Harsh Environment Electronics Design - Reading References? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Time
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2014, 09:51:53 pm
content: I am interested in learning about electronics design for harsh environments such as the engine compartment of a truck or inside of a satellite.I feel like there might be some good literature out there pertaining to this. Does anyone have any recommendations?

author: penfold
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2014, 02:14:52 pm
content: In my experience, the phrase harsh-environment really doesn't well define any environment at all. The environment experienced in space exploration is a world apart from that of the insides of an engine bay again much different to the harsh environment within a few metres of a nuclear reactor core.Its a matter that you really have to boil down to the particular environmental parameter you're interested in such as vibration, ionizing- and nonionizing-radiation, temperature and humidity etc and look at the design criteria for such matters. I work primarily with electronics in some pretty horrible conditions with regard to corrosive atmospheres, ionizing radiations and extreme temperature cycling, the only thing I don't have is vibration going on. I never managed to find a reliable text on the matter, but there are a lot of incidental application notes from various suppliers targeting some components for 'harsh' environments.It would be worth looking up "design for high temperature", "design for high vibration",... etc

author: qno
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2014, 03:48:59 pm
content: Googlehttp://books.google.nl/books/about/Environmental_requirements_for_electrome.html?id=GwImGi03pFAC&redir_esc=y

author: qno
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2014, 03:52:08 pm
content: Maybe start here:http://www.environmentaltestanddesign.com/category/automotive/

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 01:18:21 pm
content: You have to specify what harsh means, going from a truck to a satellite is quite a range. In general, build to military specifications AKA MILSPEC is focused on harsh environment design on the earth, whether land, sea, or air. Space is another set of standards, for details see NASA.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Military_StandardIn general, build for military is as tough as it gets; most times you derate your device for civilian needs because the MILSPEC requirements make for substantial construction and testing costs. But it also makes military electronics, housing and design desirable if you can use it, as a group they are the most reliable devices you can get. Many old test instruments from HP circa 1960-1980 are built so well as most equipment was intended for military application [albeit they were not 'toughened' for field use unless specified.]https://nepp.nasa.gov/index.cfm/5544Finally for small projects for space, the CubeSat projects give summary of minimal space needs.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CubeSat

author: Time
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2014, 08:46:38 pm
content: Nothing like space, just harsh vibration and temperature so something like an engine compartment.Thanks for the responses.