FCC / CE tick reference

[gregariz]

Can anyone recommend a good tutorial type book on getting a product FCC certified and CE-ticked? I'd like to do as much of it as possible myself without using test lab services.

[Neilm]

I will start this by saying that I am most familier with the requirements for european CE marking.

It is possible to do a certain amount of pre-testing to see if your product has any problems. The easiest way would be with a spectrum analyser and probes. However, you would probably not be able to use this as proof of compliance as this would be mostly detecting near field signals not far field signals. It will give you some idea if your product has any potential emission problems.

Also, depending on what the product is, some tests might require equipment that is large or dangerous. You might be able to hire this but the costs would quickly out weigh any savings. For example if your product is mains powered you might have to test the following:

1. Mains surges the level of which depends on input voltage but could easily be a 3kV spike. In order to do this test the tester must be attached to a supply with a very low impedance.

2. Conducted Emissions (the noise the product outputs down the mains)

3. Burst. (High frequency repeating spikes that can upset some electronics)

4. Electrostatic discharge to the mains plug / input socket.

5. Conducted Immunity (how the product reacts to noise <30MHz on the mains)

6. Harmonic emissions (another measure of output noise.)

7. Voltage brownouts / blackouts.

8. Flicker tests (see if the product could cause the lights to flicker)

Those are the tests I know about - we have a test lab at work and we have the equipment to do these tests. Given that many of these can broadcast noise and cause interference they are done in a special shielded room.

The one advantage of a test house is that they will be experienced in interpreting the standards you have to meet. For instance it is possible that there are several different standards that could be applied - they will be able to help with the correct standard. Also, should you have problems with passing the experience of the technicians will be invaluable to help suggest possible cures.

If this has not detered you, I would suggest going to http://www.compliance-club.com/ and looking through that - I know that there are some links to how to do some of these test.

Yours

Neil

[gregariz]

Thanks Neil,

I've done a number of the pre-compliance emissions and conducted tests at work however for final compliance I've taken it out to a test lab and we pay for them to produce the final reports. On occasions we've paid about $10k for the submissions. As I moonlight on my own products however I was less keen to fork that kind of money out for something that may turn out to be a fizzer. I know the FCC does continue to allow direct submissions (around 1 to 2K) (without going through a certified lab) for certain types of equipment. I'm not sure of the CE requirements in that regard. In the back of my mind I was thinking that maybe I could rent the certified test facilities and then prepare the reports and make the submissions myself.... maybe I'll just have to suck and see...

In the same vain.. are there any products you know of that you can market without FCC or CE-ticks?. I know in the US there are exemptions from the FCC requirements for most electronics sold as kits. Not sure about the kit requirements in the EU. However I've bought all sorts of test equipment and gadgets over the net and I'm pretty sure alot of them are not certified... so are they exempt somehow or are they simply illegal?

[jahonen]

To be simple on CE "certification", if you are absolutely confident that your product will fulfill all the requirements of applicable directives (there are others than just EMC) and you can provide the technical file promptly on request, then you can just put the CE label and start selling it without any testing. Of course, that is pretty steep leap of faith, so almost nobody does it, except in dodgy "warm countries". In case the compliance is disputed, you must show that your product will comply. Here in northern Europe we usually test and debug to the death to fulfill all the requirements

Regards,
Janne

[Psi]

Unless the product is made in china, in which case "CE" is just "Chinese Export" and means nothing about safety or certification.

[Neilm]

Unless the product is made in china, in which case "CE" is just "Chinese Export" and means nothing about safety or certification.

Too true unfortunately.

To properly carry the CE mark, a product must have a technical file that contains "proofs" that the product meets all the requirements to be placed on the market. These not only include EMC tests but also safety tests. These files can be done either by a recognised test house or can be prepared by the company that is placing the product on the market. Note that the operative phrase is "placing the product on the market". If you are planning to sell your product into the EU it is the responsibility of the company that is importing the product that is responsible for that file not the manufacturer (unless the product is made in the EU). I don't know what is required for the FCC and C-tick in order to prove compliance.

The requirements for testing is dependent on the product - for example I know that for measuring instruments a product has to comply with IEC61010 for safety and IEC61326. IEC61010 (ed 2) has a check list that has to be completed which means that if you want to do the report yourself you not only have to fork out for the standard (at least the general requirements and possibly others) you also had to fork out for the checklist. (I don't know if they are doing one for the new version).

I don't know (and would not like to comment) on what can be sold without the FCC or C-tick, all I can suggest is check with local authorities. I do know that nothing can be placed on the market in the EU without the CE mark and associated documentation.

Here in northern Europe we usually test and debug to the death to fulfill all the requirements

Very true - I am lucky I work for a company that decided to invest in test facilities for these tests - it does make it cheaper and doing the tests yourself really gives you an insight into what you as a designer can do to increase the chances of passing first time.

Yours

Neil

[RABeng224]

Well here is my two cents about FCC.  It is not possible for you to do your own testing for FCC.  Only "approved" testing agencies can conduct the testing and submit the proper paper work.  Does your design include an RF transmitter?  If not, then FCC certification is not applicable.  If you are looking for more of a CE equivalent type mark here in the US, with regards to safety and the like.  Then you should look into UL but that is a whole different and expensive conversation. ;-)

[ejeffrey]

The FCC also governs "unintentional radiators" which includes but is not limited to all digital circuits whether or not they have an antenna.  I don't know what level of documentation and certification is required, but they definitely have regulations you ought to make sure you actually comply.  'Incidental radiators' like brushed motors are basically not regulated.

UL is primarily concerned with safety issues like electric shock and fire hazards, although they really try to get their finger in almost anything.  Even so, if your device is powered from a separately certified power supply like a wall transformer and runs off < 48 VDC at a reasonable current level, UL certification is much easier and cheaper.