The first of two twin centers designed to promote common standards in electric mobility and smart grids between the U.S. and Europe has opened near Chicago, Ill. The new Interoperability Center for electric vehicles and smart grids was inaugurated last week at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Ill. following the signing of a Letter of … [Read more...]

Editor’s note: This question was asked in response to Interference Technology’s recent webinar by Keith Armstrong. To view the webinar, click here. Question: Do you have any suggestions for a good low cost/used spectrum analyzer for pre-compliance testing? Answer: Firstly, there is no definition of the term “pre-compliance testing” – so it is impossible to say what spectrum … [Read more...]

Editor’s note: This question was asked in response to Interference Technology’s recent webinar by Keith Armstrong. To view the webinar, click here. Question: Is it Possible to simulate radiated emissions? Answer: I imagine that the next question would be – if they can be simulated well enough, then surely there is no need for emissions testing? Well, it is now possible, … [Read more...]

Editor’s note: This question was asked in response to Interference Technology’s recent webinar by Keith Armstrong. To view the webinar, click here. Question: Planes need to be grounded to something? Answer: It depends on what is meant by the word “grounded,” because there is an awful lot of general confusion associated with issues of grounding/earthing. As my slides said, … [Read more...]

Editor’s note: This question was asked in response to Interference Technology’s recent webinar by Keith Armstrong. To view the webinar, click here. Question: How does a chassis carry CM noise ? Answer: A chassis is just a piece of metal—a conductor—so it can carry CM noise currents just like any conductor can. The reply to question 1 might help. -Keith Armstrong … [Read more...]

Editor’s note: This question was asked in response to Interference Technology’s recent webinar by Keith Armstrong. To view the webinar, click here. Question: Could You Show the Path of the 310uA Current through the Victim (E-Field Coupling)? Answer: Good question, because being able to accurately visualise where the stray current flows is an important part of the skills we … [Read more...]

Linear Technology Corporation, a producer of circuits, introduced the LTM4637, a 20A DC/DC step-down micromodule regulator “with onboard precision differential remote sense amplifier.” The regulator operates at an “input voltage range from 4.5V to 20V” and “supports an output voltage range of 0.6V to 5.5V, set by a single external resistor,” making only a few input and output … [Read more...]