Thinking about making LEDs to sell..

[Saltydrip]

I'm not looking to get rich. Just supplement my hobby. I did a load of research before I built my fixture and I'm extremely happy with how it turned out. My LFS was interested in me possibly making one for his display tank and maybe building them for sale at his shop. He has had a lot of people ask about the units he has over his SPS but they are expensive and only 50/50 WH/RB. I think if I just made them to order as a fun side thing it could be worth it..

Opinions??

 

[ridetheducati]

Can you build a controllable 55 LED fixture for $90-$150? Considering commercial fixtures are in the $170-$200.

 

[Saltydrip]

If I comit to buying components in bulk then yes.

 

[VoiceInTheDeser]

Can you build a controllable 55 LED fixture for $90-$150? Considering commercial fixtures are in the $170-$200.

I've only been able to find one 55 LED fixture that's below 200 and it's not programmable (but is dimmable). The cheapest controllable one I've found is about 300 and that's only a 16" unit. Am I missing some awesome deal somewhere?

 

[mikecc67548]

What if MY 2.5 million dollar house burns down because of YOUR light? You got the money so I can rebuild? Just wondering.

 

[PrangeWay]

Every company in the world was formed by someone with an idea or passion.

You'd probalby want to put together an LLC for liability reasons (so if his poorly built house burns down from a single led fixture your personal assests aren't at risk), and tax reasons.

Outside of that is if you can deliver a product with reasonable cost/profit. There are a few DIY Led'ers in my area, I think one of the dudes has put LED fixtures over like a 1/3rd of the clubs members tanks.


PW

 

[fishgate]

I think it is a great idea. But I would worry about selling to someone that I don't know. If something does happen, there will be liability problems. Also if you are selling something electrical, is it certified for its intended use? UL listed? Are you qualified to do electrical work (master electrician, etc). Those are the things that would worry me the most.

 

[capt85]

I think it is a great idea but will need some additional thought and planning.

If you only plan on doing say 10 a year to people in your area I would start in your garage and build from there.

Good luck!

 

[Tater11]

What if MY 2.5 million dollar house burns down because of YOUR light? You got the money so I can rebuild? Just wondering.

Hopefully with a high priced home as yours you would have home owners insurance right??

 

[Allmost]

if you were in china or a 3rd world country ... then yes.

if you wanna do it in America, make a company and get insured and go big.
you will also need an electrical eng. P.Eng, to approve your design. before you can sell in the america [USA and Canada] market.

or partner up with someone in china, and u just play as the sales Study how orphek came around ....

 

[rtparty]

Hopefully with a high priced home as yours you would have home owners insurance right??

Home insurance will rarely, if ever, cover damage from aquariums. Especially if a non approved device is the cause of the fire.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

 

[Seagals]

Home insurance will rarely, if ever, cover damage from aquariums. Especially if a non approved device is the cause of the fire.

If you he has a $2.5 m house than he should be wise enough and can afford to buy a UL approved fixture.

 

[rtparty]

Home insurance will rarely, if ever, cover damage from aquariums. Especially if a non approved device is the cause of the fire.

If you he has a $2.5 m house than he should be wise enough and can afford to buy a UL approved fixture.

Not necessarily. What if a diy fixture fits what they want more? What if they are wise enough to know that 95% of the fixtures on the market aren't up to par?

Something to think about.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

 

[Allmost]

Home insurance will rarely, if ever, cover damage from aquariums. Especially if a non approved device is the cause of the fire.

If you he has a $2.5 m house than he should be wise enough and can afford to buy a UL approved fixture.

so you are saying ppl who have cheaper houses should burn in fire ?

lol there is no arguing about this. and I post this as a Professional eng. from CEAB.

the manufacturer is responsible.

the only reason some chinese LEDs catch on fire and nothing happens to them, is cause China doesnt enforce these laws and there is no way for anyone to get their hand on the manufacturer.

 

[rtparty]

so you are saying ppl who have cheaper houses should burn in fire ?

lol there is no arguing about this. and I post this as a Professional eng. from CEAB.

the manufacturer is responsible.

the only reason some chinese LEDs catch on fire and nothing happens to them, is cause China doesnt enforce these laws and there is no way for anyone to get their hand on the manufacturer.

I love how this incorrectly quoted me

Sent from my Galaxy S3

 

[Allmost]

yea my bad I think the html code mixed up lol

 

[Saltydrip]

Liability is my real concern. I am an LLC with my part time fab shop, AE fabrication. I jokingly aways say we can make "almost everything". At my last job I built robotics and several complex scientific tools, 2 that are on the space station. I now work fulltime in aerospace composites and build/fab car and equipment stuff on the side. I'm totally confident in my ability to build a perfectly safe fixture but its what happens when the new owner wants to change out an LED color or pulls the cord to hard and create some crazy short.. My one loophole is to make it entirely UL tested components and as long as I can prove my design doesn't overload or outwork any of those parts I would be fine. All the parts I have shopped for are listed so..

I think I'll talk to my boss about where to look into the nitty gritty of all that. They are a parts manufacture so they would know where to start.

 

[ridetheducati]

I've only been able to find one 55 LED fixture that's below 200 and it's not programmable (but is dimmable). The cheapest controllable one I've found is about 300 and that's only a 16" unit. Am I missing some awesome deal somewhere?

A sponsor sells a controllable unit for $200. Cheaper if purchasing more than 10.

 

[Saltydrip]

So does that men that every other fixture made from this point forward will need to be cheaper?? That's awesome!!! Won't be long until they are $5 a piece!!

 

[SushiGirl]

A couple of local folks here make & sell them, Steve's LEDs and Unique LEDs. Haven't really talked to them too much about legal issues, but what I have heard is that, like any side business, they get swamped & behind & have no time for their families/lives because they're always busy trying to catch up to demand.