Counterfeit part detection

[Chip Chester]

Mostly focused on DIP packages, so op-amps, digital logic, etc. But interesting article with examples, and links to other related articles. (Didn't see a publication date, so may be 'old news'.)

http://www.aeri.com/counterfeit-electronic-component-detection/

Chip

 

[ChrisMarantz]

The easiest way to avoid counterfeit parts is to buy them from trusted sources. When you buy from Mouser or Digikey, the chances of receiving counterfeit parts is very low. Many older components are only available from smaller suppliers, when you buy from them, you have to realize that you are taking somewhat more of a chance on receiving fake parts. When buying from individuals - from sources like eBay, the likelihood that the parts are fake are much higher because the seller often has no real idea of what they're selling.

When buying from overseas suppliers like China or Singapore you really need to know who you are buying from. There's been a lot of discussing and resistance on these forums about buying parts from China. The reality is that the supply chains are anchored in China and often, regardless of where you buy parts from - those parts have originated from some source in China. Most sellers in China are just as honest as any supplier in the USA - automatically distrusting them based on their location is a mistake.

I buy tens of thousands of dollars of parts each year and over the past ten years I have only received counterfeit or faulty parts 1 time. In that occasion the supplier quickly refunded the amount for those parts and shipped replacement parts at No Charge.

Chris

 

[Chits]

"Most sellers in China are just as honest" is just a plain lie. OK, they may be honest, but their sources aren't. The fact of the matter is, 100% of the parts you buy from China are fake. The margin of error to this statement is so small that it becomes 0% in the grand scheme of things.

If you buy from China, you get fakes, period.

Genuine parts manufactured in China do not get sold by Chinese retailers. You get those from the reputable shops like Mouser and Digikey, or straight from the manufacturer. Not an Ebay/Alibaba seller. That doesn't happen.

 

[Hyperion]

It's a lottery, the supply channels are so polluted that fakes can turn up anywhere. Only the larger organisations with reputations to protect have the inclination and resources to vet their supply. While a lot of suspicion falls on China because they are so close to the factories that make so many devices, I believe in the main they are honest. They're just not very good at distinguishing between genuine and fake components/sources.

 

[Retrovert]

Here is a teardown of "Counterfeit vs Authentic TDA2050 Audio Amplifier IC":

This reveals why it is so difficult for an ordinary person to detect fake silicon. It isn't even easy for military and aerospace manufacturers to detect the fakes without exhaustive testing.

 

[OMGCat!]

Mostly focused on DIP packages, so op-amps, digital logic, etc. But interesting article with examples, and links to other related articles. (Didn't see a publication date, so may be 'old news'.)

http://www.aeri.com/counterfeit-electronic-component-detection/

Chip

This was a good read, thanks for the link. I only buy from one of the big parts houses just to avoid fakes and to get electrolytics that haven't been on the shelf for years already.