On both coasts, MET Labs performs 200 V/m Radiated Immunity test requirements per MIL-STD-461 and RTCA DO-160 in-house.
Following are the military EMC tests that MET Labs is accredited to perform for the top military defense contractors:
MIL-STD-461 - This standard establishes interface and associated verification requirements for the control of the electromagnetic interference (EMI) emission and susceptibility characteristics of electronic, electrical, and electromechanical equipment and subsystems designed or procured for use by activities and agencies of the Department of Defense (DoD). Such equipment and subsystems may be used independently or as an integral part of other subsystems or systems. This standard is best suited for items that have the following features: electronic enclosures that are no larger than an equipment rack, electrical interconnections that are discrete wiring harnesses between enclosures, and electrical power input derived from prime power sources. This standard should not be directly applied to items such as modules located inside electronic enclosures or entire platforms. The principles in this standard may be useful as a basis for developing suitable requirements for those applications. Data item requirements are also included.
MIL-STD-461 Antenna Port Testing: CE106, CS103, CS104, CS105 & RE103.
Note: MIL-STD-461 emission test limits are 20 times more stringent than FCC limits, and as a result, can be difficult for manufactures to obtain MIL-STD compliance. If needed for EMC compliance, our Test Engineers, whom are skilled at debugging, can offer ‘real-time’ technical assistance to modifying your products electrical or mechanical interface to meet the stringent emission or susceptibility MIL-STD test limits.
MIL-STD-462 – Requirements for the Control of Electromagnetic Interference Emissions and Susceptibility
MIL-STD-704 – This standard establishes the requirements and characteristics of aircraft electric power provided at the input terminals of electric utilization equipment. MIL-HDBK-704-1 through -8 defines test methods and procedures for determining airborne utilization equipment compliance with the electric power characteristics requirements defined herein. Electromagnetic interference and voltage spikes are not covered by this standard.
MIL-STD-1275 - This standard covers the limits of steady state and transient voltage characteristics 28 VDC electrical power systems for military ground vehicles.
MIL-STD-1399 Section 070 - Equipment installed on-board of a naval ship can expect to encounter magnetic field environments which would not be expected in other land base applications. The DC Magnetic Field environment is generated by the efforts of degaussing to counteract the normal magnetic signature of the metallic ship due to the ships consistent heading and normal electronic operation conditions. The DC Magnetic field can also be expected to be generated from individual sources such as electrical power cables, generators, motors, welding circuits, and electrical switchboards and control equipment. This magnetic environment may have a degrading effect of the performance of susceptible electronic equipment.
MIL-STD-1399 Section 300 – This requirement defines the standard interface requirements for and the constraints on the design for shipboard user equipment utilizing shipboard alternating current (AC) electrical power.
MIL-PRF-28800 - This specification covers the general requirements for test equipment used in testing and calibrating electrical and electronic equipment. The test equipment may be of commercial design and includes general purpose, special purpose, peculiar, console mounted, automatic test equipment (ATE), and calibration standards.
RS105 & RS103 in excess of 200 V/m from 10 kHz - 18 GHz
RE102 up to 18 GHz
IEEE 299 – Shielding Effectiveness
ASTM E 1851 – Durable Rigid Wall Structure Shielding Effectiveness
RTCA/DO-160 – This document defines a series of minimum standard environmental test condition (categories) and applicable test procedures for commercial airborne equipment. The purpose of these tests is to provide a laboratory means of determining the performance characteristics of airborne equipment in environmental conditions representative of those which may be encountered in airborne operation.
Airbus/RTCA Section 16
Special NASA DoD standards
Military Shielding Effectiveness
MIL-PRF-28876 – Fiber Optic Connector Assembly Shielding Effectiveness
MIL-PRF-85045 – Fiber Optic Cabling Shielding Effectiveness
MIL-DTL-83526 - Connectors, Fiber Optic, Circular, Environmental Resistant, Hermaphroditic, General Specification for
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“I really appreciate the extra effort to complete this testing and LOC so quickly. This LOC allows me to meet my commitments to my customer and get my report out on time. It is very important to me and my customer because it then allows hardware to fly. Thank you for the weekend and overtime work. You team’s professionalism and sense of urgency is outstanding.
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Chris Brito
L-3 Randtron Antenna Systems
Process, People & Equipment
MET Laboratories approaches each Military EMC test ‘Scientifically’ to insure accurate and consistent test results are obtained. Achieving accurate and repeatable test data is the core of our business. Obtaining scientific test data requires extensive knowledge, well-written procedures, state-of-the-art test equipment, and post-documentation formation.
The key to successful electromagnetic compliance testing is the people. Test laboratories must have people with integrity who are experienced in obtaining repeatable test data for clients. Here at MET Laboratories, the EMC Lab brings years of combined experience, education, and integrity to the test discipline it is assigned. Ultimately, this means that our client’s get what they pay for, the first time, time and time again.
MET Laboratories employs degreed Electrical Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Chemists, PhD’s, Electronic Technicians, Documentation Specialists, and Project Coordinators to guide our client’s product through each testing phase – from beginning to end.
In addition to skilled personnel, ‘State-of-the-Art’ test equipment is a necessity to operate ahead of technology advancement. Every test engineer at MET Laboratories utilizes the latest in advanced test equipment: RF Shielded enclosures, Digital Phosphorus Oscilloscopes, Radio Frequency (RF) Signal Generators, High Power RF Amplifiers (200V/m), Rhode & Swartz and Agilent PSA Series Spectrum Analyzers, Transient Generators, Power Generators, Test Antenna Systems, and Environmental Simulation Test Equipment.
MET has designed and constructed custom Hemholtz Coils for magnetic immunity testing. The system is capable of generating magnetic fields from DC to 100kHz in excess of 180 dBpT. These fields exceed requirements for Army/Navy RS101, DoD-STD 1399 (pt.070), RTCA DO-160 and various ANSI and European specifications.
This equipment is utilized in our 3 meter, 5 meter and 10 meter ambient-free chambers on both coasts.
Data Item Description (DID) Documentation
Being that the majority of MET Laboratories Military EMC customers sell their products to the Government, the Procuring Activity (end-user), often times, require detailed written documentation to support contractual requirements between the ‘Seller’ and the ‘Buyer’. Right from the DI-EMCS-802xx Data Item Description (DID) document, it prescribes the Test Plan/Report requirement for the test data, the format, and all information necessary to document compliance of a component, system, or subsystem within it’s electromagnetic interference (EMI) test requirement. The following outlines the DID documentation requirement for Test Labs to adhere to:
DID EMI Test Plan (EMITP)
- Introduction, administrative data, and referenced documents
- Product information detailing functions, cabling, layout, grounding, and test settings
- Test Site description - Test Chamber info
- Test Equipment information (i.e. factors, settings, automation operation description/version, 'predicted' selection, calibration info)
- Step-by-Step measurement procedures, block diagrams, computation explanation
- Established test limits and approved DID format
DID EMI Test Report (EMITR):
- Executive Summary, administrative info, and referenced documents
- Product description, detailing functions, configuration, cabling, layout, grounding, modifications made (if any) and test settings
- Tabular Test Data, Graphical Test Data, and Test Setup photographs
- Test Engineer Log
- Red-line Changes to document all EMITP differences
- Approved EMITP-bonded as Appendix (if applicable)
- Established test limits using approved DID format
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“We chose to work with MET Laboratories because MET offered the ‘lunchtime review’ and technical consultations that went above and beyond the standard testing offered by laboratories that were much closer to us geographically. We spent hours at MET working with your engineers and REALLY appreciated the time and effort that these MET experts put into helping us get our system compliant. With their assistance, we were able to pass MIL-STD-461 and ultimately see our Maxa Beam Crew-Served Weapons Light system officially placed on the Army’s Common Table of Allowance.
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Annie McManus, Director of Sales & Marketing
Peak Beam Systems, Inc.