I am an engineer, and looking at the Jandy automation systems, I can tell you that this is 1970s/1980s technology. Newer boards add processors, but the requirements are minimal. I can understand why a control board would cost >$500 in the 1980s, but nowadays this tech should probably cost $100. Why do control systems continue to be so expensive? It seems like such pricing should already have been undercut by startups.
With aquariums, when LED tech made lighting systems cost much less to produce, the companies tried keeping up $1000+ price tags, and quickly dozens of companies (mostly Chinese) came out with $100 units ("black boxes") that were just as good. Seems like same thing happening with pool control systems, but unless I am just not finding them, there doesn't seem to be 3rd party replacement components or competing systems for reasonable prices.
Anybody have any industry insight on why this is?
With aquariums, when LED tech made lighting systems cost much less to produce, the companies tried keeping up $1000+ price tags, and quickly dozens of companies (mostly Chinese) came out with $100 units ("black boxes") that were just as good. Seems like same thing happening with pool control systems, but unless I am just not finding them, there doesn't seem to be 3rd party replacement components or competing systems for reasonable prices.
Anybody have any industry insight on why this is?
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