TheGimp wrote:I posted this in one of the Dumble threads, but for those of you who don't read them I'll post it here too. We have a Safety Engineer on site who interfaces to all the agencys for our products.
He volenteered to check all the UL files he has access to and he can not find a single tube amplifier listed!
I've also started checking Fender and other manuals images of the backs of amps, etc, and find no UL listings.
Can anyone produce documentation of a tube amp with UL Certification?
Not sure when it happened, but many large manufacturers have abandoned UL and instead get CSA certification because it crosses international boundaries more easily. North American Fender products seem to have CSA US and Canada marks on them.
I'll take aonther look at Fender. I saw several products with FCC class B (EMI/EMC) but didn't notice CSA on them.
cULus is the same way. If you have it (UL rating) it is recognized in Canada, etc.
For instance, the Frontman 65R manual (2007, P/N 763CAX008 REV A) shows CE and C-Tick, but no safety agency listings in the manual. It does list FCC Part 15 (Class B not called out). This may just be that it is not shown in the manual and is actually on the product, but it is usually listed in the manual as well.
The UL process might be huge and expensive. perhaps submitting finished samples of your work, for each model, that you do not get back. I am not even sure if a builder at Andy Fuchs level would find it conducive to seek UL approval. I am sure he has no choice when it comes to shipping to other countries. He probably builds to that CE code. Is that a European enforcement..?
You get your unit back from UL, but the catch is that if it fails you have to take a corrective action and re-submit for a new test and pay the same fee again.
I've been to U.L. (Raleigh NC) for Pilot Duty testing of a solid state output before and I think it cost something like $1500 for the one day test.
I expect it gets real costly to get a product approval.
