Magentic fields in the engine room
 

Good Evenin' All,

I've just been fitted with a cardiac defribulator. This device comes with
instructions to avoid using cell phone in right ear and keep power-tools 12"
away from the device. Seems the risk is that strong magnetic fields may
damage the programming and cause the device to reset.

I currently live on a 53' Carver and the engine room has a lot of electrical
equipment: 50A Charging / Inverter, 2*Starters / Transformers on the
engines and Generator. My concern is that there is the potential for a
sizable magnetic field in the engine room and I simply don't (short of
saving up a few pennies and getting a crew) know how to avoid or manage the
issue.

Questions:

1. Has anybody had to consider this problem? What it a problem?
2. Any clever way I can judge the strength of the magnetic fields?

Thanks,

Dave

Magentic fields in the engine room
 

"Dave Isherwood" wrote in message
...
Good Evenin' All,

I've just been fitted with a cardiac defribulator. This device comes with
instructions to avoid using cell phone in right ear and keep power-tools
12" away from the device. Seems the risk is that strong magnetic fields
may damage the programming and cause the device to reset.

I currently live on a 53' Carver and the engine room has a lot of
electrical equipment: 50A Charging / Inverter, 2*Starters / Transformers
on the engines and Generator. My concern is that there is the potential
for a sizable magnetic field in the engine room and I simply don't (short
of saving up a few pennies and getting a crew) know how to avoid or manage
the issue.

Questions:

1. Has anybody had to consider this problem? What it a problem?
2. Any clever way I can judge the strength of the magnetic fields?

Thanks,

Dave


No knowledge, but it would seem it's something you need to look into,
particularly the charger, which has a pretty big transformer in it.

Magnetic field strengths are typically measured with a device called a
"gauss meter". Here's an example of a reasonably inexpensive, portable one:

http://www.escience.ca/genSci/RENDER...056/11098.html

Once you've determined if there is a problem or not, there is a metal alloy,
available in sheet form, called "Mu-Metal" that is used to make effective
shielding of magnetic fields. It's available from industrial metal
suppliers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mu-metal

Eisboch

Magentic fields in the engine room
 

Thanks for such a prompt and effective reply.

I've ordered the meter and I'll provide some feedback when I'm able to map
the magnetic fields in the engine room.

Dave

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Dave Isherwood" wrote in message
...
Good Evenin' All,

I've just been fitted with a cardiac defribulator. This device comes with
instructions to avoid using cell phone in right ear and keep power-tools
12" away from the device. Seems the risk is that strong magnetic fields
may damage the programming and cause the device to reset.

I currently live on a 53' Carver and the engine room has a lot of
electrical equipment: 50A Charging / Inverter, 2*Starters / Transformers
on the engines and Generator. My concern is that there is the potential
for a sizable magnetic field in the engine room and I simply don't (short
of saving up a few pennies and getting a crew) know how to avoid or
manage the issue.

Questions:

1. Has anybody had to consider this problem? What it a problem?
2. Any clever way I can judge the strength of the magnetic fields?

Thanks,

Dave


No knowledge, but it would seem it's something you need to look into,
particularly the charger, which has a pretty big transformer in it.

Magnetic field strengths are typically measured with a device called a
"gauss meter". Here's an example of a reasonably inexpensive, portable
one:

http://www.escience.ca/genSci/RENDER...056/11098.html

Once you've determined if there is a problem or not, there is a metal
alloy, available in sheet form, called "Mu-Metal" that is used to make
effective shielding of magnetic fields. It's available from industrial
metal suppliers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mu-metal

Eisboch

Magentic fields in the engine room
 

On Sun, 03 Dec 2006 01:14:59 GMT, "Dave Isherwood" wrote:

Thanks for such a prompt and effective reply.

I've ordered the meter and I'll provide some feedback when I'm able to map
the magnetic fields in the engine room.

Probably best to have someone else do it... and ask the doctor what a "safe
range" is. (maybe check with an electric saw 12" away as a "maximum" value.)

Also; I might check again after the engine/genset is off after a few minutes for
risiduals -- so you know if you can shut it down & jump in the engine room.



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Magentic fields in the engine room
 

Dave Isherwood wrote:
Thanks for such a prompt and effective reply.

I've ordered the meter and I'll provide some feedback when I'm able to map
the magnetic fields in the engine room.

Dave

I'd also be asking the defibrillator manufacturer for more
specific information on the field strength limits of its
susceptibility.

Magentic fields in the engine room
 

what does your doctor think?

"Dave Isherwood" wrote in message
...
Good Evenin' All,

I've just been fitted with a cardiac defribulator. This device comes with
instructions to avoid using cell phone in right ear and keep power-tools
12" away from the device. Seems the risk is that strong magnetic fields
may damage the programming and cause the device to reset.

I currently live on a 53' Carver and the engine room has a lot of
electrical equipment: 50A Charging / Inverter, 2*Starters / Transformers
on the engines and Generator. My concern is that there is the potential
for a sizable magnetic field in the engine room and I simply don't (short
of saving up a few pennies and getting a crew) know how to avoid or manage
the issue.

Questions:

1. Has anybody had to consider this problem? What it a problem?
2. Any clever way I can judge the strength of the magnetic fields?

Thanks,

Dave

Magentic fields in the engine room
 

Actually, I asked the doctors and they didn't even know how to think about
the problem.

I've tried asking the manufacturer but their 1st response was just their
standard instructions. Actually, I have a follow-up in a month or so and I
get to meet with a technical representative and I'm hoping to have some
measurements by then.

Given the time of year and the fact that I'll have few needs to enter the
engine room. Combined with the fact that I can just turn everything off.
(Presumption is that there is that there would be a minimal magnetic fields
with only a 12v active for lights - Anybody think this is a false
assumption?). I can spend some time to fully understand the problem and
resolution.

As I make progress I'll make sure to share that with the group as I cannot
believe I'm the only one with the question.

Thanks for the inputs,

Dave

"Lost In Space/Woodchuck" wrote in message
...
what does your doctor think?

"Dave Isherwood" wrote in message
...
Good Evenin' All,

I've just been fitted with a cardiac defribulator. This device comes with
instructions to avoid using cell phone in right ear and keep power-tools
12" away from the device. Seems the risk is that strong magnetic fields
may damage the programming and cause the device to reset.

I currently live on a 53' Carver and the engine room has a lot of
electrical equipment: 50A Charging / Inverter, 2*Starters / Transformers
on the engines and Generator. My concern is that there is the potential
for a sizable magnetic field in the engine room and I simply don't (short
of saving up a few pennies and getting a crew) know how to avoid or
manage the issue.

Questions:

1. Has anybody had to consider this problem? What it a problem?
2. Any clever way I can judge the strength of the magnetic fields?

Thanks,

Dave

Magentic fields in the engine room
 

Dave

The defibrillator probably has two field strengths that it was tested
to.
IEC61000-4-3 defines the test proceedure for High Frequency phenomena
(typically 80-1000MHz) and uses units of Volts per Meter.
IEC61000-4-8 defines immunity to Magnetic (Power Frequency) Fields
(50/60Hz)
and uses units of Amps per Meter.

The manufacturer will know what level the device is immune to. I would
cut that level by 3 (which yields half the power) for safety. So if it
complies with say 10V/m keep it below 3V/m.

Note: 10V/m will extend 1 meter from a 5W transmitting antennae.






Dave Isherwood wrote:
Actually, I asked the doctors and they didn't even know how to think about
the problem.

I've tried asking the manufacturer but their 1st response was just their
standard instructions. Actually, I have a follow-up in a month or so and I
get to meet with a technical representative and I'm hoping to have some
measurements by then.

Given the time of year and the fact that I'll have few needs to enter the
engine room. Combined with the fact that I can just turn everything off.
(Presumption is that there is that there would be a minimal magnetic fields
with only a 12v active for lights - Anybody think this is a false
assumption?). I can spend some time to fully understand the problem and
resolution.

As I make progress I'll make sure to share that with the group as I cannot
believe I'm the only one with the question.

Thanks for the inputs,

Dave

"Lost In Space/Woodchuck" wrote in message
...
what does your doctor think?

"Dave Isherwood" wrote in message
...
Good Evenin' All,

I've just been fitted with a cardiac defribulator. This device comes with
instructions to avoid using cell phone in right ear and keep power-tools
12" away from the device. Seems the risk is that strong magnetic fields
may damage the programming and cause the device to reset.

I currently live on a 53' Carver and the engine room has a lot of
electrical equipment: 50A Charging / Inverter, 2*Starters / Transformers
on the engines and Generator. My concern is that there is the potential
for a sizable magnetic field in the engine room and I simply don't (short
of saving up a few pennies and getting a crew) know how to avoid or
manage the issue.

Questions:

1. Has anybody had to consider this problem? What it a problem?
2. Any clever way I can judge the strength of the magnetic fields?

Thanks,

Dave

Magentic fields in the engine room
 

" wrote in
ups.com:

Dave

The defibrillator probably has two field strengths that it was tested
to.
IEC61000-4-3 defines the test proceedure for High Frequency phenomena
(typically 80-1000MHz) and uses units of Volts per Meter.
IEC61000-4-8 defines immunity to Magnetic (Power Frequency) Fields
(50/60Hz)
and uses units of Amps per Meter.

The manufacturer will know what level the device is immune to. I would
cut that level by 3 (which yields half the power) for safety. So if it
complies with say 10V/m keep it below 3V/m.

Note: 10V/m will extend 1 meter from a 5W transmitting antennae.






Dave Isherwood wrote:
Actually, I asked the doctors and they didn't even know how to think
about the problem.

I've tried asking the manufacturer but their 1st response was just
their
standard instructions. Actually, I have a follow-up in a month or so
and I get to meet with a technical representative and I'm hoping to
have some measurements by then.

Given the time of year and the fact that I'll have few needs to enter
the engine room. Combined with the fact that I can just turn
everything off. (Presumption is that there is that there would be a
minimal magnetic fields with only a 12v active for lights - Anybody
think this is a false assumption?). I can spend some time to fully
understand the problem and resolution.

As I make progress I'll make sure to share that with the group as I
cannot believe I'm the only one with the question.

Thanks for the inputs,

Dave

"Lost In Space/Woodchuck" wrote in
message ...
what does your doctor think?

"Dave Isherwood" wrote in message
...
Good Evenin' All,

I've just been fitted with a cardiac defribulator. This device
comes with instructions to avoid using cell phone in right ear and
keep power-tools 12" away from the device. Seems the risk is that
strong magnetic fields may damage the programming and cause the
device to reset.

I currently live on a 53' Carver and the engine room has a lot of
electrical equipment: 50A Charging / Inverter, 2*Starters /
Transformers on the engines and Generator. My concern is that
there is the potential for a sizable magnetic field in the engine
room and I simply don't (short of saving up a few pennies and
getting a crew) know how to avoid or manage the issue.

Questions:

1. Has anybody had to consider this problem? What it a problem?
2. Any clever way I can judge the strength of the magnetic
fields?

Thanks,

Dave





My company repairs medical imaging devices. I ran across this article
just today in a publication called Health Imaging News that is on point.
Apartently it is an extract of an article in another publication called
Heart Rhythm which is turn put out by the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS). The
link to the HRS is at the end of the article. Looks like a subscription
to Heart Rhythm is available for about $131/year. May be a good
investment since this is certainly a subject which is now near and dear
to you. Anyway, if there is anyone who knows something about this
subject, it sounds like it's probably the HRS:

Powerful magnets could impact operation of implanted heart devices
http://www.healthimaging.com/content/view/5487/89/

Magnets could cause dangerous interference with the operation of
pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), according
to a study published in the December 2006 edition of Heart Rhythm.

The study found that common magnets used in homes and offices are not
high risk. However, stronger magnets made from neodymium-iron-boron
(NdFeB) may cause interference with cardiac devices and pose potential
hazards to patients. NdFeB magnets are increasingly being used in homes
and office products, toys, jewelry and even clothing.

“Physicians should caution patients about the risks associated with these
magnets,” said Thomas Wolber, a cardiologist at the University Hospital
of Zurich in Switzerland and lead author of the study. “We also recommend
that the packaging include information on the potential risks that may be
associated with these types of magnets.”

For the study, two spherical magnets of eight and 10 millimeters in
diameter and one necklace made of 45 spherical magnets were tested on 70
patients, 41 with pacemakers and 29 with ICDs. The magnets were shows to
have an impact on the device operation in each patient. However, the
researchers noted that cardiac devices resumed normal function after the
magnets were removed.

Some researchers who have evaluated magnet interference believe that
manufacturers who use magnets should be required to put warning labels on
their products for optimal patient safety.

Mo www.HRSonline.org