Hi all,
I want to make sure I understand the laws concerning FCC EMI tests, and whether my project is actually exempted from all that, as I think it might be.
I've been reading FCC part 15.103, "Exempted Devices" (and other parts of course) and if i understand it right, it says that circuit boards used exclusively in a vehicle or an aircraft are exempted from the requirement to be tested or certified in any way. I was surprised by that, and thought I should ask those who are more familiar with the FCC rules than I am. I figured some of you guys have probably been through FCC testing before.
My project is a product (to be sold in large number hopefully) that is a part of the electrical system of an aircraft, and it has a lithium battery stack of 16 cells. It has an active battery balancer that uses flyback transformers to move charge from one cell to another in the stack to maintain accurate balance during both charge or discharge, or while unloaded completely. I figured I should expect some EMI emissions, so I was planning to do my best, and then put the whole thing inside a MU metal box anyway. I already have my own reasons to keep EMI as low as I can of course because it's for an aircraft and nobody wants radio interference.
The big question:
Is it true that this is exempted from FCC testing under part 15.103 just because it will be used exclusively in an aircraft and have no other purpose? And does it matter that it's an unmanned aircraft, and not a passenger plane? I found that to be good luck that was hard to believe, since I'd like to avoid the expense of FCC testing. The system never gets connected to an AC power line and does not get charged on the ground. It only charges from the gas engine while in the air.
Another related question is about the small boards that are sold by companies like Adafruit and Parallax. Do things as simple as the breakout boards they sell also have to be FCC tested and certified?
I think I correctly understand the FCC stuff I've read so far. I'm finding it hard to believe I might have just side stepped some expensive government regulations just because it's part of an airplane. I was expecting my circuit boards to be buried in FCC test requirements, but I hope it's not.
Thanks a ton in advance for any replies.
I want to make sure I understand the laws concerning FCC EMI tests, and whether my project is actually exempted from all that, as I think it might be.
I've been reading FCC part 15.103, "Exempted Devices" (and other parts of course) and if i understand it right, it says that circuit boards used exclusively in a vehicle or an aircraft are exempted from the requirement to be tested or certified in any way. I was surprised by that, and thought I should ask those who are more familiar with the FCC rules than I am. I figured some of you guys have probably been through FCC testing before.
My project is a product (to be sold in large number hopefully) that is a part of the electrical system of an aircraft, and it has a lithium battery stack of 16 cells. It has an active battery balancer that uses flyback transformers to move charge from one cell to another in the stack to maintain accurate balance during both charge or discharge, or while unloaded completely. I figured I should expect some EMI emissions, so I was planning to do my best, and then put the whole thing inside a MU metal box anyway. I already have my own reasons to keep EMI as low as I can of course because it's for an aircraft and nobody wants radio interference.
The big question:
Is it true that this is exempted from FCC testing under part 15.103 just because it will be used exclusively in an aircraft and have no other purpose? And does it matter that it's an unmanned aircraft, and not a passenger plane? I found that to be good luck that was hard to believe, since I'd like to avoid the expense of FCC testing. The system never gets connected to an AC power line and does not get charged on the ground. It only charges from the gas engine while in the air.
Another related question is about the small boards that are sold by companies like Adafruit and Parallax. Do things as simple as the breakout boards they sell also have to be FCC tested and certified?
I think I correctly understand the FCC stuff I've read so far. I'm finding it hard to believe I might have just side stepped some expensive government regulations just because it's part of an airplane. I was expecting my circuit boards to be buried in FCC test requirements, but I hope it's not.
Thanks a ton in advance for any replies.