I’m working on a cellular modem (Cat 1 bis) for a product (Gas Volume Corrector), and I have choose the Quectel EG916Q-GL module for it.
Could you please help me with following questions:
Is the EG916Q-GL module suitable for this project considering battery based low power criteria ?
2)The modem should certified for ATEX Zone 0 , is the module EG916Q-GL suitable for it?
as the module itself not Atex certified Could we please have the intrinsically safe circuit parameters like Ui,Ii,Ci,Li and … for our design?
Thank you for the details. Please find our clarification below.
Battery-based / low-power suitability
EG916Q-GL supports low-power features such as PSM and eDRX, and the typical current in PSM is ~2.2 µA (GNSS off). In addition, the typical current in AT+CFUN=0 sleep (USB disconnected) is ~54 µA.
That said, please note that during LTE transmission the current consumption can rise significantly (hundreds of mA), so your power design (battery, DC/DC, bulk capacitors, trace width, etc.) must be sized for RF peak load conditions.
ATEX Zone 0 suitability
EG916Q-GL itself is a standard cellular module and is not an ATEX/IECEx certified “Ex” component. For Zone 0, the certification is evaluated at the end-product/system level (including enclosure, protection concept, energy limiting, thermal design, PCB creepage/clearance, etc.).
Also, our hardware safety guidance states that in locations with explosive or potentially explosive atmospheres, wireless devices should be switched off and all posted restrictions must be followed.
Intrinsically-safe parameters (Ui, Ii, Ci, Li, etc.)
Ui/Ii/Ci/Li are intrinsic safety entity parameters that are issued as part of an ATEX/IECEx certification dossier for equipment/interfaces. Since EG916Q-GL is not certified as intrinsically safe equipment, we cannot publish official Ui/Ii/Ci/Li values for the module as an Ex entity device.
What we can provide are the module’s electrical operating limits to support your system design review (e.g., VBAT range 3.3–4.3 V (typ. 3.8 V) and peak current guidance).
If you need further clarification kindly reach out to me again.
Thank you for your response. I would appreciate further clarification on the following points:
Regarding the statement:
“Our hardware safety guidance states that in locations with explosive or potentially explosive atmospheres, wireless devices should be switched off and all posted restrictions must be followed.”
Could you please confirm whether this means the module cannot be used within explosive zones for specific conditions?
You are correct that these are the parameters of the certified module.
However, another company mentioned that they provide me with the sum of C and L values of their (not certified) module for use in my design.
If a module has significant capacitance/inductance, shouldn’t these values be considered as part of the intrinsically safe design?
Thank you for your follow-up. To address your questions:
About “wireless devices should be switched off” in explosive atmospheres,
This statement is a general safety warning that applies to standard (non-Ex certified) wireless equipment. It does not mean EG916Q-GL “can never be used” in an explosive zone, but it does mean that EG916Q-GL on its own cannot be claimed as safe for Zone 0 operation. For Zone 0, the acceptable use is only when the complete end-product (including energy-limiting protection, installation concept, thermal/mechanical design, etc.) is assessed and certified by the relevant ATEX/IECEx body under the appropriate protection concept (typically Ex ia). Until that system certification is achieved, the conservative and correct guidance is to follow site restrictions (i.e., switch off/avoid operation in hazardous areas).
About capacitance/inductance (C/L) in intrinsically safe design
You are right: in an intrinsically safe design, capacitance and inductance do matter, because they affect stored energy and the permitted entity parameter matching with the barrier/isolator. However, the values used for certification must come from a controlled and traceable basis (measured/tested per the certifier’s requirements) and are normally documented as part of the certified system/interface evaluation.
For EG916Q-GL, since it is not Ex-certified, we cannot issue official entity parameters (Ui/Ii/Pi/Ci/Li) for it as a certified device. What we can do is support your intrinsic safety design review by providing available electrical/specification information and, if needed, coordinate internally on whether we can share any additional characterization data under NDA.
If you can share your intended approach (e.g., the certified barrier/isolator model and whether the module is inside/outside the hazardous area), we can comment more specifically on how to treat the module I/O lines in the entity matching.
The module will be used in ZONE 0, and we will design the modem board with ATEX requirements before proceeding with certification (no barrier will be used).
I do have a couple of additional questions:
1)Which distributor provides the evaluation board for the EG916Q-GL?
2)Does this module come with a header board (a board that includes the basic requirements and an antenna interface)?
I appreciate your guidance and look forward to your reply.
For the evaluation board (EVB) purchase channel, could you please confirm your region/country?
EVB availability differs by region, so once we know your location, we can guide you to the appropriate authorized distributor or local sales channel.
For EG916Q-GL, two supply options are available: (1) bare module only, or (2) TEA package (module package option). If you specifically need a carrier/header board with basic circuitry and antenna interface for quick bring-up, that is typically provided via an EVB/adapter kit, rather than being included by default with the bare module.