Why 90% of Electronics Fail EMC Tests and How to Fix It

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges of electromagnetic compatibility in electronics and offers insights on compliance testing from expert Karen Burnham.

In this episode of the Altium OnTrack podcast, host Zach Peterson sits down with Karen Burnham, chief engineer and founder of EMC United, to explore why electromagnetic compatibility remains one of the most challenging aspects of product development. Karen shares her journey from physics to NASA Johnson Space Center and eventually into EMC consulting, offering invaluable insights into why so many engineers struggle with compliance testing and what they can do about it. Whether you're a new designer facing your first EMC test or a seasoned engineer looking to refine your approach, this conversation covers critical topics including common misconceptions about ground plane splits, the dangers of blindly following data sheet recommendations, requirements management pitfalls, and cost-effective pre-compliance strategies. Karen also discusses the evolving role of simulation and AI in EMC design review, upcoming changes to CISPR standards, and her practical seminars designed to help engineers avoid costly failures. 👉 Resources from this Episode: - Struggling with EMC compliance? Altium Develop gives you access to expert-led courses on design for EMC, helping you avoid costly test…

People in this episode

Host: Zach Peterson

Guest: Karen Burnham

Topics covered

• electromagnetic compatibility
• compliance testing
• design strategies
• simulation in design
• CISPR standards
• engineering challenges

Keywords

• EMC
• compliance
• engineering
• design
• simulation
• CISPR
• testing strategies

Sponsors

Altium Develop

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: EMC United, NASA Johnson Space Center, Altium

More episodes of OnTrack: The PCB Design Podcast

• The Signal Integrity Tool Every Engineer Is Missing · May 19, 2026 · 47 min
• Drones, Robots & the Low-Altitude Economy: A New Industry Is Born · May 12, 2026 · 43 min
• PCB Metrology Gap: How SCAN Labs Is Automating Microsectioning · May 5, 2026 · 51 min
• High-Speed Interconnects for AI & Physical AI with Samtec · April 28, 2026 · 40 min
• Altium File Parsing, AI Design Reviews & PCB Viz Tools · April 21, 2026 · 50 min
• Is FPGA the Best Engineering Career? With Adam Taylor · April 14, 2026 · 37 min