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DIY electronics and Insurance (reddthat.com)

submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by batvin123@reddthat.com to c/askelectronics@discuss.tchncs.de

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I am working on a WLED project, using a esp32 in a 3d printed enclosere. But my dad says that i can't install it because it is not UL listed. He is worried if the house burns down, the insurance company won't insure it due to diy electronics possibly starting a fire. What am i to do, i am not developing a project to sell?

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[–] Monument@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 5 months ago

In addition to what others are saying, just keep it smart.

From personal experience - I bought a 5v strip to play with, liked it so much that I guess I just got mental lock in. Decided to encircle a room with a continuous loop of them. About 48 feet perimeter. With my lights, that was about 300 watts. At 5v, that’s 60 amps!
At one point a solder joint failed and a neutral wire disconnected, causing another to pick up more voltage than intended, eventually over temping the wire and causing some melting of mounting brackets.
No fire. Just a serious reassessment of things, and pulling that whole system.

I now use 12v or 24v strips. They require less power injection and lower amps. (Amps are what generate heat, and kill you when you get zapped.)

However, and not to dissuade you at all, but if it makes sense, perhaps a motion sensing nightlight?
I use some zigbee RGB ones by third reality - they report to my hub when they detect motion. You could just buy a bone stock RGB strip controller and create an automation to fire those when the nightlight detects motion.
Definitely not the same journey of learning and experimentation, and with far less options to play with. But it would be way more manageable, and no arguing with family about insurance policies or electrical code.