EMC testing tentatively scheduled for next Tuesday

Three DL2000s will be subjected to great adversities: overheating, shorting, interference, electromagnetic discharges. Their emissions will be tested and the new overmolded motors will be checked to see if we can dispense with the ferrite beads.

The ferrite beads are a protection of last resort for electromagnetic emissions. Last time we were able to stay within emission limits only by adding these things due to the fact that the Arousal Inducer's cable acts as an antenna.

This time we're trying a much better strategy which should allow us to avoid using the beads, and will not result in extra thickness. However, it may fail. In that case we will need to add the beads in order to pass the test.

Tuesday *should* be the big day. Unless the guys at the lab say can't find any ferrite beads, in which case we'll have to postpone testing until we can find some. Getting this right the first time is too important in terms of budget to leave things up to chance.

The lab guys really have no interest in providing what we need. Their answer to our inquiries about the beads was "oh, just come over on the test date and we'll see/talk" - oblivious to the fact that our pass/fail may depend on those things. Of course they're more than happy to see us fail because ... another test, more money for them.

Up to this point they tried anything they could to get an advance payment (which they didn't get - it would just give them some leverage to increase the price).

No worries - we know all their strategies and are countering effectively. Still Tuesday will be difficult because we added the USB plug and if they don't remember it wasn't there in the previous version they will surely claim that makes things a lot more difficult.

Lastly, a bad omen: the bus that will take us to the lab more than 3 hours away is number 666.

This is a very important step in taking our product from fantasy to reality. Wish us well!

Comments

By sub-eli at 2010-08-13 12:01:41 Reply

Good luck. I hate ferrite beads. Hope the cable is well shielded. What's the upcharge for armored cable?

By dreamloverlabs at 2010-08-13 12:04:55 Reply

No it's not shielded, but if we can stop the emissions right at the motor the cable won't be an antenna... Can't use any kind of armored or shielded cable, it's a 2.5mm diameter cable... anything larger and it won't be too comfortable. No worries - our plan should work!!! Hopefully.