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Michael Garretson: pstc_ad...@garretson.org Dave Heald davehe...@mediaone.net For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org Jim Bacher: j.bac...@ieee.org All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.rcic.com/ click on "Virtual Conference Hall,"
