UL is it required ?

[Victor Frankenstein]

What kind of devices need UL approval befor put on the market, how much will it approximately cost for one kind device to be approved ?

Also I see the letters RU and CE printed on electronic devices what do they stand for ?

Are these approvals required ?

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

What kind of devices need UL approval befor put on the market, how much will it approximately cost for one kind device to be approved ?

Also I see the letters RU and CE printed on electronic devices what do they stand for ?

Are these approvals required ?

If you filled your location in we might have a clue where you are?. This information is obviously crucial for your highly country specific question.

As for CE, it's a stupid European 'certification', it's to do with interference generated by the device, and it's susceptibility to external interference. However, it's completely self governed, and no independent tests are required to claim compliance. Any of the cheap Chinese manufacturers will apply the label on request, no testing done, why should they care, they are the other side of the world!.

 

[Victor Frankenstein]

What about in the USA its UL isn't it ? How does it apply over there, what kind of devices need them, is it only for plug in devices to check for safety ?
How much does it cost ?

 

[zevon8]

As far as I remember, there is no fixed rate for testing/approval. It is done on an estimate by their engineering department as to what it would take to test a product. something like an extension cord would be cheaper than say a television, due to the differing levels of complexity.

Here in Canada it is similar. You submit an application, including drawings, a sample, etc, and an estimate for testing is given by CSA ( Canadian Standards Association , similar to UL )

The fun doesn't end with approval thou.. you need to maintain the file with the agency, paying yearly, and sometimes resubmitting if standards change.

These costs are the reason you see so many wall-warts ( made by companies other than the one that made the product it powers)... it releives the product maker from all the expense and hassle of approval for their product if it were to contain mains voltage.

check the UL website:

www.ul.com

They have world wide sites also.