Mark,

If you develop a widget that generates and uses radio frequency energy
(e.g. a PIC running at 4 MHz), and intend to sell that widget
commercially, then you need the proper agency certification of
compliance (e.g. FCC).  The type and nature of your widget, and the
market you target dictates the class of device you've designed, and
determines the level of compliance you'll need (e.g. Class B or C
computing device).  While this may sound utterly ridiculous for a $2 LED
flasher, especially if you intend to sell a very small volume,
compliance with FCC regs is still, to the letter of Federal law,
required.

If you also intend to embed the device into "toys" (I make no judgment
of the inference to the nature of said toys - the fact that you quoted
the word leads me to believe that it's not a stuffed animal), you need
to also obtain the proper safety agency certification if the target
audience includes children.  If the widget is installed into two
separate and distinct toys, then both need to be tested.  (I know it
doesn't seem very reasonable, but that's the way of it.)

The practicality of the situation for small enterprises is that such
testing is a pain, is often very costly, and if you intend to produce a
very low volume, can make the venture seem totally unworthy of your
efforts and returns and can put you off of the whole project.

As to your second question - I'll leave that for someone else to answer
(if anyone would care to).

There are many people who don't bother to gain certification for their
low volume products, or take the risk they will never be caught.  It's
really your call.

When it comes to one or two widgets, especially if it's not for profit,
it doesn't seem very feasible.  But, I make no judgments,
recommendations or opinions.  It's your call.  You should talk to a
compliance testing lab and obtain further advice as to the nature of
your product.

Chuck Mauro

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Winters [SMTP:Markwint@AOL.COM]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 1998 10:34 PM
> To:   PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject:      Any PIC-based Product NOT require FCC Approval?
>
> Hello All,
>
> My apologies for the "newbie" question -- I was hoping someone on this
> list
> might know or could point me to information on how to find out if a
> product
> requires FCC approval before selling it commercially.
>
> Perhaps a couple of examples would help to clarify the question:
>
> 1. If I were to build a *very* simple 12C508-based, 3v circuit that
> simply
> flashes an LED at some varying rate, would I require FCC approval to
> sell it
> (assuming, of course, that anyone wants to buy it :-) ?  If I
> installed this
> same simple circuit into two different plastic "toys", would I need to
> get
> separate approval on each form of the toy, even though the internal
> circuits
> are identical?
>
> 2. What if I'm working with a single customer that needs a few
> "custom" PIC-
> based circuits installed to, say, enhance their warehouse security
> system.
> Each circuit may or may not be the same as the others. Would I need to
> get FCC
> approval on these before I could sell and install them?
>
> Sorry if this has already been covered. Thanks in advance for any
> pointers!
>
> Mark Winters