"Chuck Cox" wrote in message
...
Wayne.B wrote:
You will not believe the weird things that some people will try to do
with a unit like this and then expect it to keep on ticking. Just for
openers I would be prepared for a number of accidental reverse
polarity incidents. Then you've got the folks who will try to use it
indoors with the usual result, followed by the accidental muffler
burns, fires, salt water immersion, etc.
I know, that is what worries me most about this product. Since it
incorporates a microcontroller, we intend to record diagnostic events, so
hopefully we can detect abuse. We will certainly incorporate automatic
protection for reversed polarity, shorts, over-voltage, over-current,
over-temperature, etc, etc. If we want to sell in California I think we
have to add a warning that it isn't safe to eat.
I once attended a symposium where a ladder manufacturer explained the
stupid user actions behind each warning sticker. I am wary, and our
insurance agent could easily crush this product if it increases our
insurance costs significantly beyond what we have already budgeted for.
--
Chuck Cox - SynchroSystems - Synchro.com
,
my email is politician-proof, just remove the PORK
I've been following with interest your market research for this little
generator. It sounds like a great product technically, but I think Wayne
may have hit upon the real world implications of it's use as a consumer type
product. Your small company will need to resolve problems that arise from
some customers with no technical comprehension of what they are doing and
somehow maintain a good reputation for responsive service. Not to throw a
wet blanket on the concept, because it's good, but this is a prime example
of something that will require product liability insurance. Depending on who
you chose to underwrite a policy, it may force you to jack the price up
significantly.
Not to be nosey - and no need to answer if it's none of my business - but
how are you funded? I have the impression of a small, startup company
somehow connected to a university (Harvard). At some point in the
development and introduction of this generator the question will come up.
Is the development privately funded? How do you intend to market it? (May
cost much more than the development costs).
BTW, I am sure you realize that there are other consumer markets for a
product like this that may be bigger than the boating industry.
RCE