Re:[K3] CE Mark

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Re:[K3] CE Mark

dj7mgq
Hi Rowland,

 > No CE mark seen but I dont think it needs one in Kit form.

For the kit version likely not, but, afaik, anyone who ordered an
assembled K3 in the EU will, without a CE Marking have a problem. Way
back when, Eric did say that he was looking into getting the K3 certified.

Mine is to be a kit... Ordered within a few hours of the announcement
hitting the internet.

vy 73 de toby


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Re: [K3] CE Mark

David Woolley (E.L)
Toby Deinhardt wrote:
>
>  > No CE mark seen but I dont think it needs one in Kit form.
>
> For the kit version likely not, but, afaik, anyone who ordered an

Although it might be technically legal (speculation), I very much doubt
that the kit exemption envisaged a pre-aligned sub-assembly kit, like
the K3.  As far as I remember, the equivalent position for PCs is that
board level components have to have individual EMC certification.  In
that case, they can be certified based on using extremely good cases,
etc., but the K3 components are only intended to be used in a K3, so
that loophole won't work.



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David Woolley
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Re: [K3] CE Mark

dj7mgq
> Although it might be technically legal (speculation), I very much
> doubt that the kit exemption envisaged a pre-aligned sub-assembly kit,

As much as I hate to bother Eric right now, maybe he could give us a
short update on the CE Marking certification status of the K3. Eric was
looking into the legal situation and preparing to have the K3 certified
back in April/May (shortly after the announcement).

It would be a real pity if this creates problems for anyone on our side
of the the Atlantic.

vy 73 de toby



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Re: [K3] CE Mark

David Cutter
In reply to this post by David Woolley (E.L)
An interesting parallel with home-build PCs, but the difference is that PC
boards are sold separately on the open market and in theory can be connected
with many other manufacturers' boards to make up a system; as such I would
interpret them as products within their own right. The K3 boards are not on
the open market as products, they are only viable when coupled together, ie
unique to the final unit which is the K3.  This is a kit of unique parts for
one use,  not a collection of various manufacturers' products.   IMHO.

David
G3UNA


----- Original Message -----
From: "David Woolley" <[hidden email]>
To: "Elecraft List" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 9:17 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] CE Mark


> Toby Deinhardt wrote:
>>
>>  > No CE mark seen but I dont think it needs one in Kit form.
>>
>> For the kit version likely not, but, afaik, anyone who ordered an
>
> Although it might be technically legal (speculation), I very much doubt
> that the kit exemption envisaged a pre-aligned sub-assembly kit, like the
> K3.  As far as I remember, the equivalent position for PCs is that board
> level components have to have individual EMC certification.  In that case,
> they can be certified based on using extremely good cases, etc., but the
> K3 components are only intended to be used in a K3, so that loophole won't
> work.
>
>
>
> --
> David Woolley
> Emails are not formal business letters, whatever businesses may want.
> RFC1855 says there should be an address here, but, in a world of spam,
> that is no longer good advice, as archive address hiding may not work.
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com 

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Re: [K3] CE Mark

Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ
Administrator
In reply to this post by David Woolley (E.L)
Hi David,

Since the K3 kit requires 7 to 8 hours of customer assembly of our
components following the detailed steps in our 60 page assembly manual,
and because it does involve customer alignment and set up of the PLL,
filters etc (via the front panel interface) it clearly does fall under
the amateur radio kit CE exemption. We do some of the alignment for you,
but you certainly get to do some too. Any your quality of
assembly/test/alignment directly impacts the final performance of the
radio. This is not your father's four board plug together home built PC :-)

Also, the regular CE statement of conformity  for built products
requires  us to maintain manufacturing quality information and processes
on the final built product. Something that is impossible for us to do on
a customer built kit, since we have no control over the customer. While
we certainly have designed the K3 to exceed any requirements in this
area, it is clear that if the final assembly is done by the customer
that we have no way of absolutely guaranteeing or controlling this.
That's another reason for the creation of the exemption for amateur
radio kits. The regulators obviously felt that since the builder's were
licensed amateur radio operators in most cases, they were trained in the
art and would maintain a reasonable level of quality on their own. Thus
its impossible for a manufacturer= to issue a CE statement on any
amateur radio kit.

And as far as Toby's question on CE for the built K3 - Yes, we will not
ship built K3s for sale to the EC until we have finished the test suite
for CE on them. We had to wait until we were shipping to run the tests
on actual production units. We're completing this testing now.
Fortunately the CE statement of conformity is a self certification by
the manufacturer (us) and does not require any regulatory filing or
approval through bureaucratic channels etc.

As a side note: Some of tests required for CE are pretty bizarre when
applied to a ham radio transceiver - As an example the radio must be
tested for spurious emissions from the radio in receive mode even though
the acceptable levels for spurious and on channel signals in transmit
far exceed these RX test values. It looks like most of the regulations
were written for commercial radio equipment that was intended for use by
non-technical users from the general public. Fortunately, we easily
exceed these requirements. Just a lot of formal testing and paperwork to do!

73, Eric   WA6HHQ
-----


David Woolley wrote:

> Toby Deinhardt wrote:
>>
>>  > No CE mark seen but I dont think it needs one in Kit form.
>>
>> For the kit version likely not, but, afaik, anyone who ordered an
>
> Although it might be technically legal (speculation), I very much
> doubt  that the kit exemption envisaged a pre-aligned sub-assembly
> kit, like the K3.  As far as I remember, the equivalent position for
> PCs is that board level components have to have individual EMC
> certification.
>
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Re: [K3] CE Mark

M0XDF
In reply to this post by dj7mgq
In what way do you envision?
Its reached at least one 'G' now - I don't care about CE at all - it isn't
worth the paper its printed (or often not) on.
I've come across quite a lot of imported gear with a CE - no way does it
meet even the most basic standard.

Sorry, this came out confrontational - its not meant to be. But frankly - I
just want my K3 and I don't care about 'useless' certification.


On 6/11/07 21:50, "Toby Deinhardt" <[hidden email]> sent:
> It would be a real pity if this creates problems for anyone on our side
> of the the Atlantic.
--
A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives the rose.
-Chinese proverb


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Re: [K3] CE Mark

Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ
Administrator
In reply to this post by David Cutter
Hi David,

I agree with this point too. All of the components of the K3 are
designed only for use inside that radio and not as general general
options for other manufacturer's products. The boards are not stand
alone products.

73, Eric  WA6HHQ
----

David Cutter wrote:

> An interesting parallel with home-build PCs, but the difference is
> that PC boards are sold separately on the open market and in theory
> can be connected with many other manufacturers' boards to make up a
> system; as such I would interpret them as products within their own
> right. The K3 boards are not on the open market as products, they are
> only viable when coupled together, ie unique to the final unit which
> is the K3.  This is a kit of unique parts for one use,  not a
> collection of various manufacturers' products.   IMHO.
>
> David
> G3UNA
>
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Re: [K3] CE Mark

dj7mgq
In reply to this post by M0XDF
Hallo David,

AFAIK, you as the importer of electronic devices are responsible for
conformity with EU regulations, whether they make sense or not. It is
easy to imagine an official, with nothing better to do, causing serious
problems for the importer of said equipment.

A lot of what is in the CE marking requirements, imvho, make good sense,
but there is no real mechanism to enforce them, especially because the
CE Marking uses a self certification system. It is far too easy for
producers and/or European importers/distributors to fudge on their
certification and conformity. Which, as you correctly noted, often makes
the CE Marking almost worthless.

> Sorry, this came out confrontational - its not meant to be. But frankly - I
> just want my K3 and I don't care about 'useless' certification.

I also want my K3 (kit) but would hate to see Elecraft and/or Elecraft's
customers run into any problems, just because a CE Marking was missing.

vy 73 de toby

PS: I am not a lawyer, so any and all of the above could be wildly false.

PPS: I did not take your mail as confrontational. No worries here.
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