RCM Compliance

[simonstav]

So I have been going over this a fair bit at the moment due to importing and distributing loudspeaker products made oversea and it has come to my attention that all the DIY kits and homebrew audio gear requires RCM compliance. This would mean EMC and electrical safety testing or assessment and registration of both manufactured product and as the Responsible Supplier as the manufacturer. How many DIY'er's are going to implement this?

http://www.erac.gov.au
http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Suppliers/Supplier-resources/Supplier-overview

[stosostu]

I raised this question with a licencing chap and his answer was that if the gear is made for your own use it does not need to be compliant (go figure) but it cannot be sold without compliance testing,. I'm sure there are plenty of examples of stuff that doesn't have compliance getting sold, but I would guess that the policing leaves a lot to be desired.

This was a major factor in my decision not to build amps.

[simonstav]

With an annual $200 supplier registration fee and an annual $75/model registration fee there is all of a sudden going to be a lot of funds to police this.

[stosostu]

When I was looking into amp building, the estimate for full compliance testing for each model was $50k. Hence my decision not to go ahead.

[simonstav]

Quote I got to do emissions testing was $1800

[stosostu]

The $50k was for complete compliance testing, RF emission and rejection and electrical safety, which was more expensive because of the high voltages in a valve amp and the fact that the power supply was internal to the device, items that use 'wall wart' power supplies require little, if any, electrical testing.