The holidays are upon us, and if there is a product design engineer in your life who is constantly troubled by the challenges of electromagnetic compliance (EMC), well, we have just the gift. It is a new book from Kenneth Wyatt, principal consultant of Wyatt Technical Services and an EMC guru. So even if you have no idea what EMC is, Wyatt has you covered.
The book’s title “Create Your Own EMC Troubleshooting Kit (Volume 1)” belies its do-it-yourself science kit format, which means that it will likely serve as a welcome respite from the dry manuals and technical reference materials that fill the typical engineer’s shelf. Most chapters cover a specific kit component, outlining choices ranging from homemade to low-cost equipment. The book is available from Saelig, and also from Amazon.
Fixing issues, minimizing costs and building a kit sure to be the envy of other engineers are the focus of a new book by EMC guru Kenneth Wyatt. Source: AmazonAlthough most of us never have to think about it, undesirable electromagnetic radiation can be emitted by electronic products; this is also known as electromagnetic interference, or EMI. It is the job of regulatory agencies like the FCC to create standards defining the allowable limits of EMI — and that is why electronics printed circuit boards (PCBs) and other products must be tested.
Problem is, utilizing formal testing services can be challenging and expensive. The tools and techniques outlined in Wyatt’s book can help to minimize costs. His approach stresses detecting and fixing potential issues early in the design cycle, rather than waiting for them to appear in the compliance test lab.
As for the “Volume 1” in the title, Wyatt explains in the book’s introduction that he is planning two more volumes to follow. Each will include a deeper look at selected troubleshooting techniques. In the acknowledgements, he also thanks his “very understanding wife” for her patience in allowing him “the time to write yet another book,” so he clearly gets what it is like to be surrounded by loved ones whose passions may lie in something other than EMC product design.
Wyatt is also the coauthor of the “EMI Troubleshooting Cookbook for Product Designers,” which he discusses in this video. Before you add that one to the holiday list as well, be forewarned: It was published in 2014. Chances are that the engineer in your life already has it.
