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The path to commercial product
funkimunky:
I've been thinking recently of working for myself making something electronic (not sure what yet). I have been wondering what kind of testing and safety certs are needed to release a commercial product? Does a qualified electrical engineer have to sign of these products. How do you go about getting insurance etc?
EEVblog:
--- Quote from: funkimunky on November 01, 2012, 11:20:09 am ---I've been thinking recently of working for myself making something electronic (not sure what yet).
--- End quote ---
That's usually a problem!
--- Quote ---I have been wondering what kind of testing and safety certs are needed to release a commercial product?
--- End quote ---
Depends entirely on the product, the end user, the country it sells into, and the country you live in.
--- Quote ---Does a qualified electrical engineer have to sign of these products.
--- End quote ---
No.
--- Quote ---How do you go about getting insurance etc?
--- End quote ---
Insurance for what exactly?
Dave.
Psi:
In general (things vary between countries) you can side step the mains safety issues by using an off-the-shelf power pack to run your product.
That way, if anyone gets electrocuted, the fault is with the power pack which was made by someone else.
However!! there's a catch.
Most countries have standards for mains goods. If you import a power pack from china and supply it with your product and it turns out non-complaint you're at fault for importing a dangerous product.
So, to be safe, you should buy the power packs locally. That way it's the local company that gets in trouble for importing it instead of you.
(or, another way to be safe is to run your product on batteries)
Note: If you take low voltage from a powerpack or batteries and step the voltage up to something dangerous inside your product then your back to needing to get your product certified
Otatiaro:
Hello,
--- Quote from: funkimunky on November 01, 2012, 11:20:09 am ---I've been thinking recently of working for myself making something electronic (not sure what yet).
--- End quote ---
I did it this year ... don't do it unless you have at least one real project and some backup money.
I had to work a full year on nights and week-ends on a real project with partners (MS Heli) before quitting my regular job (software developer).
But if you can make it ... it's awesome ... 8)
Thomas.
funkimunky:
Kudos to you Thomas that must have taken a lot of bottle to make the jump. Its funny because I am also in software of sorts (web developer).
Say I wanted to handle all the power myself without using off the shelf power pack how does the testing process for (lets say uk) work. Is this done through via an official testing company or is it my neck on the line to assure that nothing is wrong with the product (I would hate for any products I make to hurt or endanger anybody).
I know that you can get public liability insurance for certain types of companies but I am guessing that this would only be possible if there was certain standards adhered to and certificates attained?
I'm not planning to do anything soon but I am just thinking of where I'd like to be. I am just starting out learning electronics (self taught using internet resources and Foundations of Analog and Digital Electronic Circuits by anant agarwal). I'm also a little worried that because I'm not going to get an electronics engineers degree and hence not be certified that this is going to cause real problems for me.
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