IEC e-tech > March 2013 – Clearing up misconceptions on IEC 62368-1

Posted on by Paul

IEC e-tech > March 2013 – Clearing up misconceptions on IEC 62368-1.

“For many years AV and ITE products have been introduced in the market place at an ever quicker pace and technologies used to produce them have been converging. IEC TC (Technical Committee) 108: Safety of electronic equipment within the field of audio/video, information technology and communication technology, which prepares the separate IEC 60065 and IEC 60950-1 series of safety standards for AV and IT equipment, felt necessary to create a “hazard-based” standard, which would cover both. This led to the development of a new International Standard, IEC 62368-1, Audio/video, information and communication technology equipment – Part 1: Safety requirements, published in January 2010. This standard has gained wide acceptance in many markets where national versions have been published.”

“Several national standards around the world have been published based on Edition No. 1 of IEC 62368-1, and it is expected that it will be more widely adopted by other countries and regions when Edition 2 is published later in 2013.”

Texting while walking? Nevada assemblyman moves to ban it – latimes.com

Posted on by Paul

Texting while walking? Nevada assemblyman moves to ban it

via Texting while walking? Nevada assemblyman moves to ban it – latimes.com.

Munford said: “I was just amazed by what I saw,” he said. “So many people are almost oblivious. They are texting and texting, totally unaware as they cross even six-lane highways.”

IEC e-tech > January/February 2013 – Think lumens not watts

Posted on by Paul

IEC e-tech > January/February 2013 – Think lumens not watts.

Extract:

For decades, choosing a new or replacement light bulb has been easy: consumers would look at the wattage … (however) replacement of incandescent bulbs by energy-efficient products…  introduced confusion … as … producers often only gave the watt equivalent of the new bulbs. … The situation is no clearer now that LED-based lamps are becoming more popular and increasing in efficiency all the time.

 

Watts indicate the power needed to light the bulb, and lumens indicates the amount of visible light emitted by a source. The value of the bulbs required may differ according to the lighting effect desired. The table in the article gives average ratings for incandescent, CFL and LED bulbs.

ACMA – New single compliance mark–RCM replaces C-Tick and A-Tick from today

Posted on by Paul

ACMA – New single compliance mark–RCM.

Announcement

Single compliance mark scheme begins

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has today introduced a single compliance mark (RCM) to illustrate a device’s compliance with all applicable ACMA standards—telecommunications, radiocommunications, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and electromagnetic energy (EME). The C-Tick and A-Tick compliance marks are being phased out.

Requirements for selling electrical equipment in Queensland (AU) – Department of Justice and Attorney-General

Posted on by Paul

The requirements to sell electrical equipment in Queensland changed on 1 March 2013 with the introduction of a new Electrical Equipment Safety System EESS and changes to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002… It will lead to harmonised legislation throughout Australia and enable the public to search a national database of responsible suppliers and electrical equipment registrations for the first time. The database will allow electrical equipment to be easily traced to the supplier and its legal supply in Australia and New Zealand to be verified.The EESS changes the requirements for businesses that import, manufacture or sell in-scope electrical equipment. All in-scope electrical equipment sold in Queensland must be linked to a registered responsible supplier prior to sale. If it is Level 2 or Level 3 equipment it must also registered on the national database.Technical safety requirements have not changed under the EESS, but tighter evidence of conformity is required for some items.

via Requirements for selling electrical equipment – Department of Justice and Attorney-General.

Scaling up production of graphene microsupercapacitors :: ElectronicsOnline

Posted on by Paul

The UCLA researchers have developed a groundbreaking technique that uses a DVD burner to fabricate microscale graphene-based supercapacitors – devices that can charge and discharge a hundred to a thousand times faster than standard batteries. These microsupercapacitors, made from a one-atom-thick layer of graphitic carbon, can be easily manufactured and readily integrated into small devices such as next-generation pacemakers.

via Scaling up production of graphene microsupercapacitors :: ElectronicsOnline.

Using magnetism to cool your chips :: ElectronicsOnline

Posted on by Paul

A new technology in the magnetic cooling of chips based on the straining of materials is claimed will lessen the impact on the environment compared to current technologies.

via Using magnetism to cool your chips :: ElectronicsOnline.

NABERS launches data centre energy ratings | Cabling connection

Posted on by Paul

NABERS launches data centre ratings | Cabling connection.

Environment minister Robyn Parker has announced the release of the new NABERS Energy for data centres rating tools.

“These new tools include what we believe to be a world’s first for rating the environmental performance of the IT equipment within a data centre,” Robyn says.

Mandatory Safety Incident Reporting Webinar (Australia)

Posted on by Paul

Register for the free webinar Mandatory reporting of product-related death, injury & illness under the Australian Consumer Law – how to do it, why you should & what happens if you don’t, on 10 April 2013 at 12:00pm-1:00pm AEST.

http://www.webcasts.com.au/accc10413/

via Mandatory reporting.

A spider may have been the cause of an explosion at a home

Posted on by Paul

NSW Police Force (via Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/nswpoliceforce?ref=stream

Police believe a spider may have been the cause of an explosion at a home in Kirribilli today.

Emergency services were called to the home in McDougall Street shortly after 1pm (Saturday 2 February 2013), after an explosion blew out the bathroom and kitchen windows and destroyed a washing machine.

A 66-year-old woman told police and fire fighters she’d seen a spider on her washing machine and sprayed it with an insecticide, however, it ran under the machine.

She sprayed more insecticide under the washing machine and fire investigators believe the engine ignited the spray, triggering the explosion. The washing machine was destroyed.

The homeowner was treated by NSW Ambulance Paramedics at the scene after sustaining singed hair and blurred vision.

There was no sign of the spider.

Using snails’ teeth to improve solar cells and batteries :: ElectronicsOnline

Posted on by Paul

“Kisailus is using the lessons learned from this biomineralisation pathway as inspiration in his lab to guide the growth of minerals used in solar cells and lithium-ion batteries. By controlling the crystal size, shape and orientation of engineering nanomaterials, he believes he can build materials that will allow the solar cells and lithium-ion batteries to operate more efficiently … and the lithium-ion batteries could need significantly less time to recharge … (and) engineering nanocrystals can be grown at significantly lower temperatures, which means significantly lower production costs.”

via Using snails’ teeth to improve solar cells and batteries :: ElectronicsOnline.

Electromagnetic harvester can charge your batteries from thin air – PC & Tech Authority

Posted on by Paul

Electromagnetic harvester can charge your batteries from thin air – PC & Tech Authority.

“This tiny device will wirelessly suck up energy from power lines, coffee machines, photocopiers and pretty much anything else.”

“The harvester uses coils and high frequency diodes to capture the energy, while an LED indicates the strength of the signal. One thing to consider: Siegel says it takes about a day to charge a single AA battery, depending on the signal strength …”

The Battery Controlled – Button battery safety

Posted on by Paul

The Battery Controlled – Button battery safety

via The Battery Controlled – Button battery safety.

“If a child swallows a button battery, the battery can get stuck in the child’s throat and burn through the oesophagus in as little as two hours. Repair can require feeding and breathing tubes and multiple surgeries.”

“In Australia, an estimated four children per week present to an emergency department with an injury related to a button battery.”

VIC: Warning on TV and furniture tip-over hazards

Posted on by Paul

Date: 30th October 2012

Consumer Affairs Victoria is reminding Victorians to check their household furniture for stability and safety, after a five-year-old boy died when a television set fell on him at his Western Australian home.

…

Statistics from the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit show that from 2006 to 2010, children under 10 accounted for more than 70 per cent of visits to emergency departments for injuries caused by tipping TVs.

via VIC: Warning on TV and furniture tip-over hazards.