New Kickstarter Campaign Fellow Pelicanite

[kdubb]

Fellow Pelicanite invents innovative must have security product. I need your help getting the word out! The following is a link to my Kickstarter campaign. Please take a look and provide feedback and Pre-Order if you like what you see. Share it on facebook, Twitter, or email.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/illumin-aid/illumin-aid-let-your-home-or-business-be-your-beac






Thank you for your support!

Kevin

[stealthn]

That's neat, my home automation system controls lights as well and flashes the external lights in fire or alarm.

[Radioactive]

Originally Posted by stealthn

That's neat, my home automation system controls lights as well and flashes the external lights in fire or alarm.

Mine does too

[kdubb]

How old is your system? And cost? Just curious.

[kdubb]

bump for more feedback

[Gogar]

I think it's a nice idea for older hardwired systems, congrats!

I do think your window is rapidly closing as we approach the "connected home" era. Nevermind, it's here. I think you've still got buyers out there who could spend this small amount of money to add features to an existing system, though.

Just remember that for about $1000 I can buy an alarm and some cameras and when the alarm goes off, it will flash the lights, call me, text, and email me a picture of anyone or anything that triggered the motion sensor, and adjust the temperature of the heated floor in the bathroom.

[stomachmonkey]

You have a patent filed.

I would expend my energy in seeking a licensing deal, take your royalties and focus energy on the next thing.

What market research have you done?

I see a very niche product.

There are two basic types of consumers of alarm systems.

1) people who got their system free because they signed a long term monitoring contract

2) people who paid for a sophisticated system out of pocket

#1 is not buying add ons

#2 bought everything already

I see a product that loses effectiveness in direct relation to the number of exterior lights. How many homes still have one porch light and that's it?

What is your anticipated MSRP and what do you expect full production COGS to be?

I see a $14.95 stand alone switch and maybe $39.95 for a two pack with remote. $19.95 / $49.95 at the top end.

Bake in retail markup, advertising, reserve for markdowns and returns, etc.. I think you'd be happy if you realized $5.00 per unit net.

As far as your kickstarter, pull it now and fix it.

The time to ask for opinions and support is before you start and bring those people along to build momentum out of the gate.

This may sound harsh but you asked so I'm just being honest.

You are asking for $198,000. Not a trivial sum.

Your materials do not reflect the quality required for a $198K ask.

Get some reasonably professional photography, product shots.

Ditch that logo. It looks old and not high tech in any way.

Were it me, I'd forget the UL and FCC certs.

This product is a direct to consumer impulse buy, read, infomercial.

If it does well there, and I think with the right production it will, you'll get it into retail and you won't have mortgaged your house to do it.

One of my past lives I was a partner in an infomercial production company.

If you want some contacts PM me.

[kdubb]

I will take your suggestions into consideration. However, UL and FCC are mandatory. The switch works off of 110v and has a wireless component. Those two things are very expensive and have to be put into the budget. Not everyone can afford to spend $1000 on an alarm system that may have everything. I really do appreciate your candor. That is exactly what I asked for.

Thank you.

[dad911]

"If no, why?"

What you are proposing can be done with z-wave switches and a controller. Mainstream, proven, compatible technology. Used by both 'electrical hobbyists' like me, and professional installers. Z-wave switch is cheaper, sub$30, already approved, and readily available. I would hope your final product will be insulated, but the thought/presentation of an open circuit, stuffed in an already tight box, with bare ground wires & metal boxes turns me off. Should be presented with a 'prototype' plastic-printed case.

And most importantly, by not being integrated with a switch like the z-waves, I can easily see an electrical inspector, even if it is UL approved, failing installations due to 'counting wires' and volume of boxes. As I see it, this would add 2 connections to the count. National Electrical Code: Number of Wires in a Box - Electrical Project Planning & Prep - Home & Residential Wiring. DIY Advice

Edit: I like revisions to Kickstarter campaign, above comments in italics have been addressed, clarified and no longer apply, best of luck!

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by dad911

"If no, why?"

What you are proposing can be done with z-wave switches and a controller. Mainstream, proven, compatible technology. Used by both 'electrical hobbyists' like me, and professional installers. Z-wave switch is cheaper, sub$30, already approved, and readily available. I would hope your final product will be insulated, but the thought/presentation of an open circuit, stuffed in an already tight box, with bare ground wires & metal boxes turns me off. Should be presented with a 'prototype' plastic-printed case.

And most importantly, by not being integrated with a switch like the z-waves, I can easily see an electrical inspector, even if it is UL approved, failing installations due to 'counting wires' and volume of boxes. As I see it, this would add 2 connections to the count. National Electrical Code: Number of Wires in a Box - Electrical Project Planning & Prep - Home & Residential Wiring. DIY Advice

Nice.

So OP's application turns into whatever he is using as a sensor / trigger for the alarm controlling z-wave switches.

So now we do the cost analysis of doing a whitebox deal with z-wave manufacturer vs tooling up to manufacture essentially the same thing.