Practical Engineering

This month's Practical Engineering explains how to use the Welch-Satterthwaite formula to calculate the effective degrees of freedom and expanded uncertainty in a measurement uncertainty analysis. It provides a practical example to demonstrate the application of this formula.

Don MacArthur's blog outlines key steps to excel in compliance engineering, including mastering regulations, staying updated, gaining experience, developing problem-solving skills, and maintaining ethical conduct. He emphasizes continuous learning and effective communication across teams.

This blog by Don MacArthur discusses how to measure creepage and clearance distances on printed circuit boards (PCBs) to ensure safety. It covers definitions, design guidelines, measurement techniques, and tips for compliance engineering in electrical product safety.

Explore the correct use of UL iQ for Electrical Insulation Systems and how proper utilization can save time and money during product development.

Often overlooked during the development of appropriate spacings (creepage distances) for safety-certified products is the failure to account accurately for the material group of the components involved. This oversight can have significant implications. Let us briefly explore this issue to raise awareness among readers.

You know that feeling when a capacitor’s datasheet claims one thing, but NRTL’s online certification directory tells a different story? This blog is all about that - specifically a capacitor rated X1 and Y1, but the certification directory only showed X1. Moral of the story? Double check those certs early in the game to avoid delays.

This month's blog is pulled from the product safety playbook. It highlights a potential issue to avoid when considering an optocoupler's creepage distance when placed onto a printed circuit board (PCB).

Electricity meters and other similar devices have their own set of unique standards and requirements.

If pre-compliance activities are good for discovering EMC design weaknesses early in product development, why not apply the same thought process to product safety?

This month's blog explains X-type capacitors, which suppress emissions in switch-mode power supplies and variable drives.