CE and Video Games
Hi Group: To apply the CE mark: Does video game equipment (Netindo, Sony, Sega, etc...) and game components fall under a family standard, generic emission and immunity or as someone has suggested to me emission only? Does applying the Toy Safety directive 88/378/EEC exempt the equipment form EMC Directive 89/336/EEC and Low-Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC? Thanks Rick Linford DNB Engineering, Inc. Phone 801-336-4433, Fax 801-336-4436 E-mail rlinf...@allwest.net
RE: China 2.4GHz and 900 MHz
For radio equipment operating in the 2.4GHz and 900 MHz range in China, these products must be tested and approved by the Telecom/Post Division of China Central Government in Beijing. You may submit data from your local lab, but the Telecom/Post Division will request a sample (or samples) and retest. Also, you will need to obtain an import license after approval to get your product into China. For more information, you may contact: Audix Technology (Shen Zhen) Corp. Attention: Mr. Jerry Din Tel: 86-755-663-9495~7 fax: 86-755-633-2877 -- From: Pat Clark[SMTP:pbc2...@lxe.com] Sent: Thursday, July 31, 1997 10:36 AM To: 'emc-p...@ieee.org' Subject:China To all: Does anyone have any information regarding type approval requirements in China? Specifically, radio equipment operating in the 2.4GHz and 900 MHz frequencies. I would appreciate any information you could give me. Pat Clark Product Approvals Coordinator LXE, Inc.
Product Safety Engineer Job Opportunity
To all, P.E. Applied Biosystems located in the San Francisco Bay area has an immediate opening for a Product Safety/EMC/Regulatory Compliance Engineer. This individual will be responsible for reviewing designs to help our products comply with safety and EMC regulations. This individual will also conduct inspections and audits, work closely with regulatory agencies, and document and analyze compliance data. The ideal candidate will have a BSEE or equivalent and a knowledge of UL, CSA, IEC and EMC requirements. Good communication and computer skills are required. Please inform all of your qualified associates of this job opening. Send resumes and/or questions to: Joe Martin P.E. Applied Biosystems 850 Lincoln Centre Dr. Foster City, CA. 94404 (415) 638-5695 marti...@perkin-elmer.com
RE: Safety / Notebooks
Hello Andrea; BABT application 48, Recommendations for Terminal Equipment for use inside a Host Equipment may shed some light on this topic...I have never run a PCMCIA card through the approvals process, but I believe this may help address some or your questions (excluding your heat concern). I would be glad to fax a copy of it to you. Regarding your second question, I believe you would need to test your notebook to IEC 950. My little HP 48G calculator has even been tested to EN 60950 (it states that inside the front cover of the users manual). Just my $.02, Mel PedersenMidcom, Inc. Homologations Engineer Fax:(605) 886-6752 mpeder...@midcom.anza.com Phone: (605) 882-8535 -- From: Andreas Thomas[SMTP:andre...@toshiba-teg.com] Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 1997 5:23 AM To: emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org Subject:Safety / Notebooks Dear Compliance Colleagues: I like to hear your opinion regarding following questions: 1) PCMCIA-cards *Have someone ever heard about safety problems (e.g. heat) caused by PCMCIA-cards? *Have someone a good idea how to prepare a warning in the operator's manual that the manufacturer of the notebook could not guarantee safety aspects for the PCMCIA-cards manufactured from other companies which are used with his notebook ? *Do someone know, if the manufacturers of PCMCIA-cards perform tests with different notebooks regarding safety aspects ? *Do test facilities which are going to perform tests according to IEC950/EN60950 perform safety tests with cards in all slots of the notebook ? 2) IEC950/EN60950 for notebooks I like to hear your opinion if battery powered notebooks (30V) with external ac-adapters should also be tested according to IEC950/EN60950 or only the ac-adapter itself. Thanks in advance for your comments ! Andreas Thomas Toshiba Europe GmbH andre...@toshiba-teg.com
Test Equipment
Thanks to everyone who responded to my post for suppliers of new and used test equipment. I've found exactly what I needed. John Schippanoski jschippano...@sstech.on.ca
Re: Safety / Notebooks
This comment is based on Rich Nute's response, that in USA Class 2 Limited Powered devices need not carry a third party certification. Since the scope of UL 1950 is also the same as IEC 950, where is this exemption for US actually coming from? SGour @brother.com RCIC - http://www.rcic.com Regulatory Compliance Information Center
User warnings on RS232 connections (IEC950)
I am struggling with some requirements relative to interconnecting equipment and EN60950. My question is generic but I thought the example of an RS232 comport on a PC would highlight my questions as to - what is reasonable or required for warnings to the user relative to connection to other equipment. Background EN60950 has the following sections: Section 2.10.1 states - Where equipment is intended to be electrically connected to other equipment interconnection circuits shall be selected to provide continued conformance with the requirements of 2.3 for SELV circuits, and with the requirements of clause 6 for TNV circuits, after making connections between equipment. Section 1.7.2 Safety Instructions - If it is necessary to take special precautions to avoid the introduction of hazards when operation, installing, maintaining , transporting or storing equipment , the manufacturer shall have available the necessary instructions. Safety relationships of an RS232 port (as I understand them) 1) The RS232 port is a SELV circuit as an extension of the 12 or 5 Volt secondary of the PC power supply. 2) The RS232 port is referenced to protective earth through the PC power cord. 3) The RS232 port is not typically galvanically isolated. 4) The RS232 port could be connected to a product that is not IEC950 qualified. Questions: 1) Are any warning symbols required at this port such as a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark inside? 2) Is there any requirement to warn the user not to connect to any other equipment that would violate the SELV nature of this circuit? 3) When I have reviewed CE marked PCs there does not appear to be much addressing this example or any related example. It appears that they are relying on : 3a) Requirement that local safety codes be followed 3b) Clear definition of the port. Is this adequate? Summary I am struggling with the conflicts of due diligence in following the standards and not wanting to appear overly restrictive relative to our competitors. If you have any guidance in this or related examples I would very much like to here your war stories. Regards Chris Wells Sr Des Eng. Cutler-Hammer Pittsburgh, Pa, USA ph 1 (412) 494-3723 wellscd @ch.etn.com
Surge for EN50082-2/-1
Could any one advise me what developments have occured relative to surge withstand requirements in EN50082-2 or EN50082-1. In particular: IEC 1000-4-5 surge withstand IEC 1000-4-12 ring wave withstand (similar) I understand that EN50082-1 already has a low level requirement. Will it increase? I understand in the EN50082-2 annex that IEC 1000-4-5 is being considered. Is it likely to happen? Will the levels stay as in the annex? If you have any related observations that would be apprectiated too. Regards Chris Wells Sr Des. Eng. Cutler-Hammer Pittsburgh, Pa. USA ph 1- (412) 494-3723 well...@ch.etn.com
Re: Safety / Notebooks
Hello Andreas: 1) PCMCIA cards. a. I have not heard of any safety problems IN PCMCIA cards. It is possible that a fault in the card could cause an overheating event in the card. For an overheating event to develop into a fire, the combination of the card and the host computer would have to provide air (oxygen) to the fuel for any fire to exist. Within the PCMCIA card assembly, there is insufficent air to allow a fire to develop. Even before a fire erupts, the heating usually causes oxidation which will consume any available oxygen in a small space. Therefore, the heating event would have to be sufficiently great as to cause heating of fuel materials in the host computer to ignition temperatures. Ignition temperatures of plastics range from 350 C to 475 C. It is unlikely that a fault in the PCMCIA card can dissipate sufficient power to heat a plastic in the host computer to ignition temperature before the failure becomes so gross as to open a component and interrupt the current. You asked about safety problems CAUSED BY the PCMCIA card. A safety problem caused by the card would likely appear in the computer. Typically, this would be an overheating situation somewhere in the computer circuits that provide power to the PCMCIA card. b. Warnings against other brand PCMCIA cards. This may be a good idea from a safety point of view, but severely limits the usefulness of the PCMCIA capability. The only hazard associated with PCMCIA cards is that of fire. I've already mentioned that it is unlikely that a PCMCIA card could itself burn. The host computer slot can be constructed so as to prevent spread of heating such as by using a metal enclosure around the PCMCIA slot so as to act as a heat sink in the event of an overheating event. Further protection against overheating can be provided by controlling the overcurrent to the PCMCIA card by means of a fuse or a current-limiting regulator. c. PCMCIA card manufacturers safety tests? I don't know. But, I would doubt it. The amount of testing is immense base on all the different notebook and other PCMCIA card applications. d. Safety tests with PCMCIA cards in place? Yes and no. Input tests would be done with all PCMCIA slots loaded to maximum power. Same for the heating tests. IEC 950 says that no abnormal fire tests are necessary if the supply is Limited Power (as specified in Sub- clause 2.11). Most notebook computers are powered from a Limited Power source, hence no abnormal testing. (The battery is NOT a Limited Power source, but if it is provided with a fuse, then it is a Limited Power source.) 2) IEC 950 for notebook computers or ac adapter or both? The Scope of IEC 950 states, This standard is applicable to mains-powered or battery-powered information technology equipment... The Scope would therefore include BOTH the computer and the ac adapter. However, in some countries (e.g., USA), low voltage equipment is exempt from third-party safety certification. Best regards, Rich - Richard Nute Quality Department Hewlett-Packard Company Product Regulations Group San Diego Division (SDD) Tel : 619 655 3329 16399 West Bernardo Drive FAX : 619 655 4979 San Diego, California 92127 e-mail: ri...@sdd.hp.com -
