PCB Functional Test Equipment Regulations and Requirements

[JoCam]

Hi All,

What regulations must electrical test equipment manufactured in-house, or by the customer, for in-house functional testing of PCB assemblies comply with?

Thanks in advance,

Jo

 

[somashekar]

Hi All,

What regulations must electrical test equipment manufactured in-house, or by the customer, for in-house functional testing of PCB assemblies comply with?

Thanks in advance,

Jo

Hi Jo.
You have posted this in the Occupational Health & Safety Management Standards sub forum, and hence I believe you are referring to some safety related standards about the functional test equipment concerning its use.
Are you referring to the bed of nails fixture that runs on some platform like the HP ?
When the PCBA is under test the fixture is usually closed OR the other way is that the fixture begins the testing only under the cover closed condition so as to protect the operator from any live contact. There can be other trip mechanism with alarm and indicator under the PCBA electrical short condition built into the equipment. The cover is openable only when the test pins are retracted and the PCBA is no more live. It is still advisable for the operator to be insulated by proper footwear and gloves.
I guess you are looking for some published safety standards about this, which I am now not aware of.

 

[JoCam]

Hi Someshekar,

Yes, I am referring to the 'bed of nails'.

We are a contract manufacturer, and our customers supply the necessary test equipment, however, on some occasions we have assembled our own.

I am at present updating our management system to include the health & safety standard OHSAS 18001, and as a part of our risk assessment process need to establish what regulations these pieces of equipment must comply with. I understand that they do not need to be CE marked, but assume they should comply with some form of safety regulations.

Jo

 

[somashekar]

Hi Someshekar,

Yes, I am referring to the 'bed of nails'.

We are a contract manufacturer, and our customers supply the necessary test equipment, however, on some occasions we have assembled our own.

I am at present updating our management system to include the health & safety standard OHSAS 18001, and as a part of our risk assessment process need to establish what regulations these pieces of equipment must comply with. I understand that they do not need to be CE marked, but assume they should comply with some form of safety regulations.

Jo

If it is a standard purchased equipment that your customer has provided, it is worth to see through its user manual. As an electrical test equipment, necessary earthing, and isolation from the mains must be logically provided, such that the user does not come near to working voltage when operating the equipment. Provision of circuit breaker, or an ELCB must also be there for faulty conditions or excess earth leakage current. You may also look at your test equipment installation to check for proper and safe connections made to the mains.