> I'd like a good reference on designing for EMC

For anyone interested in the subject I would recommend
EMC for Product Designers by Tim Williams (ISBN 0 7506 2466 3)

It's a very practical approach to the subject and covers the
CE requirements well. It should sit on the bookshelf next to Horowitz
& Hill.

Another that I suggest getting from the library is "High speed
digital design - a handbook of black magic" by Johnson & Graham. It's
not directly applicable but it does explain a lot and demystifies
some of the facts and falicies (like right angle corners in PCBs).

There are plenty of others if you are interested in lots of math with
Greek letters. These two are more for those at the coal face.

I wouldn't bother with a spectrum analyzer in an a typical
office/workshop. There's so much crap around that you really need to
have a target frequency to look for. If a lab comes back with a peak
at XMHz then they are useful. I've tried scanning receivers too. Not
much luck there either.

You can learn a lot about susceptability with a spark from a BBQ
lighter. You get a fast voltage, fast current and broadband RF for a
couple of dollars. Discharge to the device enclosure and to a piece
of foil under the device and anything you can think of.

You best defence for noise both in and out, is to think small and
short. The smaller and/or shorter you can make anything, the better.

My understanding of the self certification thing is that you sign a
declaration that says it meets those requirements and that then makes
you potential lawyer fodder. If someone complains about your widget
you could be up for legal costs, fines, etc.

One out that may be applicable is that a component doesn't need to be
CE marked if it needs to be incorporated in a larger assembly to
work.

Steve.

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Steve Baldwin                Electronic Product Design
TLA Microsystems Ltd         Microcontroller Specialists
PO Box 15-680, New Lynn      http://www.tla.co.nz
Auckland, New Zealand        ph  +64 9 820-2221
email: steveb@tla.co.nz      fax +64 9 820-1929
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