Electronic & Electrical Component Testing Standards

MIL-STD-202 establishes uniform methods for testing electronic and electrical component parts, including basic environmental tests to determine resistance to deleterious effects of natural elements and conditions surrounding military operations, and physical and electrical tests.

For the purpose of this standard, the term “component parts”: includes such items as capacitors, resistors, switches, relays, transformers, inductors, and others.  This standard is intended to apply only to small component parts, weighing up to 300 pounds or having a root mean square test voltage up to 50,000 volts unless otherwise specifically invoked.

  • Test Method 101 Salt atmosphere (corrosion) – This test subjects components to a fine mist of salt solution to determine their ability to withstand corrosion.

  • Test Method 103 Humidity (steady state) – This test examines the properties of materials used in components as they are influenced by the absorption and diffusion of moisture.

  • Test Method 104 Immersion – This test determines the effectiveness of the seal of component parts by immersing them in liquid at widely different temperatures.

  • Test Method 105 Barometric pressure (reduced) – This test is mainly intended to gauge the ability of components and other materials to avoid dielectric withstanding voltage failures caused at reduced barometric pressure.

  • Test Method 106 Moisture resistance – This test evaluates the ability of materials to resist the negative effects of high humidity and heat found in tropical climates.

  • Test Method 107 Thermal shock – This test looks at how well components resist exposure to extreme high and low temperatures as well as the shock of alternating exposures to these extremes (such as going from a heated room to Arctic areas).

  • Test Method 108 Life (at elevated ambient temperature) – This test determines the effects of elevated ambient temperatures on a part while in operation.

  • Test Method 110 Sand and dust – This test evaluates the ability of equipment to resist the effects of exposure to fine sand.

  • Test Method 201 Vibration—The purpose of this test is to determine the effects of vibration on component parts within the frequency ranges and magnitudes most likely to be encountered during field service.

  • Test Method 203 Random drop – This test looks at how random, repeated impact caused by shipping, handling and other field service conditions effect component parts.

  • Test Method 204 Vibration, high frequency – This test examines how component parts are affected by vibration in the frequency ranges of 10 to 500 hertz (Hz), 10 to 2,000 Hz or 10 to 3,000 Hz, as may be found in aircraft, tanks or missiles.

  • Test Method 206 Life (rotational) This test looks at the effects of rotation on electronic and electrical parts.

  • Test Method 212 Acceleration – The purpose of this test is to determine how acceleration stress affects component parts and to verify their ability to operate when exposed to this stress.

  • Test Method 213 Shock (specified pulse)—This test looks at how component parts perform when subjected to shocks like those resulting from rough handling, transportation and military operations.

  • Test Method 214 Random vibration—This test determines the ability of component parts to withstand dynamic stress caused by random vibration in various field service settings.

  • Test Method 215 Resistance to solvents – This test determines whether markings or color coding will remain legible and avoid discoloration when exposed to solvents.

  • Test Method 301 Dielectric withstanding voltage – This test determines whether a component part can operate safely at its rated voltage and hold up against temporary overpotentials caused by surges, switching, etc.

  • Test Method 302 Insulation resistance – This test measures the insulating members of a component’s ability to resist an impressed direct voltage.

  • Test Method 303 DC resistance – This test measures the direct current resistance of resistors, electromagnetic windings of components and conductors.

  • Test Method 304 Resistance temperature characteristic – This test determines the percentage change in direct current ohmic resistance from the dc ohmic resistance at the reference temperature, per unit temperature difference between the test and reference temperature.

  • Test Method 311 Life, low level switching – This test determines electrical contact reliability under low-level switching conditions in the environment contacts operate in.

  • Test Method 313 Intermediate current switching—This test determines the electrical contact reliability of electromechanical relays, switches and other similar items under immediate current switching conditions.