The reliability tag has no wiki summary.
2
votes
3answers
118 views
Do I need to use thermals on vias for reliability?
This question is further to Why thermal reliefs on vias?
I have recently been advised (by someone I consider an expert) that I should add thermal reliefs to vias which are connected to planes, even ...
8
votes
4answers
612 views
How do LEDs fail?
I am trying to develop a very high reliability product, with a MTBF exceeding 100,000 hours, hopefully in the 250,000 hours range. Yep, I know - stupidly high reliability, at least 10 years.
Most ...
2
votes
2answers
149 views
Best Linux filesystem to use on MMC memory chip?
I have a new embedded Linux project coming up. The hardware team has chosen an MMC Flash chip (part # MTFC64GJVDN-4M) for the system's non volatile memory; data sheet at ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
Voltage ratings of capacitors: ceramic vs electrolytic
Now I know when it comes to electrolytic capacitors it's usually good practice to use a voltage rating 1.5x - 2.5x the maximum rating you ever expect the capacitor to be exposed to, as the lifetime ...
4
votes
1answer
191 views
Does the voltage across an electrolytic cap significantly alter its lifespan?
I've heard two sides to this question: Does the voltage across an electrolytic capacitor significantly alter its lifespan?
Yes, it does. The rating should be 1.5x - 2.5x the expected voltage.
No, it ...
4
votes
2answers
580 views
Reliability and failure mode of MLCC (chip capacitors)
Recently I've been preparing to manufacture a product which exclusively uses MLCC capacitors across the board. It integrates an onboard buck converter which uses them, and MLCC are also used for local ...
3
votes
1answer
94 views
What are FIT's and how they used in reliability calculations?
In Military, Medical, Space, Professional eqt. design there is a need to be able to prove that your device can last a certain length of time with a certain confidence level. Or that reliability must ...
19
votes
6answers
687 views
How precise is the frequency of the AC electricity network?
If I make a digital clock which first detects the AC frequency roughly (whether it is 50, 60, 100Hz, etc), then uses it as its clock pulse source, how precise would it be? Would it work world wide ...
10
votes
12answers
6k views
Reliability of the Arduino platform for industrial use
I'm no electrical engineer (just mechanical) but I would like to apply some of my hobbyist experience to my job and implement various automated systems in an industrial (manufacturing) environment.
...
9
votes
3answers
406 views
What is the lowest capacitor voltage rating that is safe to use?
I'm using a few Case R tantalum capacitors (10uF 6.3v) as bulk decoupling on the 3.3v power of a 100mbps Ethernet phy. I am also using 0.1uF ceramics closer to the pins.
As usual, I'm terribly ...
16
votes
4answers
2k views
Why exactly do chips start malfunctioning once they overheat?
Once a chip overheats it can start malfunctioning - for example many programs may start failing once some or all parts in a computer overheat.
What exactly happens that makes chips malfunction when ...
7
votes
3answers
731 views
I2C minimum clock speed and reliability
Is there a minimum clock rate specified by I2C? I know the most widely used clock rate is 100kHz and there is a "fast" mode of 400kHz supported by some devices, and a faster yet mode supported by ...
0
votes
3answers
411 views
Dynamic Range of an ADC
I am tasked with a situation where i have to analyse different ADC for a medical instrument (abstracted on purpose just to emphasize that the input is sensitive and results can endanger someone's life ...
7
votes
3answers
223 views
Does solder being or not being uniformly thin and shiny really indicate reliability of the circuit?
I'm currently reading an article (in Russian) and the author compares two devices (hard disks) of the same model one manufactured by Company A and the other manufactured by Company B. One of the ...
2
votes
3answers
466 views
Can a device be damaged by water even if there is no power supplied?
For example, say I submerged a computer mouse entirely. Assuming that I ensured that all traces of the water were gone, would the device suffer any issues?
It is my understanding currently that ...
6
votes
5answers
334 views
How do we test reliability and quality so as to minimize the risk of board failure in the field?
We are developing a smart cable for a customer. The market potential is hundreds of thousands of units. The vendor who designs and supplies the boards (with firmware) that will be built into the ...
5
votes
1answer
352 views
Will switching a refrigerator on and off regularly shorten its life?
For our bar, I needed a refrigerator which could operate at 10°C in order to serve ale and dark beer at the ideal temperature. Being of the DIY bent, I bought an under-bench refrigerator second-hand ...
1
vote
1answer
640 views
Simple constant current source that doesn't die on voltage spikes
For testing various laser diodes, I need a constant current source, adjustable up to 150 ... 200 mA or so, down to... well, maybe 1 or 2 mA? (low enough to measure where is the lasing threshold where ...
1
vote
2answers
450 views
FFC (Flat Flexible Cable) ZIF Connector Reliability
I'm wondering about the long term reliability of FFC connectors, especially in environments exposed to shock and vibration. It seems like everything with a display uses such connectors, which means ...
2
votes
3answers
129 views
Speed of various prototype systems for digital electronics
I would like some advice on what digital signal frequencies I'd be able to work with for hobby projects.
I asked this question recently about interfacing to a memory chip from an fpga as a hobby ...
4
votes
2answers
289 views
Reliability of servos
I am building an RC aircraft, 10kg weight range.
It is supposed to perform long flights (20km+), so reliability is my main concern, mainly on servos controlling Flight control surfaces.
How ...
2
votes
1answer
172 views
What does Expected Reliability of a Circuit Mean?
I am a computer Science student, and I have to write a program that models the expected reliability of a circuit given a circuit diagram. The issue is that I have no idea what that means, and my ...
10
votes
3answers
204 views
Component reliability
I'm trying to design my project, Super OSD, to be as reliable as possible. I want it to work good as new when 5 years old. I hate unreliable products, environmentally it's a waste, and economically ...
5
votes
6answers
577 views
Is it okay to briefly exceed a resistor's power rating in a high-reliability product?
I am dealing with a 0.01R 500mW resistor. It is a current sense resistor and measures the current flowing through a MOSFET and inductor. According to simulations, when the supply starts up, the RMS ...
