I think if ther is an electronic circuit that activates the triggering device and that circuit lacks EMC , it has the potential to malfunction. If the electronic ciruit is the one to commence the action of firing without any electrical interface then it had better perform its intended funtion in the presence of strong radiated fiields. I didn't read EED into what Phil mentioned and I would certainly agree that ESD needs consideration. I would expect too that the intended use may have a bearing on what safety measures are imperative.
Ralph Cameron EMC Consultant for Suppression of Consumer Electronics (After sale) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken Javor" <[email protected]> To: "Ralph Cameron" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2000 12:31 AM Subject: Re: Electrical safety of firearms > I think both Mr. Firth and Mr. Cameron are confusing ordnance activated by > an electro-explosive device (EED) with ordinary bullets. In the case of an > EED, it is very important to not only provide safe and arm capability, but > also to ensure that field-to-wire coupling does not inadvertently inject > enough electrical energy to set off the EED. This concern is addressed in > such documents as MIL-STD-1385, MIL-STD-1512, MIL-E-6051D and MIL-STD-464. > Together, these standards define no-fire and all-fire levels, and EMC safety > margins X dB below the no-fire level. > > But none of this would apply to a trigger, hammer and powder-loaded > cartridge based system. There is no electrical interface to the cartridge, > hence no need for safety margins, etc. I assume that the only difference > between the electronic trigger and a conventional trigger is that there is > no mechanical linkage between trigger and hammer - the trigger applies > electrical potential to a solenoid, which ejects a hammer substitute into > the cartridge base. > > I would want a solenoid that operated at a high enough potential and drew > enough current that the field-to-wire pickup from even the strongest > possible nearby field would be insufficient to energize the solenoid. And > the solenoid would require several milliseconds of applied power, so that a > short duration pulse (ESD, EFT) could not trip the hammer. Any additional > safety interlock would be a mechanical switch. If you get fancy and start > putting 3 or 5 Volt logic in this thing, then you open yourself up to ESD > and any number of other problems. > > In today's atmosphere where even ordinary firearms are viewed as defective > products, imagine the ruckus some lawyer could cause with a twenty five year > old handgun in which an old battery corroded and caused enough degradation > that the gun malfunctioned and fired without a pull of the trigger. It > would matter not that the gun had been sold and resold or stolen and resold. > In fact, they could make the case that the "nth" owner is less likely to > understand the thing than the original buyer. > > It's not paranoia if they really are following you... > > > ---------- > >From: "Ralph Cameron" <[email protected]> > >To: <[email protected]>, <[email protected]> > >Subject: Re: Electrical safety of firearms > >Date: Wed, Jul 26, 2000, 8:40 PM > > > > > > > Phil: > > > > I would hope that the electronic trigger cisrcuit has been designed with EMC > > in mind. Not like the Toronado aircraft that had its munitions explode > > whennflying too close to a local European trasnmitter. > > > > Ralph Cameron > > EMC Consultant for Suppression of Consumer Electronics > > ( After Sale). > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: <[email protected]> > > To: <[email protected]> > > Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2000 3:50 PM > > Subject: Electrical safety of firearms > > > > > >> > >> Here's one that you feel should have something, just because of the nature > >> of the equipment, but your not quite sure what!! > >> > >> Does anyone have the least inkling of any safety requirements specific to > > a > >> firearm with an electronic trigger. I am not particularly interested in > >> firearms laws/regulations etc but any requirements that the electronics > > may > >> fall under. This device will be powered by a 9-volt battery. > >> > >> Thanks in advance of any responses. > >> > >> Phil Godfrey > >> > >> ps. Domestic, EU, Aus and a few more. Thanks > >> > >> Phillip Godfrey - Manager, Product Safety > >> KTL Dallas, Inc. > >> 802, N.Kealy, > >> Lewisville, > >> Texas 75057-3136 > >> > >> Tel : (972) 436-9600 > >> Fax: (972) 436-2667 > >> http://www.ktl.com/ > >> > >> email : [email protected] > >> > >> > >> ------------------------------------------- > >> This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety > >> Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. > >> > >> To cancel your subscription, send mail to: > >> [email protected] > >> with the single line: > >> unsubscribe emc-pstc > >> > >> For help, send mail to the list administrators: > >> Jim Bacher: [email protected] > >> Michael Garretson: [email protected] > >> > >> For policy questions, send mail to: > >> Richard Nute: [email protected] > >> > >> > >> > > > > > > ------------------------------------------- > > This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety > > Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. > > > > To cancel your subscription, send mail to: > > [email protected] > > with the single line: > > unsubscribe emc-pstc > > > > For help, send mail to the list administrators: > > Jim Bacher: [email protected] > > Michael Garretson: [email protected] > > > > For policy questions, send mail to: > > Richard Nute: [email protected] > > > > > ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. 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