Hello-
 
R&D in the field can be very expensive, but luckily there are a couple of small firms that can cost-effectively help those who want it.  I run a data acquisition business that is happy to install and document the performance of any new equipment model in a 'real' environment before that particular model is put into production.  If there are unexpected bugs in the unit, the design can be changed to fix those bugs before production and  before dealers install the units with a less-than-favorable design for paying customers.  I think the problem of unreliable products will decrease if manufacturers start looking to out-of-house data acquisition businesses to help them with real field testing of their equipment and then use the results in-house as a tool for better equipment design. 
 
aj
Draker Solar Design, LLC
P.O. Box 8346
Burlington, VT 05402
draker@adelphia.net
www.drakersolar.com 
----- Original Message -----
From: Frank Fowler, Crystal Pines Alt. Energy
To: RE-wrenches@topica.com
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 11:04 AM
Subject: Re: Unlreaible Products (was Whisper 175 Comments) [RE-wrenches]

In a message dated 4/18/2002 7:42:19 AM Pacific Daylight Time, ozsolar@ipa.net writes:


It looks like Whisper needs to build a better machine.

Travis,
I agree with what you say. R&D costs every company lots of bucks which most of us don't have. Field testing is an important part of any R&D, and should be done with the end user and the retailer in mind. If not then we all suffer. There is nothing worse than having a customer who pays good money for a product only to have it not perform as advertised, or not at all. I don't know of a quick fix for this problem, but something needs be done to nip this in the bud. If not then we all are victims.

SUNcerely,
Frank Fowler
Crystal Pines Alternative Energy
4408 Pine Cluster Ln.
Yankee Hill, CA. 95965-9754
Tel. 530-532-1972
Fax. 530-532-1359
We are located in the Sierra foothills
just 30 miles southeast of Chico, CA.
"Living off the grid with the products we market, install and service"
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