Good practice in investigative testing

The equipment under test used for investigative testing should be as close as possible to the equipment that will undergo qualification. On-board software can have a significant impact on test results for radiated and conducted emissions, as well as for radiated and conducted susceptibility, and for all temporal tests such as lightning or fast electrical transients.

A typical example is the use of test software for investigations and operating software for qualification tests. A simple gain on an operational amplifier can make an electronic device more sensitive.

The condition of electronic boards will also have an impact on test results. A board with too many wire or mezzanine modifications will behave very differently...