Hi I'm looking for some feedback as to how others handle "Self Decleration" of European CE mark standards relative to a product family with many variations.
Yes I am quite aware of the role of CBs to rationalize out a minimal test program for a product family. I also have talked to many standards Engineers who saw that relationship with a CB warp from what it could be of symbiotic relationship to being a problem on many levels. If you want to respond on that part of this topic then please focus on why/how it can make $ense - with an empahssis on keeping it practicle and affordable. On occasion I have taken the superset approch of testing a product with all its options and treating all versions without the options as a sub set and so covered. I am sure there are many who will argue that the common mode impedances will be effected due to the change in parallel paths etc. At the same time I know others are doing this - they have told me so. I have also tested each variatin completely and that can work if the permutations are few. The issue is cost and the desire to have a reoprt from a test house. When it comes to alternate assemblies within the product like Power supplies then I retest all ports. All of my subassemblies have been evaluated in a "prescreen mode" with all permutations of the product. One approach is to formalize the reports I am allready doing and then self declare. We have all the equipment except the ESD target and a few other "proof of waveform" probes. I have done this before and it was quite a lot of work. Are there programs or boiler plate that anyone cares to share or web sites that have the same? I have my own but they could use an upgrade. Diagrams of test setups are tedious to reproduce - that is one area that I need to improve. I am now at the point of needing to rationalize this all with my boss who kind of wants his cake and to eat it too. He likes the speed/accuracy of the test houses but not the cost. So if you can add some light to this quandry that I know most of you deal with please share it with me. Thanks in advance!! Chris Wells Senior Design Engineer Cutler-Hammer Pittsburh, Pa [email protected] 412 490 6862
