Selecting the proper EMC Test Lab for your product:
When selecting your EMC Test Lab to do your product Validation, ask yourself a few questions:
Do you prefer a “One Stop Shop”? You’ll need to make sure that the certificates or reports that your selected test lab generates are acceptable to your OEM.
Do they have the proper Accreditation? One of the largest distinctions between test labs is whether or not they have been ‘accredited’ or recognized by the OEM’s EMC Department. Make sure they are accredited for each specific test that you need them to do in your EMC Test Plan.
What is the Lab Lead Time to start your testing? Lead times of EMC test labs vary wildly; ex from same day bookings, to several weeks or months, depending on the lab and their schedule. Ask the EMC test lab for Lead time during quotation request.
Which Countries can they service? EMC test labs often (but not always) have to be registered with the governing body of a country for their test reports to be valid for importing products into that country. Ask during quotation phase and make sure that you confirm with your test lab that the test reports will be valid for X country before you have your product tested!
Do they have the necessary Technical Expertise? Technical expertise of EMC test lab staff can vary wildly. It is very important to go with a lab that has experienced and well trained staff in OEMs Automotive test requirements. If not, you could end up with incorrect test results.
How are facilities and how is Lab accessibility? Ask about test lab facilities and capabilities; for example on ALSE immunity testing, can they actually test to the levels and standards that you need them to do in your EMC Test Plan (600 V/m)?
Also for some products it’s critical to use a nearby test lab so that engineers can travel with the product to the lab and do troubleshooting and debugging when necessary.
And the last one thing to ask yourself (not the first!) is the Cost. Test lab costs can vary a lot from lab to lab, sometimes even by+/- 50%!
A main link to all FCC Certified Test Laboratories can be found at the below link:
https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/TestFirmSearch.cfm
Links to EMC Test Laboratories specialized in Automotive OEM Testing that we know:
UL EMC Automotive Testing, Novi, Michigan
https://services.ul.com/service/emc-automotive-testing/
They offer full range of EMC test services and comply by lots of standards, ex: GM, Ford, Chrysler, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai/Kia, VW, Audi, Jaguar/Land-Rover, Daimler, Fiat, Volvo, Peugeot, Mercedes, BMW, John Deer, also ECE/UN Vehicles for ESA, e/E Mark certification compliance, FCC part 15 and more….
For more info contact them at 248-427-5300
Elite EMI/EMC Testing Lab Downers Grove, IL 60515
https://www.elitetest.com/testing-services/emiemc-testing
Accredited 3rd Party EMC Test Laboratory: • FCA (Chrysler) Approved • Ford Approved • GM Approved Also accredited for many of the generic SAE EMC standards: • SAE J551-xx for vehicles • SAE J1113-xx for components.
We also conduct automotive EMC testing for international vehicles. • Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Kia, • BMW, Volkswagen, Volvo, Daimler-Benz, Fiat, Fisker • JASO transient test fixtures and waveform generators Also accredited for many generic International EMC standards: • CISPR 12 and CISPR 25 • ISO 11451-xx for vehicles • ISO 11452-xx, ISO 7637-xx, ISO 10605 for components
Elite EMC test labs are capable of testing at both the vehicle and module level: • International, Mack, Paccar, Volvo, Freightliner, Oshkosh, Pierce, Caterpillar, John Deere, CNH, and Cummins • SAE J1455 • European Union “e-mark” testing • Vehicle Certification – Agency (EU Notified Body) test facility • Whole vehicle testing, absorber-lined shielded enclosure with dimensions of 70 Ft × 35 Ft x 18 Ft
For more info contact them at 630-495-9770
Intertek Detroit Automotive Lab Plymouth, MI
http://www.intertek.com/automotive/detroit/
For more info contact them at 734-582-2900
EMC Testing Alpharetta, Georgia
http://emctesting.com/
For more info contact them at 770-475-8819
Northwest EMC Testing Labs in 5 states;
https://www.nwemc.com/emc-testing-capabilities
CKC Laboratories Inc. Testing Labs in 4 locations
https://www.ckc.com/service/emc-testing/automotive-emc-testing/
Other Labs:
http://metlabs.com/services/emc/
https://www.clarktesting.com/dynamic/emc-emi-testing.php
Selecting a company that can correctly build your EMC Load box and specialized harnesses.
This is a difficult and sometimes expensive task! An incorrectly built load box, incorrect monitoring equipment or a bad harness can make you test fail! Debugging, troubleshooting can take many hours and cost can rise in thousands of $!.
So over many years we found only a handful of companies that have the expertise to build EMC loadboxes by the OEM’s requirements; we are not saying that other good companies do not exist, just that it is difficult to find them.
Formerly Orion Test Systems & Automation Michigan now under new ownership: Orion Test Systems & Automation, Inc. http://www.oriontest.com · sales@oriontest.com ·
248-373-9097
DGE Inc. 2870 Technology Dr. Rochester Hills, MI 48309 Phone: 248.293.1300 http://www.dgeinc.com
There are multiple harness manufacturers, however we used: http://www.orricorp.com/
We were very satisfied with the quality of work, deliveries, timing and price.
PCB Design Software:
Mentor Graphics ….link to Design Rules Checklist for PCB & IC design
https://www.mentor.com/pcb/hyperlynx/electrical-rule-check/drc-editions?cmpid=10824&gclid=CjwKCAiAxJPVBRB4EiwAsCA4aXoBeFppQUWV_-B4TT2lhFI4sZSYv8Kf1r-y6344HNN1A9Cm70DM4hoCmvEQAvD_BwE
PCB123 free pcb CAD tool for those who want to do this by themselves…
https://www.pcb123.com/pcb123-and-snapeda-partnership/?gclid=CjwKCAiAxJPVBRB4EiwAsCA4aQkeIFAxPsi6f63TCJn_IZy3rBsRZn_uszpO97dCIOUsLPnfn46F9RoCcXoQAvD_BwE