Another immersion heater controller....

[1Justin]

Thanks for the info Julian.

I like it Solamiser! It's clear that you have a nice little product here and I love your detailed explanation which is very worthwhile, (- If a little dry for some listeners! :snore.

I have fitted only the one Immersun so far, and though that works well and the Customer is super-happy, it is a little pricey for some. - I might like to fit one of yours for my own system.

I'd possibly be most concerned about longevity for a new and low-budget product. The Electronics businesses I've worked in in the past have done extensive life-cycle/stress testing. (Have you proven this in an oven for any accelerated life-cycle type tests?)

Regards

 

[danesol]

if you are serious about marketing this as a product, you might want to consider changing it's name as both the .co.uk and .com versions of it's name have already been taken - and point to a site selling a competing product

That is very underhanded by Mr Gordon Bunker and would be taken off him, if you ever turned your wee venture into a proper LTD co ..... should that is, you pursue it

Registered on: 15-Sep-2013

They must be running scared of your product and others, if they feel they have to undertake some anti-competitive undertakings ??


ABSOLUTELY DISGRACEFUL !

 

[solarsavings]

Well said that man.

Edit: you might want to wrestle the domain name away from GB http://www.nominet.org.uk/disputes

 

[sean_ork]

no disgrace in registering any domains not already taken - you'd have thought that as part of the product naming process consideration would be given to acquiring an associated name

 

[SibertSolar]

^^true

 

[jason121]

Can someone explain to what this is all about Micro-Generation Power Manager

 

[Solusdirect]

Id like to add to the comments and many questions regarding CE marking in these devices. You can obtain a CE mark by self certifying a product as I understand, however unless externally tested and issued with a full EMC Certificate you may find it may not be fully compliant. I have read many forums on this subject regarding these products and problems people are experiencing e.g flickering lights sometimes even occurring in neighbours homes too that dont even have solar or a device fitted. A lot of the discussions appear to be down to the modulation used to divert the load in several of these devises. So unless the manufacturer your buying from can supply you with an EMC certificate you may find it may be questionable on the CE Compliancy front regardless of the CE Mark. More research needed on this subject I think :banghead:

@Solarmiser, was just pointing out to you what you needed to do to inspire confidence into a potential purchaser... basic 101 Business schools stuff for what needs to be included on a website. - also some of that is a MINIMUM that must be there to comply with the ASA, see
Landmark agreement extends ASA?s digital remit - Advertising Standards Authority
Non-compliant online advertisers - Advertising Standards Authority (and some of those are household names that should know better!)
and
http://www.asa.org.uk/News-resource...es/CAP/Codes/CAP Digital Remit Extension.ashx

I just know what my customers like about the products that we install, and what they expect from us. (It's about building trust)

The LCD screen (whether the on screen results are accurate or not !! ) gives people the confidence that the device is doing its job and just how well it's doing it.

Is the product CE Marked? (NOTE: that DOESN'T stand for China Export :mellow: )
If so which body / lab certified it ?

Get these thing right, along with confidence in the warranty, and it could sell well; the installed cost difference though will be much less than you realise. Questions you need to ask yourself and then (subtly point out to your sites visitors) - Where do you want to pitch the product? Who is your typical end user? What is their profile?

Yes there is a market for Dacia Duster's in the same way that there is a market for Nissan Qashqai's and Range Rover Evoque's... Which one is your product? Then Market it as such, no pretentions to be anything else

 

[echase]

Id like to add to the comments and many questions regarding CE marking in these devices. You can obtain a CE mark by self certifying a product as I understand, however unless externally tested and issued with a full EMC Certificate you may find it may not be fully compliant. I have read many forums on this subject regarding these products and problems people are experiencing e.g flickering lights sometimes even occurring in neighbours homes too that dont even have solar or a device fitted. :banghead:

I agree. Some things we have found looking at some diverters are:-

• Not using any form of EMC filtering beyond maybe one capacitor and a VDR, which are totally inadequate to meet the regulations
• Not using proper fusing so a shorted load will destroy the unit
• Use of burst firing which often causes lighting flicker
• Not putting any burden resistor at the CT so when you unplug the lead there can be hundreds of volts to be easily touched. One of my design colleagues got a really sharp belt when trying one out.
• Not properly shielding the mains inside the unit against casual fingers. Warning labels to turn off before opening the enclosure up don’t deter everyone.
• Insecure enclosures
• Not CE marking them.

Thus several of the products available, particularly but not exclusively at the cheaper end, should not be sold and most DIY products fail most of these. Trading Standards should put a stop to this (not DIY as they can do what they like??) but I am sure they will be too busy to bother until someone burns their house down or electrocutes themself and then maybe they might notice.

There is an unfair playing field operating whereby the responsible have paid the costs to do product testing and build in the extra components/quality needed to comply, and have to compete with a range of non-compliant cheaper to make products. Our own product went to an external test house and was then modified a bit to make it comply. Our website is not the best either but we put our money into product development and testing rather than slick marketing.