With Bill Kimmel’s passing, I no longer accept new consulting assignments. (Still available for on-line training projects and Zoom meetings/discussions.)

For your support, I have arranged for referrals to several experienced EMC consultants. My goals are:

• Take care of past and present clients
• Help some of my younger (and not so young) colleagues.

E-mail me for a referral.  I’ll do my best to provide a match.  Please provide the following:

• Your problem: Brief description
• Your level of urgency
• Your contact info:  Name, Company, E-mail, and Phone Number

Here are some examples of the information I need to help you:

Hi Daryl,

–We just failed MIL-STD-461 radiated emissions (RE102) by 6-10 dB in the 100 MHz range.

–The equipment is an avionics module used on a Navy aircraft.

–We need on-site help fast!

Thanks,

John Doe, Systems Engineer – XYZ Defense Systems – 999-999-9999 X 99 – jdoe@xyz.com

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Hi Daryl,

— About once a month we have a random failure on a production line controller.

–We’ve swapped circuit boards and upgraded software, but the problem persists. ESD? EMI? Or?

–Not urgent, but can you help?

Thanks,

Mary Doe, Production Engineer – ABC Manufacturing Corp. – 777-777-7777 – mdoe @ abc.com

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Hi Daryl,

–We have a new design, and we’d like to schedule an EMC design review.

–The is for a consumer product that must both the Class B FCC and CE requirements.

–We’re just beginning the design, so we have some flexibility

Thanks,

Bill Jones, Design Engineer, JKL Products – 555-555-5555 – bjones@jkl.com

There are no referral fees or obligations for anyone. Once you contact your new consultant, I will no longer be involved. Thanks – Daryl.

Here are some typical consulting scenarios, based on past experience:

EMC QUICK QUESTIONS… 

Got a quick question? Give me a call and we’ll discuss. Billed in 1/2 hour increments. Payment by CC or PayPal.

Typically 1/2 to 1 hour (May involve research or written opinion.) No risk – if the answer is not satisfactory, no charge.

Really quick questions (<15 minutes –  no research) are free.

EMC DESIGN REVIEWS & SUPPORT…

EMI/SI problems are best addressed early in the design phase. The best time is before the electronics or mechanical packaging are committed to hardware, but after the conceptual design is completed.

An initial EMI/SI product design review can often be conducted in one or two days. They can be done on-site or in-office. The consultant and design team work closely to arrive at an approach which is acceptable to both. Often, the client will want a detailed written report of recommendations.

Ongoing remote EMC design support can be provided throughout the project.

EMC TROUBLESHOOTING… 

The troubleshooting goal is to isolate and fix an identified EMI problem. Troubleshooting situations can arise at various times — during EMI compliance testing, in the field after installation, or even in the design phase as a self-compatibility problem.

A typical troubleshooting consultation takes three to five days on-site. At that time, either we have found a solution, or we have isolated it and have a “get well” plan in place.

EMC ANALYSIS… 

To reduce risk, particularly with complex systems, a detailed EMI analysis may be needed. This is often a contractual requirement in military systems, particularly where diverse electronics are integrated into a system or platform.

A simple analysis may be performed in one or two days; detailed analysis on complex systems may take much longer, ranging from a week to a month or more.

EMC PROGRAM PLANS… 

EMC Control Plans, EMC Test Plans, etc. Government contractors sometimes find  themselves short of the EMC expertise needed to support proposals, projects, and mandatory documentation.  

Consultation times vary from a few days to several months, and can be done on a part time or nearly full time basis. Typical efforts range from design recommendations and reviews through documentation preparation and the witnessing of EMC tests.

EMC SITE SURVEYS… 

The purpose of a site survey is to identify existing or potential EMI problems at a specific location. The problems may be RFI, power quality, magnetic fields, ESD, or even health hazards. Existing test standards are used as a guide where appropriate.

A site survey may take a few hours or several days, depending on the nature of the survey.