Alpine offers low cost EMC testing

Vehicle and component manufacturers needing to undertake EMC testing now have a low cost solution from in-car electronics specialist Alpine. The firm’s nine metre by six metre by six metre chamber (crucially large enough for two cars side by side) is available for static vehicle and component bench testing at affordable rates; some 75 percent lower than comparable test houses in the UK.

Located at Alpine’s secure Evaluation Centre in Coventry, the facility offers a full range of emissions, immunity and electro-static discharge (ESD) testing. This includes radiated emissions from 30 Hz to 7 GHz and conducted from 100 kHz to 108 MHz. For immunity, conducted emissions stretch from 1 MHz to 400 MHz and radiated immunity from 400 MHz to 1 GHz. ESD testing is available to the industry ISO10605 standard.

“Now customers can test components in the vehicle or in two vehicles at very low cost,” says Alpine’s OEM business manager Keith Price. “Our prices are 75 percent lower than similar, recognised facilities, a compelling cost saving for product development.”
Full exhaust extraction allows customers to test with engine running. The unusual capability to have two vehicles side by side permits customers to check for cross car interference (radio emissions from one vehicle affecting another); a test that usually requires a larger and more expensive chamber.

Attracted by the convenient location (fifteen minutes from Birmingham Airport), low cost and availability at short notice, the facility has already been used by three vehicle manufacturers to identify and solve EMC issues. Keith Price has over 25 years’ of EMC experience and, together with three other engineers, provides an exceptional level of customer support, either at vehicle or component level.

“Our engineers have a deep understanding of the main international and customer test standards,” adds Price. “From our own product development and testing, we can offer solutions and ideas to customers on how to meet the standards.”

The chamber has also been used for testing electric vehicles (EVs) which bring their own unique set of challenges. Alpine has gained a deeper understanding of how difficult meeting the requirements can be. “Our chamber can be used to identify issues with EVs such as spikes generated by high switching currents,” says Price. “EV specialists are just starting to realise the importance of this field which Alpine is able to assist with.”