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Registered Member #1521
Joined: Thu Jun 05 2008, 10:46AM
Location: Hungary
Posts: 128
I would like to ask, is there someone here, who has any certification for his TC? Like TÃœV. I need a certification, because a company in my country asked me to build a big, 10kVA SGTC, and will be an element in several big festivals here, the only difficulty to start this project is this certification. We asked them, they can measure it or not, but they aren't sure what to do, with something like this, they wanted more time to think, but this is what I don't have, I need an exact answer for the price, time etc. So, has anyone any experience with these companies?
Registered Member #15
Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 01:11PM
Location:
Posts: 3068
Unfortunately, I have to say good luck on this one.
Obtaining FCC, UL, CE, certification on a Tesla Coil, especially a spark gap coil, is going to be very difficult, and probably even more difficult in Europe than it is here in the US. (CE has more stringent requirements than UL certification from what I understand)
Also, I'm not sure exactly what TUV certification is, but there are also conducted and radiated emission requirements that need to be met to obtain certain certifications. Again, it depends on exactly what the certification is.
Honestly, based on my experience, both with my own company and work in the commercial and military electronics world, this is not something you will be able to obtain as an individual.
You're probably talking, with all the testing, design, and so forth required to get such certification at least $50k USD for something like a high power Tesla Coil. Again, it depends on the specific requirements and certification you are trying to meet.
A Tesla Coil is a very dangerous device, especially a high power 10kVA SGTC as you mention. You have lethal high voltage, high current line power to drive high voltage transformers, a mechanically dangerous spark gap, an electrically noisy spark gap, conducted emissions out the wazoo being reflected back on the line, as well as radiated emissions, not to mention the several 100kV output arc. Oh, and also throw in the lethal energy storage aspect of it with the high voltage pulse capacitor.
I'm not sure you'll find any underwriter who will provide certification for something like this, especially when used in a public venue.
Yes, I know a lot of individuals here demonstrate their coils in public venues, and I'm sure they do get insurance for doing so, but I'm pretty sure not one of them actually has an UL or CE certification for their coil. If I'm mistaken, please let me know.
Registered Member #1521
Joined: Thu Jun 05 2008, 10:46AM
Location: Hungary
Posts: 128
AllisonS wrote ...
Unfortunately, I have to say good luck on this one.
Obtaining FCC, UL, CE, certification on a Tesla Coil, especially a spark gap coil, is going to be very difficult, and probably even more difficult in Europe than it is here in the US. (CE has more stringent requirements than UL certification from what I understand)
Also, I'm not sure exactly what TUV certification is, but there are also conducted and radiated emission requirements that need to be met to obtain certain certifications. Again, it depends on exactly what the certification is.
Honestly, based on my experience, both with my own company and work in the commercial and military electronics world, this is not something you will be able to obtain as an individual.
You're probably talking, with all the testing, design, and so forth required to get such certification at least $50k USD for something like a high power Tesla Coil. Again, it depends on the specific requirements and certification you are trying to meet.
A Tesla Coil is a very dangerous device, especially a high power 10kVA SGTC as you mention. You have lethal high voltage, high current line power to drive high voltage transformers, a mechanically dangerous spark gap, an electrically noisy spark gap, conducted emissions out the wazoo being reflected back on the line, as well as radiated emissions, not to mention the several 100kV output arc. Oh, and also throw in the lethal energy storage aspect of it with the high voltage pulse capacitor.
I'm not sure you'll find any underwriter who will provide certification for something like this, especially when used in a public venue.
Yes, I know a lot of individuals here demonstrate their coils in public venues, and I'm sure they do get insurance for doing so, but I'm pretty sure not one of them actually has an UL or CE certification for their coil. If I'm mistaken, please let me know.
Thanks for the info. Actually I'm new to this (I mean making legally demonstrations), and not quite sure what papers I need for this. TÃœV bought MEE (Hungarian Electrotechnical Association, which was able to give out any kind of licenses and permissions in Hungary) years ago, so probably they are the only authority here. Yes, the real problem is that they will definiately try to measure everyting by standards, and for a tesla coil, I can't even imagine how many different kind of standard will they use, so this is a dead end. Next week I'm going to talk them personally and try to ask them, what papers, permissions I need for such a show.
Registered Member #15
Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 01:11PM
Location:
Posts: 3068
I believe your first step should be to contact the appropriate agency (your customer?) and find out exactly what requirements you need to fulfill to be legal and certified. They should be able to provide you with an exact list of standards, requirements, etc...
From there you can start determing what requirements you need to meet as far as safety, emissions, susceptibility, etc... goes.
Registered Member #1403
Joined: Tue Mar 18 2008, 06:05PM
Location: Denmark, Odense C
Posts: 1968
Afaik the spark gap transmitter was banned by law and that is essentially a SGTC without sparks. It was banned because of the noise emitted from the spark gap.
Registered Member #1521
Joined: Thu Jun 05 2008, 10:46AM
Location: Hungary
Posts: 128
I contacted TÜV, and they said, I need to contact a different company, named ÉMI-TÜV SÜD, because it's an equipment for entertainment, and it's in a different category. I contacted another company for CE certification, which is a must to have, but I found that an equipment for entertainment is a different kind of category here too. I try to translate it:
"It does not count as placing on the market: (I can't translate "forgalomba hozatalnak" exaclty) ... 4. If the product is used in a museum, or for demonstration purposes"
So looks like there is a way for this, but there are still many questions. I'm going to figure out these.
Registered Member #15
Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 01:11PM
Location:
Posts: 3068
If this is a piece of equipment that you will be using yourself (demonstration purpose) , and not selling to another individual or company, there is no need for CE certification.
Registered Member #162
Joined: Mon Feb 13 2006, 10:25AM
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 3140
AFAIK if an item is not included under the CE categories (which this coil will not be) then it is an offence to put a CE logo....i.e. can not be certified.
Registered Member #1521
Joined: Thu Jun 05 2008, 10:46AM
Location: Hungary
Posts: 128
Sulaiman wrote ...
AFAIK if an item is not included under the CE categories (which this coil will not be) then it is an offence to put a CE logo....i.e. can not be certified.
As I heard, everyting must have a CE certification, which is sold/rent inside EU.
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Certification
