Most critical is the PIC osc speed. PIC's tend to be very quiet, but even there, it can get noisy. You'll need an FCC cert, but if you can verify the wallwart's UL #, you can avoid safety testing. --Bob At 06:08 PM 5/30/2003 -0400, you wrote: >Okay. Let me get more detailed. My product will have the following: >FLASH-based PIC, off-the-shelf 2-line LCD, a bunch of pots, MIDI ports, and >potentially USB. I would like to power with a 9-14V wall-wart that will >supply under 1A -- this will be off-the-shelf as well. > >I will be distributing this myself online and would like to sell to the U.S. >and beyond. I would also like to stay out of trouble if I were to attend a >trade show. > >I have read people's comments online saying that ALL commercial products >need to have certification. I'm assuming this isn't urban legend??? :-) > >Does any of the above info on the spec's help in whether or not I will have >to get certification? > >Thanks... > >-- N > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Bob Axtell" >To: >Sent: Friday, May 30, 2003 5:48 PM >Subject: Re: [EE]: Product certification rules? > > > > Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt: > > > > Basically, there are two types of certification: > > > > UL (safety) and FCC (emissions). > > > > The FCC normally does NOT make equipment tests, but they license > > well-qualified engineering companies to perform the tests. I use > > > > Timco Eng Inc 1-888-472-2424 > > PO Box 370 > > 849 SR 45 > > Newberry, FL 32669 > > 1-352-472-2030 fax > > Sid Sanders > > > > Budget about $1800 for an FCC certification. > > > > The FCC wants to verify that your product will not interfere with other > > products, nor interfere with public radio or telephone networks. The FCC > > number needs to be prominently displayed in the product or on the PCB. >Each > > PCB revision technically requires another test, so make sure you are done > > with the design before testing. > > > > Warning! Emission standards in the European Union are stricter than FCC's. > > > > If your product is powered by a certified wallwart (be careful here, there > > are MANY bogus fakes being sold), and if the voltage is below 15V, and if > > the current being used is kess than 8A, no UL testing is REQUIRED**. A UL > > certification is like getting a smallpox vaccination against lawyers. If > > you have one, you will have few (read, NO) frivolous lawsuits. **Products > > sold in Los Angeles must have UL certification regardless. > > > > UL performs its own testing, but also licenses certain qualified people to > > perform these safety tests. These tests are usually tests for >flammability, > > NOT function, which surprises newbies- UL cares not one whit whether the > > widget actually works, they just want to make sure nobody is harmed by > > buying and using it. One learns to expect that its beautiful product is > > returned in a box, a heap of melted plastic and ashes. These safety tests > > will vary in cost from $1500 TO $4000. > > > > Generally speaking, retail centers (WalMart, Sears) will not distribute > > your products unless you can prove that your products are safe and don't > > radiate emissions. Then they will perform their own tests for function and > > merchandising ideas. > > > > > > > > At 04:55 PM 5/30/2003 -0400, you wrote: > > >I was wondering if someone could explain the rules of getting a product > > >certified so it can be sold commercially. > > > > > >If I'm making a PIC-based product that will use a simple wall-wart >adapter, > > >what do I need to do to sell it even in small quantities in the U.S. and > > >outside the U.S.? > > > > > >Thanks... > > > > > >-- N > > > > > >-- > > >http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! > > >email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body > > > > -------------------------- > > > > -- > > http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! > > email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body > > > >-- >http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! >email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body -------------------------- -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body