To UL or not to UL certify?

I am making a project that could go into production in the next couple weeks. I am how ever having a hard time finding out if my circuit for powering my system would have to be UL certified. I have read that the UL cert was started by insurance companies way back when and seems to be a way for some people to make some pretty serious money, it is also a good safety standard for something that is going to be using electricity.


Here is what I have, the system I am using is a basic DC voltage regulator that drops a 14.4 v battery pack down to 12v dc so that my device can use it. So far I have tested the system and have found no issues and am looking at taking the circuit and making a parallel circuit of another power regulator so that the one is not getting as hot as it does. Even after over 300 hours of testing the system is still running strong.

I am using LiPo at the moment and will be switching over to LiOn shortly for the reason of poeple would probably catch themselves on fire if they used the LiPo version.

So is there any one who knows if I would have to get this UL Certified or can suggest a way to power it and not have to certify. the batter pack plugs in and is not built in to the device so that it can have the battery easily swapped out if the system runs out of power. To charge the battery you would plug it into a charger itself external from the device.

Assuming you won't tell us what exactly it is, and assuming you're going to sell a lot of them, then I would go for the UL listing - the trend in listed computer equipment vs unlisted equipment (diablotek 1050w PSU *cough cough*)...

The only reason I have not said what the device is due to a NDA. Once we get fully going and make first go at selling the device I will be happy to disclose what the device is. I tried to find something about the diablotek 1050w that seemed out of the ordinary for a product that is out in the public. I do plan on having it certified, but that capital is hard to come up with especially in my area of the country.

You don't need UL. UL is not required. Though some of your potential customers (government, schools, etc.) may ask for it as a requirement.

You could save some money and go with TÜV-US. As of the last couple years, TÜV has offered a blanket certification for EU, US and Canada that takes care of your TÜV, UL and CA certification needs.

Like posted above.
UL2 only for European market (ATM).