Electrical Compliance Testing

Electrical circuits are tested for compliance with specifications.

Electrical compliance testing involves testing electrical systems for compliance with one or several specifications. Specifications can be internal corporate specifications, industrywide specifications, niche specifications (such as safety) or government specifications.

Identification

Product specifications require engineers to deploy testing tools and procedures to stimulate or power the electrical circuit with a signal, record the response and evaluate whether the response falls within the tolerances outlined in the applicable specifications. The results are then presented to a certifying authority for certification and compliance.

Examples

Some examples of electrical compliance testing include electrical fault testing, which evaluates how a circuit response to short circuits, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) testing, which determines how a circuit responds to electromagnetic interference. In each case, companies design their circuits to meet meet fault and EMI specifications, then perform the necessary compliance testing to prove their circuits comply with specifications.

Testing Tools

Examples of electrical compliance testing tools include signal generators, which are used to stimulate or apply a test signal to a circuit; oscilloscopes, which offer a graphical representation of both the test signal and the circuit's response to the test signal; and circuit analysis software, which engineers use to analyze and make design changes if necessary. Engineers uses these tools and others to write a test plan, configure a test setup and conduct compliance testing as required.

References

• PCI Express: PCI Express Electrical Testing

Resources

• G&M Compliance, Inc.: EMC/EMI/FCC Certification
• Associated Resource, Inc.: Electrical Safety Compliance Testing