Where do I start for UL listing a PCB

[SolarTrap]

Hello all,

I am looking for some guidance for UL listing. I looked at the official UL website but that is totally overwhelming and I got lost almost immediately. My situation is this:
I have created a PCB with an ATmega2560 (Arduino), a 120VAC(10A) relay and some 30VDC(50A) mosfets on it. The intended use is to act as a controller to build your own UPS running on solar power and with batteries for backup. This means that my PCB will be hooked up to solar panels, batteries and an inverter.
Do I need UL if I only produce the PCB like an "experimentation kit"?
What if I want to put it inside a box with NEMA plugs?

Thank you
Markus

 

[MikeHalloran]

Call UL.

Overly simplified and probably erroneous:
{
Devices (in a box) can be 'listed' against a particular UL standard, of which there are many, each with its own requirements.

Components (like line cords) can be 'recognized' against a component standard, of which there are many, etc.

Using recognized components makes it a little easier to get a listing for a device.
}

Again, call UL, and ask if there's a standard for 'solar power controllers' or something like that.

Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[Eng8492]

The easiest way to get a quote from UL.

First they will tell you what UL specifications are applicable. In general, you can expect them to demand and test for flame-proof-ness, many different kinds of insulation, demonstrate the ability of your enclosure to prevent access to hazardous components, even after it has been subjected to mechanical blows, sometimes internal temperatures,...it goes on and on.

Don't forget that you will have to continue to pay a subscription to have your product "listed" or "recognonized" in addition to the one-time engineering investigation, and that UL will randomly inspecting the finished product where it is manufactured. This is not a one-time process like self-certification for CE.

 

[SolarTrap]

Thanks for the tips, I requested a quote now.
Lets see what the outcome of that will be.

 

[btrueblood]

Make sure you are sitting down before you open the email with the quote from UL.

Unless you "must" have UL cert., look into other 3rd party certifications, ETL is one, and US jurisdictions have ruled that these are equivalent to UL. If both know you are soliciting quotes from the other party, they may play nicer with you.

 

[mcgyvr]

^^ yes Go to ETL (aka Intertek) or MET or others too..
I get quotes from both (UL/ETL) all the time and make sure I let UL know about it.. UL will NEVER give you their best price from the start..
I will play them each against each other and save THOUSANDS of dollars that way. I've seen UL go down almost 50% from their first quote a few times now.

Not to mention ETL is just so much nicer to work with.. They don't seem to think they are GOD like UL does..

 

[itsmoked]

ETL, if only they still existed. I used to get clear, useful, manuals from them that cut thru all the BS and explained the process. When I finally needed to get something done I found they'd been swallowed up by Intertek and become a monster like UL. Call and have people hand you off over and over. Finally get someone who sounds useful then they don't call you back and after another week of thrashing find out they moved on... Still I think Intertek is better than UL to work with.

I always think of Initech(Office Space) when I hear Intertek. mwhaHAHAHAHAHA.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com