Rich, Peter.
We haven't used CB reports yet because I haven't been convinced they
buy me anything - yet. If somebody still wants to have samples etc. to look
at even with a CB report I get to clock in some weeks while it churns
through their in basket and sample expense. I might as well have them check
construction and test at the same time. So for most of the market UL and TUV
have made the most sense. Nobody has asked me for samples in the current
market I play in and no additional time was lost while they decided whether
or not they really like the construction.
My mindset may be changing as I talk with more and more of us about how
useful it has been in real practice. The biggest point in favor that I am
hearing is that some folks are having success with non "CB" countries.
Although I am not sure that this is much different that Brazil asking me
recently if I had UL 1950 and EN60950 compliance and then accepting the
equipment once I affirmed that I did.
Having said that, the process of submitting the end product before
the CB report on the power supply is complete is directly analogous to
having my end equipment to get recognized or certified in parallel with the
power supply manufacturer getting their power supply approvals. Some of my
approvals have been held slightly while the power supply investigation is
being completed by the manufacturer. The risks are the same with the
conditions of acceptability. I try to stay ahead of that by talking with the
power supply and making certain that they are bench testing without
additional airflow across their power supply to meet temperature
specifications etc. So the CB report is no worse nor any better from this
standpoint.
I am assuming that the approvals process must be somewhat longer
with the CB report, even if it is written before submittal, as it still must
require auditing by the certification authority - if nothing else. Given
sufficient gain in the form of ease of submittal to new non-CB countries I
can justify the extra time "pain".
The additional costs should be pretty much offset by not having to submit to
a European recognized lab such as TUV, or for those that get a rash from
working with UL, submitting my product to any of the other test houses that
can issue a CB report in lieu of UL.
Still watching an assimilating the responses from our members before I
decide. The input is very helpful.
Gary McInturff
-----Original Message-----
From: Rich Nute [SMTP:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, November 23, 1998 10:24 AM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Why are CB reports truly useful?
Hi Peter:
> Unless the power supply has a CB Test Report of its own (and
> most do not!)
As a matter of course, if we are going for a CB on the
end-product, then we request a power supply CB as a part
of doing business with the power supply vendor/manufacturer.
Power supply safety certifications, including the CB, are
included in our purchase spec. Of course, we must pay for
the CB, but we don't need to do the work, and we don't need
to interface between the power supply manufacturer and the
certification house.
The biggest issue is timing. In my experience, power supply
manufacturers are reluctant to submit until very late in the
design cycle. Usually, we start our end-product submittal
BEFORE we have the CB in hand. Our cert houses won't issue
the end-product CB without the power supply CB. And, we run
a slight risk that the power supply "conditions of
acceptability" might require us to do more testing. But, for
the most part, we anticipate those tests and perform them
whether they are needed or not. In this way, we get our CB
on time.
> Now imagine a manufacturer
had
> more than one or altenate power supplies in his product.
Yes. Been there, done that. No big deal. It makes your
end-product CB Test Report VERY LARGE! Each CB Test Report
is about 60-70 pages, so you get the end-product report
PLUS two alternate power supplies and about 200 pages!
Biggest problem is reproducing the report for each additional
country submittal and certification!
Best regards,
Rich
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