Hi Cecil! >From a product safety point of view it depends on how extensive the 'upgrade' is and how you have worded your product construction descriptions and 'critical component list'. In this biz, it matters to some degree that my lab is ISO 9001, COMPASS and a UL Client Test Data Program (CTDP) participant. These credentials support the fact that I can be trusted to use impeccable judgment in evaluating the hazard impact to my listed products as they evolve.
For example, in most of the ITE products I support, we may uprate the disk drive to a larger capacity, or the controller interface to a higher speed processor, or a different vendor fan. I spec these as a component with a maximum current draw. Provided the alternate components fit within these specifications, the task simplifies to filing a change request with the agencies and providing certificates for the alternate components. Depending on the item being alternately listed, you may have to provide test data (as would be the case with a new power supply with vastly different ratings). In your case, I would attempt to describe the computer as a listed component with a maximum power consumption. When that pc goes end of life, just spec another as alternate, but select a pc that is at or below your previous descriptions. To the product safety agencies, these are simple SELV changes and the underwriting agencies are not overly concerned in the hazards these pose. I describe such components generically if possible to allow substitution, but they must always bear some level of agency recognition (UL listed or recognized component, and/or TUV/VDE marked) that guarantees that the alternate construction components have been evaluated for hazards. >From the EMC point of view, you must fully test to verify compliance and file the data. There is no easy way around it. Regards, Kyle Ehler KCOIQE <mailto:[email protected]> Assistant Design Engineer LSI Logic Storage Systems Div. 3718 N. Rock Road U.S.A. Wichita, Kansas 67226 Ph. 316 636 8657 Fax 316 636 8321 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2001 4:42 PM To: [email protected] Subject: From: Cecil A. Gittens Hi Folk, I have a computer that supports a Color Proofing System. Since any given computer have life cycle of 4 to 6 months. My question is there any way to avoid rectification testing of the computer with each upgrade. Regards Cecil ------------------------------------------- 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: [email protected] with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Michael Garretson: [email protected] Dave Heald [email protected] For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: [email protected] Jim Bacher: [email protected] All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: No longer online until our new server is brought online and the old messages are imported into the new server.
