[volt-nuts] Availability of 3458A in Europe after the end of 2016.

[Chuck Harris]

Years ago, when RoHS was first implemented, they
actually told everyone in industry what the exempted
areas were.  There are other exemptions, like
batteries... which is why you can still use lead acid
and NiCd batteries.  There are also total exemptions
for the military, and aviation...  including space
vehicles, and those that make products for the military
and aviation...

Years ago, when someone paid me to care, I read all
of the RoHS wording, and wrote a memo detailing what
RoHS meant to the customer I was working with.  The
exemptions are rather clear, in a lawyerly sort of way...
though don't ask me to find them again... and no, the
memo wasn't mine to keep, I left it with my customer.

The intention of RoHS, and those that implemented it,
is to make it appear to the public as though it is
going to save the world... the reality is it has
hundreds of niches carved out of it for this and that
special interest.

As to Keysight... I think all of their name changes
give a little clue to why they would write such stuff
in their sales literature.

Test equipment, in general, is meant for trained people
that work in industry.  If it is sold to just anyone,
it becomes a consumer product, complete with all of
the consumer liability rules, and government regulations.

Imagine a power supply that can produce lethal voltages
and currents, with binding posts on the front panel,
being sold to Harry Homeowner?  All that work done to
protect him from killing himself in his home negated
by a power supply.... Or, a 1KW microwave amplifier that
terminates in a high quality N connector?  Or a signal
generator that can pump out watts in the middle of your
favorite TV channel?  Or worse still, the cell phone
band?  Or, consider cell phone test equipment that can
decode any phone signal, and can recreate signals with
any identifiers they want?  Or a GPS simulator, in league
with a 1KW amplifier?

Companies like Keysight have long had policies that
forbid selling to individuals.  It's the lawyers
talking.

-Chuck Harris

Dr. David Kirkby (Kirkby Microwave Ltd) wrote:
> On 13 November 2016 at 14:17, Chuck Harris <cfharris at erols.com> wrote:
> 
>> RoHS does not apply to test equipment.
>>
> 
> Where do you get that from? When I was looking briefly the other day, there
> did not seem to be a lot of exemptions.
> 
> I'm sure Keysight must be a bit more on the ball than to put that notice,
> if RoHS did not apply to test equipment.
> 
> There's a similar notice about a power supply I have - 6674A (70 V @ 30 A
> PSU).
> 
> Dave
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