[josephagoss]

Regulations perhaps might be a issue? Do all electronics sold to a consumer require extensive testing? Here in Australia i'd be surprised if there wasn't a truckload of hoops to jump through for electronics.

Soon we will need a qualified electrician to install light bulbs, who knows who difficult it is to sell a electronic device as a independent. Hopefully I'm being overly pessimistic.

[noonespecial]

Unfinished products, ie kits are generally exempt. This came as a leaflet with a TI dev-kit I just bought:

This EVM is provided to you by TI and is intended for your INTERNAL ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT OR EVALUATION PURPOSES ONLY. It is provided ”AS IS” and ”WITH ALL FAULTS.” It is not considered by TI to be fit for commercial use. As such, the EVM may be incomplete in terms of required design−, marketing−, and/or manufacturing−related protective considerations, including product safety measures typically found in the end product. As a prototype, the EVM does not fall within the scope of the European Union directive on electromagnetic compatibility and therefore may not meet the technical requirements of the directive.

[Kliment]

Electronics sold direct to end users must comply with FCC, CE LVD/EMC and other regulations. The vast majority of the hobby market ignores this though, and they don't get enforced much except for intentional transmitters.

[asmithmd1]

In the US products with switching frequencies faster than 9 khz are supposed to be tested for FCC part 15 compliance but you are not required to have CE or UL testing.

However most retailers will not carry a product that does not have a CE or UL mark