CdS Photocells And RoHs

[smallbearelec]

I finally got some authoritative poop from Perkin Elmer. According to the guy I spoke with there, the situation remains as described in the PDF: no decision at this time. You may presume that the present uncertainty also applies to Silonex.

http://www.smallbearelec.com/RoHs-Photocells.PDF

Sorry it's not a happy-making post, but at least you know the score.

Regards
SD

[Unbeliever]

Thanks for the info, Steve. If photosells AREN'T made exempt it will be a disaster ..... 

[Ge_Whiz]

Remember, you were warned here first... 

[zachary vex]

this is @#$%ing ridiculous.  ALL professional music gear should have been exempt from RoHS rules.  it doesn't end up in landfills!  it gets sold over and over on ebay.  nobody wants to throw away a guitar pedal.  sheesh.  nor a guitar, nor a keyboard... well, maybe a keyboard.  8^)

[no one ever]

this is f*cking ridiculous.  ALL professional music gear should have been exempt from RoHS rules.  it doesn't end up in landfills!  it gets sold over and over on ebay.  nobody wants to throw away a guitar pedal.  sheesh.  nor a guitar, nor a keyboard... well, maybe a keyboard.  8^)

preaching. to. the choir.



nice to see you've got enough rest from working on the box of rock and whatnot to peruse this forum again, mr. vex.

[Brian Marshall]

This is what i was afraid of.  i emailed perkin elmer at least 4 times and never got a response form them... probably because i dont buy directly from them.

I actually found a document on silonex's site about a month ago asking people to submit requests to the EU for the exemption, which sort of cast a doubt on the rumors going around that they were already exempt.

Luckilly i got suspiscious on this before i ordered 1000 pcbs for the new filter i am working on.  I am currently switching it over to use OTA's in replacement of the vactrols, without changing any other parts of the circuit.  if i have room, i am going to try to make it so it can use ota's or vactrols.

[TELEFUNKON]

hopefully  Marshall has been in time, and will be heard!
(from here: http://ec.europa.eu/comm/environment/waste/rohs_5_consult.htm  2./5.)

[Unbeliever]

I am currently switching it over to use OTA's in replacement of the vactrols, without changing any other parts of the circuit.

I can't see how that would be anything but a huge amount of work, not to mention it changes the sound - photocells / vactrols are self-smoothing to a large degree. If they aren't made exempt, then I'll stock up on photocells and stop making most things that rely on the sound. ROHS stupidity!

[B Tremblay]

Well, that stinks.  I was about to order some VTL5C3/2 from Allied and they're out of stock.  I wonder if that's a coincidence.

Nuts.

[cd]

this is f*cking ridiculous.  ALL professional music gear should have been exempt from RoHS rules.  it doesn't end up in landfills!  it gets sold over and over on ebay.  nobody wants to throw away a guitar pedal.  sheesh.  nor a guitar, nor a keyboard... well, maybe a keyboard.  8^)

Ha - you don't know how many junky Casio keyboards I've seen people put out on garbage day over the years.  Literally dozens.

[Unbeliever]

Well, that stinks.  I was about to order some VTL5C3/2 from Allied and they're out of stock.  I wonder if that's a coincidence.

Likely, some people on synth-diy have just tapped them out, I think.

[JimRayden]

this is f*cking ridiculous.  ALL professional music gear should have been exempt from RoHS rules.  it doesn't end up in landfills!  it gets sold over and over on ebay.  nobody wants to throw away a guitar pedal.  sheesh.  nor a guitar, nor a keyboard... well, maybe a keyboard.  8^)

Ha - you don't know how many junky Casio keyboards I've seen people put out on garbage day over the years.  Literally dozens.

Lol, he said music gear. 

---------
Jimbo

[Brian Marshall]

I am currently switching it over to use OTA's in replacement of the vactrols, without changing any other parts of the circuit.

I can't see how that would be anything but a huge amount of work, not to mention it changes the sound - photocells / vactrols are self-smoothing to a large degree. If they aren't made exempt, then I'll stock up on photocells and stop making most things that rely on the sound. ROHS stupidity!

well considering i spent plenty of time making a super compact pcb design based on the optos, it is a huge amount of work.  its one thing to pull it off the breadboard.  as the artwork stands now, i will probably need to change it so much that my plan for the case layout will probably have to be altered as well as the screen printing.

[DuncanM]

Sorry if this appears ignorant but...
does this mean :
    (a) you won't be able to supply photocells to those of us in Europe for out DIY projects?
or (b) that you won't be able to sell products containing them to Europe?
or (c) both?

[The Tone God]

I think you folks are freaking out too much. Have you read the RoHS ? There are exceptions for many things. One of them is if a part has no RoHS compliant equivalent part available. I think things like photocells, tubes, older ICs, etc. will qualify under that. The only delay from making it official is caused by the paper work involved.

The RoHS is not dumb and is not trying to be used to screw us. It is actually quite reasonable and is written to make sure no one will be forced into a situation that they are unable to produce their product.

Relax.

Andrew

[Brian Marshall]

I think you folks are freaking out too much. Have you read the RoHS ? There are exceptions for many things. One of them is if a part has no RoHS compliant equivalent part available. I think things like photocells, tubes, older ICs, etc. will qualify under that. The only delay from making it official is caused by the paper work involved.

The RoHS is not dumb and is not trying to be used to screw us. It is actually quite reasonable and is written to make sure no one will be forced into a situation that they are unable to produce their product.

Relax.

Andrew

I actually agree with you.  I am happy that the stuff i sell doesnt contain lead anymore.
My real problem is the implementation of it.

A lot of part manufacturers have waited until the last minute to become compliant.  When you consider the middle man has to also sell through all their old stock first, it makes life a little tough.  Right now the only way i can get a lot of the transistors i use in RoHS is to order them by the thousands and wait.  There are 4 transistors i use that i have yet to see in smaller quantities... one of them i only use one of in one pedal... and the minimum i have found is 4000 to get a wholesaler to order them in.

[Unbeliever]

Relax.

Easy to say if you're not selling devices that use parts that don't CURRENTLY have any exemption, eh?

[B Tremblay]

Well, that stinks.  I was about to order some VTL5C3/2 from Allied and they're out of stock.  I wonder if that's a coincidence.

Likely, some people on synth-diy have just tapped them out, I think.

You're probably right.  I jumped the gun on this one it seems, since nearly all the other optos at Allied are in stock.

[DiyFreaque]

I have no idea why they'd be out of VTL5C3/2's. 

http://mypeoplepc.com/members/scottnoanh/birthofasynth/id18.html

[The Tone God]

My real problem is the implementation of it.

A lot of part manufacturers have waited until the last minute to become compliant.

Well it is not even the implementation of it from the government then but how the manufactures have implemented it. I agree they deserve a swift kick for it but at the same time I am not surprised at all. I planned for it. The industry will vote who did well with their sales figures in the end.

Easy to say if you're not selling devices that use parts that don't CURRENTLY have any exemption, eh?

Or one could say if one was seriously looking at selling devices they would have done their research and known about RoHS planning/designing their product to use modern parts the would be RoHS compliant. Someone here is not worried.

Andrew