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Bureau of Electronic & Appliance Repair Regulations
Article 4 - Accepted Trade Standards
2741. Electronic Sets and Appliances - General Provisions
The "accepted trade standards for good and workmanlike repair" of electronic sets and appliances within the meaning of Section 9841 of the Code shall include, but not be limited to, the following requirements:
- (a) Repair procedures shall be performed in accordance with O.E.M. service data specifications or the best available service data specifications where O.E.M. service data specifications are not readily available.
- (b) All components replaced in a repair which are indicated as being "safety related" shall be the equivalent of O.E.M. replacement parts.
- (c) All mounting hardware (screws, brackets, etc.) shall be reinstalled prior to returning the unit to the customer. If hardware is missing, the O.E.M. or suitable replacements should be made or the customer shall be notified and the notification shall be noted on the invoice.
- (d) Correct lead dress and component placement shall be performed as prescribed in O.E.M. or best available service data specifications and workmanlike soldering techniques shall be utilized.
- (e) Technicians shall not defeat AC interlock circuitry or polarization of AC plugs. If found defeated, technicians shall correct or notify the customer. The correction or notification shall be noted on the invoice.
- (f) Technicians shall not defeat "high" voltage or overvoltage protection circuits.
- (g) Technicians shall not bypass or exceed original ratings of fuses or circuit breakers. Where replacement(s) is necessary, technicians shall use O.E.M. or equivalent fuses or circuit breakers.
- (h) Technicians shall replace all shields, cages, tuner covers, and panels prior to returning the set or appliance to the customer.
- (i) When replacing a defective picture tube, technicians shall use an O.E.M. type or an equivalent type.
- (j) Potential shock and safety hazards shall be brought to the attention of the customer by the technician and shall be noted on the invoice.
- (k) After reassembly of an electronic set, except for exclusively DC operated sets, an AC leakage test and a resistance safety test shall be performed.
The procedures for conducting the AC leakage test and the resistance safety test shall comply with the O.E.M. service data specifications. Where the O.E.M. service data specifications are not readily available, the AC leakage and the resistance safety test shall be performed in accordance with the best available service data specifications. - (l) A service dealer who has used a clamp-on piercing-valve to enter, test or add refrigerant to a refrigerator, freezer or air conditioner shall replace the clamp-on piercing-valve with a permanent solder in type valve or shall permanently seal the entry point of the clamp-on piercing-valve from the appliance's refrigeration system. A service dealer shall not be required to replace the clamp-on piercing-valve or permanently seal its entry point from the appliance's refrigeration system if he or she has advised the owner of the appliance in writing that the use of a clamp-on piercing-valve is only a temporary repair and the owner consents to its use.
NOTE: Authority cited: Section 9814, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 9841 and 9842, Business and Professions Code.
2742. Microwave Ovens
This section and Section 2743 apply to the repair of a microwave oven used or sold for use in the home, home office, or private motor vehicle. For the purpose of this article, a microwave oven is defined as an electronic product designed to heat or cook food through the application of microwave energy at frequencies of 915 MHz and 2450 MHz which are assigned by the Federal Communications Commission.
NOTE: Authority cited: Section 9814, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 9801 and 9841, Business and Professions Code.
2743. General Requirements-Microwave Ovens
All service dealers engaged in the repair of microwave ovens shall be subject to the following requirements:
- (a) Service Responsibilities.
- (1) A service dealer shall not defeat the interlock systems of a microwave oven.
- (2) A service dealer shall not repair a microwave oven in such a manner as to cause leakage in excess of those standards specified in subsection (d) of this section.
- (3) A service dealer shall perform a microwave emission leakage test in accordance with the measurement and test procedures set forth in subsection (b) of this section in the following instances:
- (A) Where there is evidence of damage to the cabinet, safety interlocks, or the door, including, such parts as the glass, screen, seals, hinges, or latches;
- (B) Where there is looseness or obvious wear or misalignment of the door and its component parts, or seal;
- (C) Where there is repair to or replacement of a door, including its component parts, or seal;
- (D) Where the service dealer has reason to believe, consistent with standards of good and accepted workmanlike repair, that the microwave oven is leaking microwave energy in excess of those limits specified in subsection (d) of this section.
- (b) Measurement and Test Procedures.
- (1) Leakage levels shall be determined by measurements in microwave power density made with an instrument system which:
- (A) Reaches 90 percent of its steady-state reading within 3 seconds when the system is subjected to a stepped input signal.
- (B) Has a leakage detector with an effective aperture of 25 square centimeters or less as measured in a plane wave, having no dimension exceeding 10 centimeters.
- (C) Is capable of measuring microwave oven leakage levels with an accuracy of plus 25 percent and minus 20 percent (plus or minus 1 decibel).
- (D) Has been calibrated within the past 12 months.
- (2) Measurements shall be made in accordance with the manufacturer's leakage test procedures or with the microwave oven operating at its maximum output and containing a load of 275 ± 15 milliliters of tap water initially at room temperature placed within the cavity at the center of the load-carrying surface provided by the manufacturer. The water container for the latter procedure shall be a low form 600-milliliter beaker having an inside diameter of approximately 8.5 centimeters and made of an electrically nonconductive material, such as glass or plastic.
- (3) Measurements shall be made with the door fully closed.
- (4) Measurements shall be made at points 5 centimeters or less from external surfaces of the oven.
- (c) Training of Repair Personnel. The service dealer shall ensure that each technician who repairs microwave ovens in his or her employ is instructed in the test procedures, compliance criteria, and requirements of this section.
- (d) Compliance Criteria.
- (1) Where a service dealer is required by subsection (a) of this section to conduct a microwave emission leakage test, he or she shall determine whether the leakage of microwave emission is in excess of the following limits:
- (A) For ovens manufactured after October 1, 1971, leakage in excess of five (5) milliwatts per square centimeter at any point five (5) centimeters or more from the external surface of the oven.
- (B) For ovens manufactured before October 1, 1971, leakage in excess of ten (10) milliwatts per square centimeters at any point five (5) centimeters or more from the external surface of the oven.
- (2) Microwave ovens shall be in compliance with this subsection if the maximum power density of microwave emission leakage measured in the test procedures specified in subsection (b) of this section does not exceed the microwave emission leakage limits specified in subsection (d)(1) of this section measured through at least one stirrer cycle.
- (e) Invoice Requirements. Where a microwave emission leakage test was conducted, the service dealer shall indicate that fact on the invoice. If the emission leakage exceeds those limits as prescribed in subsection (d) of this section, the service dealer shall also notify the customer that the unit is a potential safety hazard.
NOTE: Authority cited: Section 9814, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 9841 and 9842, Business and Professions Code.
