Doug, I think that you now have both contenders. We also design and manufacture such equipment and have faced the same question. Much of IEC 60215 is aimed at large radio transmitter installations, and is not therefore appropriate to mobile satcom equipment. In my opinion, and with apologies to anybody who sits on TC103, 60215 is not a particularly thorough or comprehensive standard, although there are a few RF specific clauses that it would be wise to consider. Given that, in the EU at least, satcom equipment must comply with the R&TTE Directive, and therefore with relevant ETSI standards, and since the majority of those refer to 60950 for safety purposes, it seems better to comply with 60950.
Now, I don't know whether your equipment is solid state or vacuum tube technology, but clearly the latter poses some interesting challenges when it comes to complying with creepage and clearance distances when you have kV involved. All I will say is that it is not impossible, and we have successfully certified a tube-based satcom amplifier to EN/UL 60950 and have an IECCB report for it as well. It was a challenging experience, but with very satisfactory results. Best regards, Neil R. Barker C.Eng. MIEE FSEE MIEEE Manager Compliance Engineering e2v technologies (uk) ltd 106 Waterhouse Lane Chelmsford Essex CM1 2QU UK Tel: +44 (0)1245 453616 Fax: +44 (0)1245 453410 e-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.e2v.com From: John Woodgate [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 10 March 2005 20:04 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Applicable safety standard for mobile satcom equipment In article <[email protected]>, Doug Beckwith <[email protected]> writes >Someone asked me what safety standard applies to mobile satellite >communication equipment. At first I thought it was 60950, but after >looking at the scope of 60950, I am not so sure. Try IEC 60215, produced by IEC TC103. -- Regards, John Woodgate, OOO - Own Opinions Only. The good news is that nothing is compulsory. The bad news is that everything is prohibited. http://www.jmwa.demon.co.uk Also see http://www.isce.org.uk This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to [email protected] Instructions: http://listserv.ieee.org/listserv/request/user-guide.html List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas [email protected] Mike Cantwell [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: http://www.ieeecommunities.org/emc-pstc This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to [email protected] Instructions: http://listserv.ieee.org/listserv/request/user-guide.html List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas [email protected] Mike Cantwell [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: http://www.ieeecommunities.org/emc-pstc
