WHAT ? ! !
NEVER do Production testing using uncontrolled parameters!
Else, you will decrease the life of your product -
garranteed.
Example, Marketing in their fervor to deliver product once
shipped all the modules we had used for ESD testing [This
was a robust telco product and had to continually meet spec
during ESD. All the modules passed the ESD testing with
flying colors] I hit the ceiling. The President stood by
Marketing's decision that satisfying shipping Product was
more important than potentially shipping "weakened"
Product. I warned to deaf ears. Six months later the
modules started failing and turning flakey. Within 1 year
ALL came back. This, for a product that should have 5000
hours of MTBF. Now let's discuss the damage this episode
did to the company's reputation. EVERYBODY remembered the
failures, for years. Nobody remembered the surviving high
quality Product. Only remembered those flaky units.
However, if you want to test some sacrificial Product...
Two INEXPENSIVE items
1. stat gun
This was a commercially available electrostatic "spray"
gun. About $5. Shaped like a toy gun. The user pointed
it at his/her LP albums, gently squeezed the trigger, and
piezo would power a spray of ions across the LP. The ions
would then "blow" the dirt off the LP.
2. gas flame starter
This was a dismantled piece from some water heater gas
flame igniter. Just a mechanically springloaded button and
extending wire to a metal piece. VERY energetic. Felt
like a husky 18kV. Drew around 1 inch arc.
Of the two, No. 1 rarely killed electronics. No. 2 almost
always killed the electronics - permanently.
Again, use only on SACRIFICIAL PRODUCTs.
To discuss alternative "controlled" testing that will meet
your specific needs and not compromise the reliability and
lifetime of your Product, please contact me off group.
- Robert -
Robert A. Macy, PE. . [email protected]
408 286 3985. . . . . . . fx 408 297 9121
AJM International Electronics Consultants
101 E San Fernando, Suite 402
San Jose, CA 95112
> Alex McNeil wrote:
>
> > Hi Guys,
> > Does anyone know of a good "quick and simple" ESD test
> that I could
> > introduce at the end of the production line? By "quick
> and simple" I
> > mean that I do not want to setup an ESD test site per
> EN61000-4-2 on
> > the shop floor!
> >
> > Thank you and Best Regards
> > Alex
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
