Pedal Building CE Marking

[Littlewyan]

Hi Guys

I want to get into Effects Pedal building as its cheaper than building valve amps and there is so much you can do with just a pedal. Anyway I'll probably end up selling a few which brings me onto CE Marking. I know the pedals aren't covered under the Low Voltage Directive but what about EMC? How do you get these things CE Marked?!

[vibratoking]

...How do you get these things CE Marked?!

You can't afford to.

[briane]

cheaper than building valve amps

with an appropriately scaled back profit incentive as well....

[Structo]

I read up on it a while back.

From what I recall, you can certify it CE by yourself.

But you better make sure all safety measures are followed.

UL listing is much harder than that if I recall correctly.

With UL, if it can be powered by a DC source, then it doesn't really fit
their guidelines.

[Littlewyan]

Thats right I can CE Certify it myself, however I'm not sure what standards would I have to build by. I mean its a low voltage pedal so there is pretty much nothing to it. I guess I'd just have to get all of the documentation together, which for a pedal should be far easier as there aren't many components.

Plus what about EMC? I mean again its a tiny pedal! I believe EMC testing HAS to be done by a proper company if in this instance it has to be done at all.

The other thing I've always wondered is who do you officially go to for advice on this?

[Spinoo]

You have to go to the IEC website and buy all applicable norms first. Of course it's up to you to find what's applicable But they offer previews which can help on this.

For such pedals you don't have to pass the low voltage directive as you found out, so I'd probably comply with RoHS by compiling certificated (not datasheets!) and EN6100 (EMC) with a local testing lab (around 1000 to 3000€ per model). Now CE marking is a norm in itself and is only mandatory if another norm calls for it.

With auto certification you have to consolidate a technical form with all schematics, mechanical drawings and written compliance to all applicable norms items/requirements. This file has to be available to authorities for 10 years.

[Aurora]

This is a low voltage DC device .... have you checked whether the major makers state certification and markings...??
Unless you build tube based pedals, there's no harmful voltages at all.

[Littlewyan]

I know Marshall definitely CE mark their pedals. Might just be for EMC tho which is still rather expensive. We actually have EMC kit at work but i dont think anyone knows how to use it!

[norburybrook]

Unless you're going to be selling thousands all around the world why bother?


Or do like some people I know....


Just screen print the CE marking on the case.... who's going to check?


Marcus

[Littlewyan]

The issue is if someone does check then I will be in big trouble!

[Merlinb]

If you are confident that your pedals are sufficiently well shielded or so trivial in design that they cannot possibly send out interfering signals to external equipment , then you don't have to do any actual EMC tests. See:
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j ... 7201,d.ZWU

For marketing in the US, this is worth a read:
http://www.effectsbay.com/2014/05/fcc-r ... or-pedals/

[Littlewyan]

Thanks for that Merlin. I read through most of it, will read the rest tomorrow night. So far though from what I can tell it basically says for Self Certification you need to build to EMC Standards that you specify in your Declaration of Conformity. So basically I still need to get hold of the relevant EMC standards which I believe aren't cheap. I also need to determine which standards I need to build to.

I have been speaking to a senior trading standards officer who said he may be able to get hold of some of the standards for me if I can give him the numbers. Unfortunately I've been so busy that I've left it a month before getting back to him so will see what happens.

[eniam rognab]

took a gander at a Tube Screamer i have in for extensive modification and there is a CE logo and a ROHS compliant marking. so some do go that route...

[Littlewyan]

How old is the pedal?