Decoding the Inscrutable Logos On Your Electronics 140
jfruhlinger writes "If you've bought a piece of electronic equipment — a computer, a printer, even a lowly power supply — you've no doubt noticed a host of inscrutable logos festooned all over it — UL, CE, FCC, TUV, RoHS, ENERGY STAR, and the like. What do they mean? Each of these compliance marks tell a story about your gadget's operation or lifecycle, and knowing what they mean can let you in on the hidden life of the gizmos you buy."
Re:But only if... (Score:4, Interesting)
No, tuffer than that.
Dielectric strength is tested; mains separation from consumer touchable parts are tested; holes can't be big enough to stick a small screwdriver or knife into (something that conducts more than .25") into the chassis, and so on. Yes, electrical safety, but beyond first article inspection, there's a long list of details to keep an object "safe" for consumers so that liability can be reduced, and insurance costs go down.
Re:But only if... (Score:4, Interesting)
"holes can't be big enough to stick a small screwdriver or knife into (something that conducts more than .25") into the chassis"
That only applies if you're going for an Ingress Protection rating.
Disclaimer: I make dust and water-proof lighting solutions. I have to pass this with every single product revision I make for commercial use.