µSupply Bench Kit for selling? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: x18
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2012, 10:58:21 am
content: Hi Dave,how about selling your µSupply bench as kit for people to solder it theirselfes at home? You could make a package with the pcb, components and a case perhaps and sell this. Also this package could be a little cheaper than the µCurrent you sell. Just the price detains me to order one.Regards.

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2012, 11:04:29 am
content: if you had been watching any of the recent videos, dave has been making it up expecially as a kit,he is still waiting on his second rev pcb to come in so he can test it, and i assume write up the code for us to start off with,as for pricing, there may well be another 2 revs before its released, dave is updating it as mild issues or conviniences arise, and if you have your own, please ask nicely, and check that it hasnt already been raised in the threads about the projectalso, why would you think that an entire power supply that contains the uCurrent adaptor built in would cost less than the uCurrent itself...?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2012, 11:05:25 am
content: I've mentioned on several occasions, the idea is that this will be a kit.There is no chance it's going to cost less or even the same as the uCurrent, the parts costs alone absolutely rule that out.If you want to know why, go price all the components and how they all add up. Even in volume, the LCD is $8, the case $5 or so, the heatsink a few bucks, a few chips that cost a few bucks each, a couple of PCB's and front and rear panels (as PCB's), and so on... it all adds up.This will not be a cheap kit.Dave.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2012, 11:08:46 am
content: Quote from: Rerouter on January 22, 2012, 11:04:29 amYep. No code yet, and nothing built apart from the quick breadboard mockup.QuoteYes, revisions are likely. For example, the 2 8bit I/O chips can be consolidated into 1 16bit chip to reduce cost.Also, there is also another PCB that I have not even described yet, and there are front and rear panels to do too.Dave.

author: firewalker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2012, 12:04:21 pm
content: From the beginning I was estimating that it would be 90~120 USD. I don't know if I am close to it.Alexander.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2012, 12:17:01 pm
content: Quote from: firewalker on January 22, 2012, 12:04:21 pmNot far off I suspect.To sell it for $100 or under for example it's looking like it would require some very clever buying from you know where.Dave.

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2012, 12:23:54 pm
content: Quote from: firewalker on January 22, 2012, 12:04:21 pmDon't know Daves take on this, is he doing it a Nice little earner? or as a loss leader to promote his Blog? If the former he needs to recoup BOM costs PLUS 50 to 100% at least to make it worthwhile. If the latter then you may be in the ballpark but it is a difficult call until you get the finished product. Kitting up a project like this CAN be a PITA and sometimes it is easier and cheaper to get them assembled, but as Dave has also stated he wants this to be a open hardware project so your options are open will that mean various options in the kit (Nightmare) or simply a basic kit + the ability to mod (most likely) so you see the problem as to cost.. it depends on your requirements but I cannot see it being any less than $150 with the case etc unless he gets high sale volumes.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2012, 10:21:38 pm
content: Will the kit use a 50/60Hz transformer or will it have some external power brick?

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2012, 10:25:36 pm
content: Quote from: FreeThinker on January 22, 2012, 12:23:54 pmHe could just sell the PCB and hard to get items like the specific LCD and the LT regulator and have a Digi-Key wish list or a bill of materials with all the part numbers, alternate suppliers and alternate manufacturers so you can get everything from just 2 places (Dave's online shop and a component supplier). Or maybe he can ask the guy who is assembling the µCurrents to prepare the kits for shipping (or train somebody to do it).

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 24, 2012, 11:25:04 pm
content: Quote from: FreeThinker on January 22, 2012, 12:23:54 pmI'm ultimately trying to expand my revenue sources, so I'm not so reliant upon advertising, sponsorship, and donations.It's not a loss leader, the blog grows fine on it's own, so I have no desire to do all that hard work just for a little bit of extra promotion.Plus, and most importantly, I like to do it and want to do it.Dave.

author: Zyvek
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2012, 07:00:06 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on January 24, 2012, 11:25:04 pmGood to hear, I'd definitely buy kit versions of your test equipment projects!