The services of myself, Russell John Yardley, I supply via my company, Northstead Design Ltd.
My main area of expertise is Power electronics and its control and in particular
Switched mode power supply design. (SMPS).
Related to this I get involved in the design of transformers and inductors for bespoke power supply design.
Prior to branching off as a freelance electronics engineer I worked for the following company's as an electronic
design and development engineer:-
GEC Industrial Controls (Kidsgrove 1982-1986)
Powernetics (Loughboro 1986-1990)
Pektron (Derby 1990-1992)
Erskine Systems (Scarborough 1992-2000)
Typical services I offer are:-
• Electronic Circuit Design
• Consultancy/Advice:- As and when needed priced by the hour/day.
• Existing products and support issues
• Electronic/product design reviews
• Electronic equipment FMEA’s and single fault test plans
• Power electronics design/development and assistance in the same.
• Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS) design and development assistance.
• Circuit simulation and feasibility studies.
• EMC compliance troubleshooting assistance
• Technical documentation. Product specifications, test specifications, product operating specifications, circuit design description.
• Test procedures.
• Design Review assistance (from a 3rd party point of view)
• General electronic development “bench” testing
• Design and verification testing
• Component reliability issues
• Design to cost exercises
• Product failure investigations
• PCB layout assistance
• Embedded micro and associated firmware
• Component obsolescence issues
• Product specifications
• Product compliance work
• Product reliability improvements
• Component reliability issues (Failures attributed to component manufacture, product design issues, manufacturing issues).
• Alternative component approval including verification testing and ruggedness evaluation
• Existing product support issues
• Temporary electronic design/development engineer hire at “busy times” or fill in if any of your own design engineers leave or are temporarily off sick/away.
• Pick up the pieces of a project if your electronics design engineer leaves you “without a paddle”
• Full design “fit for purpose” reports on your electronic products. Advance warning of potential weaknesses/design issues which could cause failure returns or dangerous issues in the field.
• SMPS topology choice decisions.
• Analogue, digital and Power electronics design/development/troubleshooting.
• Design of transformers, inductors (chokes) for power conversion or filtering. Ferrite, powder, iron cored etc. Design down to individual “copper” and core geometry/type.
• Power electronics/Power supply education and training.
• Customer support issues.
• OEM , power supply/equipment sourcing and choice issues
• Design/development engineer recruitment personnel assessment reports. Vetting the suitability and capability of prospective design engineers/technicians your HR department are looking to recruit.
• Project management
• Expert witness consultation, reports and related services
• Electronic equipment diagnostics and repair
