How important is "Plug & Play"?

[lewis/ec]

When you look at products, how much do you base the purchase of the part being plug and play?

[ThreeWheels]

When you look at products, how much do you base the purchase of the part being plug and play?

A lot ! Thanks to engineers (and I'm one of them) things are getting so complicated that you need a degree in electrical engineering to work your toaster.

[asp125]

For non-critical applications, good ol positap is fine since I have a modicum of shadetree mechanical skills. But with a lot of Spyder's systems it messes with the CANBUS and other circuits, throwing codes etc - I'd rather have P&P.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I'm a DIY'er and design and build all my Farkles from things I find on E-bay. It mostly involves re-purposing something that it wasn't designed for originally..................And I dis-agree with asp125 on the Can-Bus thing above.......IMHO it effects very little that you would be FARKELING ................Mike

[ARtraveler]

I am at the bottom of the heap when it comes to installing farkles. On an item as complicated (for me) as the , I defer the installation of 99% of the accessories to the dealer or helpful mechanic friends who know the . In this case it was the NtA people who visited last summer. I got lazer alignments and had KOTT grills installed.

[Lamonster]

I'm good either way but my customers prefer plug and play. It's not always that easy to do as you know.

[SpyderF3-s]

I'm with BlueKnight911. I like to get stuff off Ebay and make it work for me. I like the challenge.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Mostly I make my own OEM compatible connectors wherever I want to connect directly into the Spyder harness. For me, it's a more wallet friendly approach. I like to stay away from tapping into the bike wires as much as possible. Plus, a lot of plug n' play doesn't play the way I want it to play!

[robmorg]

.......IMHO [the Can Bus] effects very little that you would be FARKELING ................Mike

I agree with Mike. But I still prefer "plug 'n play" simply because it's easier, and it generally does not cost a lot more. OTOH, if there is an electrical farkle I want, that it NOT plug 'n play, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. Given options, I would put more emphasis on the quality and operating features, rather than the "plug 'n play" feature, but if all else is equal, I'll choose the plug 'n play. (There was no choice on the survey for this answer.)

[Lew L]

I know how to solder and properly use shrinktube. I don't like crimps at all. Ask any V-max owner---- A factory crimp is the first thing you fix ( by soldering). Plug and play is good------ but many,many electrical problems occure at some kind of connection or switch.

Electrical problems cause::::
Kaos

[Lady Lamonster]

I prefer my things as idiot proof as possible.

[Chupaca]

Depends how much you are comfortable doing. I can go either way but will admit the plug and play is cut and dry in many cases much like its name. Being much like BLUEKNIGHT911 I like making my own and find it quite easy to do....plug and play is a great help to those that don't...

[KJWEB]

I prefer my things as idiot proof as possible.

No worries there Joan, you got the Lamonster!!!!

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I agree with Mike. But I still prefer "plug 'n play" simply because it's easier, and it generally does not cost a lot more. OTOH, if there is an electrical farkle I want, that it NOT plug 'n play, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. Given options, I would put more emphasis on the quality and operating features, rather than the "plug 'n play" feature, but if all else is equal, I'll choose the plug 'n play. (There was no choice on the survey for this answer.)

Rob, to bad you aren't going to Spyderfest, you will miss the un-veiling of my AMAZING " AMBER GLOW " which is completely scratch built from raw materials ........But you will see it at SPYDERQUEST ...............Mike

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I know how to solder and properly use shrinktube. I don't like crimps at all. Ask any V-max owner---- A factory crimp is the first thing you fix ( by soldering). Plug and play is good------ but many,many electrical problems occure at some kind of connection or switch.

Electrical problems cause::::
Kaos

Heat Shrink tubing seems to be very expensive for what you get, until now......BANGOODS.COM sells the stuff in one meter lengths for approx.$ 2.00 to $3.00 delivered .....this is the smaller sizes that you would use 4mm to 8mm read the specs carefully because some of it is double shrink but the good stuff is triple shrink with adhesive .....Happy shopping.........Mike

[JerryB]

Hi lewis,

Re: how much do you base the purchase of the part being plug and play?

I'm a retired Mech Engr; luckily my son-in-law is an Elec Engr.

I've been working on vehicles since I bought my first one in the summer of 1954.

I've done my share of stripping wires, crimping/soldering, heat shrink tubing; you name it.

If I were developing a product, I would make it 'Plug & Play' as much as possible.

I can agree with BlueKnight911 & Chupaca; I can make it work from parts but at this point in life I prefer to keep the stress to a minimum.

You need to know your market; and Spyder folks are older than the norm. I think that it is called KISS.

Many, many years ago I was offering some thoughts to a guy who was developing a product. He said that he wanted it like a telephone. In those days, when the telephone guy showed up, everything that he had to install or take out was simply plug & play. The telephone company saved a lot of money when they went to that system.

Jerry Baumchen

PS) Your question is exactly the reason why I had you send me the install instructions for your LED taillight product.

[Ron2andia]

I like to dabble and install but always prefer P and P!

[jaherbst]

I'm with BlueKnight911. I like to get stuff off Ebay and make it work for me. I like the challenge.

LOL

Jack

[fratzba]

I sure don't mind a little crafting, but I want to know that when I'm done it's going to work, and what is going to be involved.

-Fratz

[SpyderTwyn]

I'll be late to the farkle party. I have zero mechanical ability. That's why the Limited was a great choice for me....

[Myersd802003]

As long as I have a video or instructions to install, like Lamonster's products, I'm good either way.

[siny10309]

When you look at products, how much do you base the purchase of the part being plug and play?

I think if you can make something plug and play you would have everyone who is interested in the product buying it. If it is not you are probably eliminating about 60% of your customer base.

[Bob Denman]

Since I'm at the bottom-end of the "Skill-Pile"; I prefer Plug & Play...
But since I'm also just stupid enough to think that I can do it; I'll cut into wires, and make all sorts of adventurous things happen!

[Lew L]

Heat Shrink tubing seems to be very expensive for what you get, until now......BANGOODS.COM sells the stuff in one meter lengths for approx.$ 2.00 to $3.00 delivered .....this is the smaller sizes that you would use 4mm to 8mm read the specs carefully because some of it is double shrink but the good stuff is triple shrink with adhesive .....Happy shopping.........Mike

Thanks, Mike,

I got a good buy at a local store that was having a big sale. I like the fact that I now have a good selection of different sizes of shrink tube. I still have some from decades ago that a friend gave me ( it's too small for even medium gauges of wire though). I just like the current carring capasity of a soldered joint.

Kaos

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Thanks, Mike,

I got a good buy at a local store that was having a big sale. I like the fact that I now have a good selection of different sizes of shrink tube. I still have some from decades ago that a friend gave me ( it's too small for even medium gauges of wire though). I just like the current carring capasity of a soldered joint.

Kaos

.......I agree on the soldering thing, and I hope people don't think you can just twist wire together and use HEAT SHRINK on it and that it will be fine .......Mike