Introduction

Achieving compliant electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) performance of equipment and systems is essential to ensure the safety, reliability and availability of the equipment in its intended installation environment. For this reason military and avionics procurement contracts specify the level of EMC performance required. This is usually by reference to test standards such as; Defence Standard 59-411, MIL-STD 461 or RTCA DO 160/ED 14.

This course explains the fundamentals of EMC, the content of EMC standards and how testing is performed and reported. It enables manufacturers and suppliers to prepare all necessary information and their equipment ready for test.

Benefits of attending

Achieve successful equipment design through an understanding of the basic mechanisms of EMC.Avoid wasted time in the test facility by preparation in advance.Improve likelihood of a first time compliant test result and avoid need for equipment modification and retest costs.Knowledge to prepare test plans.Understand EMC test reports and actions to be taken where tests fail.Ability to perform a compliance risk assessment for COTS/MOTS (commercial/military off the shelf) equipment.

Delegates

The course is intended for compliance engineers and electrical/electronic engineers involved in the design, development, testing and production of electrical and electronic equipment.

Course Objectives

Familiarisation with EMC principles, EMC standards RTCA DO160, MIL-STD-461 and Def Stan 59-411, EMC testing, test plan documentation and risk assessment process

Course Content

Overview of EMC: Coupling mechanisms, sources of interference, effects of electromagnetic interference, nature of interference, EMC phenomena.Overview of Standards: RTCA DO 160, MIL STD 461, DEF STAN 59-411 etc.EMC Test & Trials Requirements: Screened room test facilities, test set-up, test limits, conducted and radiated emission tests, conducted susceptibility and radiated susceptibility tests. Brief description of the test parameters, purpose and test method. Platform trials for aircraft. EMI incident investigation. EMC in-situ testing.Contents of a 'Test Plan': Introduction, objectives, related documents, definitions & abbreviations, equipment performance requirements, technical description of EUT, tests formally required, general test requirements, test configuration, modes & conditions of operation during tests, EMC test criteria, test matrix, test equipment. Interpretation of Emission & Susceptibility Test Results: Test report content. Test results and their meaning.Risk Assessment, COTS/MOTS: Risk assessment process described in Def Stan 59-411 for commercial off the shelf and military off the shelf equipment for EMC. The four stages: 1 - evaluating the environment, 2 - evaluating the COTS/MOTS EMC performance, 3 - functional criticality, 4 - risk mitigation through design and retest.Course review and discussion

Methodology

The course duration is 1 day and caters for up to 12 delegates. When run at TÜV SÜD Product Service, Octagon House, the course includes a practical demonstration of EMC testing in a shielded enclosure facility and a tour of typical EMC test facilities. Delegates receive a set of printed course notes and a course completion certificate.

Presenter

This course is presented by Pete Dorey BSc (Hons) CEng MIET of TÜV SÜD Product Service. Pete is a Senior Consultant and has worked in EMC since 1980. He is a lead author of  Def Stan 59-411 on behalf of the DE&S E3 59-411 Working Group and is a Notified Body signatory under the EMC Directive 2004/108/EC.

For further information please contact Sandie Houghton, SHoughton@tuvps.co.uk.