Manuals on equipment

Ocelaris · Jun 16, 2018

So here's an idea from another site I really like, how about hosting the manuals on the equipment page? Manuals are actually my favorite item, I go to supplyhouse.com just to look at their manuals for equipment, makes it my first stop for questions.

Example:

https://www.supplyhouse.com/Panason...e-100-Energy-Recovery-Ventilator-Cold-Climate

glb · Jun 16, 2018

That’s a great idea.

reefwiser · Jun 16, 2018

Most Aquarium manufacturers have their own manuals that they keep up to date on their websites.
By hosting on a companies own website if they decide to up date the manual with new information for the user it is easy to do.
Retail companies might host a manual that may be out dated and they would have to keep them up to date. Not an easy task to do.
I use equipment manuals in my line of work every day. An I trust the ones from the manufacturer site now a sellers site.

laverda · Jun 16, 2018

reefwiser said:
Most Aquarium manufacturers have their own manuals that they keep up to date on their websites.
By hosting on a companies own website if they decide to up date the manual with new information for the user it is easy to do.
Retail companies might host a manual that may be out dated and they would have to keep them up to date. Not an easy task to do.
I use equipment manuals in my line of work every day. An I trust the ones from the manufacturer site now a sellers site.

The problem with that is many manufacturers do not keep manuals for older and or discontinued products. I can think of several examples right off hand. The fact the manufacturers update the manuals on there site is great. However it means the manual may not be 100% correct if you have an older model.
I for one think in is a very good idea.

laverda · Jun 16, 2018

reefwiser said:
Most Aquarium manufacturers have their own manuals that they keep up to date on their websites.
By hosting on a companies own website if they decide to up date the manual with new information for the user it is easy to do.
Retail companies might host a manual that may be out dated and they would have to keep them up to date. Not an easy task to do.
I use equipment manuals in my line of work every day. An I trust the ones from the manufacturer site now a sellers site.

The problem with that is many manufacturers do not keep manuals for older and or discontinued products. I can think of several examples right off hand. The fact the manufacturers update the manuals on there site is great. However it means the manual may not be 100% correct if you have an older model.
I for one think in is a very good idea.

Ocelaris · Jun 16, 2018

The more determined users can always go to the manufacturer's site, but for most people who just need specs or that small detail in setting it up having a central location for them can really drive users to the site. I added a poll for fun.