fake/counterfeit capacitors

[eccerr0r]

How often do these show up installed in devices?

And what properties (capacitance, voltage, ESR, lifetime/temperature rating) tend to be the skimped on fake capacitors?

[ben7]

Re: fake/counterfeit capacitors

Usually shows up in cheap, very cheap, devices. Like ebay items, or direct from china stuff.

The caps tend to be overrated/underrated(85 deg overrated to 105, 220uf overrated to 470uF, etc...), or only spec'd to 1000 hours...

[RJARRRPCGP]

Re: fake/counterfeit capacitors

Then why did one of the folks here report counterfeit Chemi-Con primary caps in a PSU that actually looked reasonable?

[ben7]

Re: fake/counterfeit capacitors

Then why did one of the folks here report counterfeit Chemi-Con primary caps in a PSU that actually looked reasonable?

I did say "Usually"

The caps had the right text font and correct negative indicator stripe. However, the series the cap was marked for didn't have that capacitance listed, and the plastic sleeve was black, when it was supposed to be brown!

[japlytic]

Re: fake/counterfeit capacitors

I've acutually found them in equipment myself - including Rubycon YXF (low-ESR) in a CD boombox (which did not have a swithcing power supply), 105C black Chemi-Con units (normally, black Chemi-Con units are rated at 85C) and Nichicon (black with silver print) in a universal notebook AC adaptor.
Also, I've seen Chemi-Con series of which Chemi-Con did not make as far as I know.

[Pentium4]

Re: fake/counterfeit capacitors

The most common fakes seem to be the primary capacitors on non PFC PSU's. But I've seen a few on some really low end motherboards too. For some of the REALLY low end equipment from China, who knows what you're actually getting

[eccerr0r]

Re: fake/counterfeit capacitors

I ended up getting a couple of new counterfeits, and took some measurements from them:

Visual: poor font colors, seals are different
Capacitance: some are spot on, some are off by 33%
Voltage rating: Way off. Leakage sucks at rated voltage.
Lifetime/Temp rating: no way to tell

What I was wondering if different brand, lower tier capacitors really are worth it to rebadge as a "quality" capacitor, are lower tier capacitors really cheaper (at same ratings) or do they have to really go down to get enough of a profit from counterfeiting them?

[lexwalker]

Re: fake/counterfeit capacitors

Seen quite a number of fakes/counterfeits especially imitation of brands like Nichicon and Rubycon are much more common. Some of the fakes/counterfeits encountered are Nichicon VZ, Nichicon PW, Rubycon YXA, Rubycon YXF, Nippon Chemicon KMG, etc just to name a few...

The vents on the top and the seal on the bottom always gives them away. Seen Nichicon and Rubycons with "Y" vents instead of their respective "X" and "K" vents. Often harder to tell especially with fake Nichicons unless you pull them out to look at the seal on the bottom. For fake Rubycons, they often have the "K" vents but the bottom seal plus a slight printing or spelling change always gives them away. Also the colors are dead giveaway if you are familiar with original colors used for that particular brand and series. Their sizes also somtimes does not conform to datasheet.

And believe it or not, there also fake/counterfeits of capacitor brands like CapXon, Ltec and MaxCap.

Very often these fakes measure fine on capacitance, but the ESR is different from the datasheet specifications. Lifetime unknown, possibly standard capacitor lifetime of 1000 to 2000 hours...

[PeteS in CA]

Re: fake/counterfeit capacitors

Then why did one of the folks here report counterfeit Chemi-Con primary caps in a PSU that actually looked reasonable?

Some counterfeiters/rebranders are less incompetent than others. Several years ago I was asked by my company's purchasing people to check out some "UCC LXZ" caps, because they were not from an authorized distie. I didn't even have to open the sealed bag or examine them closely to see they were fake. The PVC/PET sleeve was black rather than UCC brown. The font and information format was also wrong. But counterfeiters/rebranders can't be relied on to be that stupid. At the same company we were asked, in a similar circumstance, to test some ST Micro MOSFETs. They looked OK, but one of our tests revealed they were not genuine. What the MOSFETs actually were was an older (and more common), somewhat lower performance IR part. The rebrander had bought a batch of surplus decent IR parts and done the fakery quite well. If we hadn't tested them they probably would have been used and "only" had a higher than normal failure rate.

[ShontelleE]

Re: fake/counterfeit capacitors

Are you aware that counterfeiting takes billions a year away from legitimate, authorized vendors? It's sad to think that a lot of retailers involve in this criminal industry. I know that fake products are cheaper, however, the qualities are not good as the original ones. I personally believe that I can save more money if I'll buy branded items.

[ben7]

Re: fake/counterfeit capacitors

Are you aware that counterfeiting takes billions a year away from legitimate, authorized vendors? It's sad to think that a lot of retailers involve in this criminal industry. I know that fake products are cheaper, however, the qualities are not good as the original ones. I personally believe that I can save more money if I'll buy branded items.

Yes I am!

Crazy, isn't it?!

I personally believe that I can save more money if I'll buy branded items.

Even then... like whirlpool dishwashers, they are CRAP.

[c_hegge]

Re: fake/counterfeit capacitors

Are you aware that counterfeiting takes billions a year away from legitimate, authorized vendors? It's sad to think that a lot of retailers involve in this criminal industry. I know that fake products are cheaper, however, the qualities are not good as the original ones. I personally believe that I can save more money if I'll buy branded items.

Take your spam away from here!!

[Ed Herdman]

Re: fake/counterfeit capacitors

Even then... like whirlpool dishwashers, they are CRAP.

Hey, my last one survived 11 years. The new one seems pretty good, though we'll see.