Spotting genuine FB4110 MOSFETs

Zenid

Zenid

100 W
Joined
Oct 2, 2010
Messages
250
Location
Nottingham, UK
I recently read a thread about distinguishing 'real' MOSFET 4110s from cheap imitations or fakes.

However I'm not entirely confident that based on the information there I could still confidently identify fakes. Price is not necessarily a clue, and neither is appearance, necessarily. And my own experience of buying "32GB" memory sticks on the cheap tell me that sellers frequently sell outright fakes with impunity. So how about we play spot the fake, based on the current crop featuring prominently on ebay?:

1) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5pcs-IRFB4110-FB4110-POWER-MOSFET-Transistor-TO-220-/170387751882?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27abe6c3ca

The little notches at the top look authentic, but the stamp and the circular depression don't look like the 'proper' one described. I'm not sure here, but I'd say probably fake.

2) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/10PCS-IRFB4110-FB4110-POWER-MOSFET-TO-220-/220527229754?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3358727b3a

This looks like the textbook fakes they were talking about. I'll say definite fake.

3) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/50-PCS-New-IR-IRFB4110-FB4110-Power-Mosfet-TO-220-/170524975782?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b414a2a6

This one looks just like the one they had as the real deal. So I'll say genuine.

4) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/10pcs-IRFB4110-FB4110-POWER-MOSFET-Transistor-TO-220-/330471685413?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf1a5bd25

These are just like 1), so once again maybe, maybe not.

This is a UK vendor, not ebay:
http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/displayProduct.jsp?sku=1436955&CMP=e-2072-00001000
But even with the exhaustive, respectable looking spec-sheet and crushing price-tag they look nothing like the ideal detailed in the first document.

Thoughts? Any idea how to end up with the real thing without paying through the nose?
 
Zenid said:
I recently read a thread about distinguishing 'real' MOSFET 4110s from cheap imitations or fakes.
Click to expand...
this one?
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10655

as for cost, with fakes of all kinds in abundance, safer to buy from known good sources, rather than possibly waste $ on parts you can't use. :wink:
 
1,2, 4 are absolutely fakes.

#3 is a pic of a genuine one (or correctly styled fake), but selling at under the price of buying a lot of 10,000 direct from the IR factory (which Methy and I did), which tells me they made a better fake, or just posed a genuine one for the photo.

#5 the picture says it's a photo not representative of the actual item, very common for retailers to do because all TO-220 fet packages look roughly the same, so it's easier than hosting a separate photo for thousands of different FETs.
 
amberwolf said:
Zenid said:
I recently read a thread about distinguishing 'real' MOSFET 4110s from cheap imitations or fakes.
Click to expand...
this one?
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10655

as for cost, with fakes of all kinds in abundance, safer to buy from known good sources, rather than possibly waste $ on parts you can't use. :wink:
Click to expand...

Yes, that's the one. I have a broken e-crazyman controller (EB 220) I'm trying to get working. I know three of the FETs are dead anyway, and I was going to get some FB4110s to replace them all with.

It's a question of knowing who the good sources are, like you say, but there are plenty of good sources who sell on eBay. The question is, who? Can you recommend anyone? And I wouldn't be wasting $, I'd be wasting £ ;)

Thanks for all the advice on Lithium batteries BTW...
 
liveforphysics said:
1,2, 4 are absolutely fakes.

#3 is a pic of a genuine one (or correctly styled fake), but selling at under the price of buying a lot of 10,000 direct from the IR factory (which Methy and I did), which tells me they made a better fake, or just posed a genuine one for the photo.

#5 the picture says it's a photo not representative of the actual item, very common for retailers to do because all TO-220 fet packages look roughly the same, so it's easier than hosting a separate photo for thousands of different FETs.
Click to expand...

Good point :(

10,000? Wow! Did you just then resell those in kits or something? How much did that cost you?

Where is the IR factory (is that the one in Mexico)? How do you approach them to buy bulk, and what's the minimum bulk order they supply? Further details would be appreciated. It makes sense - given the cost of shipping to the UK - to buy a big order and just sell on the rest...

Thanks
 
It helps to have a smart scope, the differences become clear very quick. I have noticed that some manufacturers do have slightly different case styles for their own genuine packages. We had 2 different Fairchild FETs a while back that had very different rounded edges on the package, but it is just variation by a particular line or machine.
 
Zenid said:
10,000? Wow! Did you just then resell those in kits or something? How much did that cost you?
Click to expand...
If you look at sites like Digikey, etc., they often give quantity pricing. Many times the manufacturer sites also do, though they usually call it "budgetary" pricing as the actual price may be different by some amount; usually they are for 1,000 units or for 10,000 units.

Some of those manufacturer sites have links right there on the part page to buy such large quantities.

Where is the IR factory (is that the one in Mexico)?
Click to expand...
http://www.irf.com/aboutir-info/manufact.htm
 
Zenid said:
liveforphysics said:
1,2, 4 are absolutely fakes.

#3 is a pic of a genuine one (or correctly styled fake), but selling at under the price of buying a lot of 10,000 direct from the IR factory (which Methy and I did), which tells me they made a better fake, or just posed a genuine one for the photo.

#5 the picture says it's a photo not representative of the actual item, very common for retailers to do because all TO-220 fet packages look roughly the same, so it's easier than hosting a separate photo for thousands of different FETs.
Click to expand...

Good point :(

10,000? Wow! Did you just then resell those in kits or something? How much did that cost you?

Where is the IR factory (is that the one in Mexico)? How do you approach them to buy bulk, and what's the minimum bulk order they supply? Further details would be appreciated. It makes sense - given the cost of shipping to the UK - to buy a big order and just sell on the rest...

Thanks
Click to expand...


It's complex...

If you're just looking to fix a controller, just go to digi-key and buy the quanity you want. They sell genuine IR parts, and the cost doesn't matter for just buying a handful of them to fix a controller.
 
amberwolf said:
Zenid said:
10,000? Wow! Did you just then resell those in kits or something? How much did that cost you?
Click to expand...
If you look at sites like Digikey, etc., they often give quantity pricing. Many times the manufacturer sites also do, though they usually call it "budgetary" pricing as the actual price may be different by some amount; usually they are for 1,000 units or for 10,000 units.

Some of those manufacturer sites have links right there on the part page to buy such large quantities.

Where is the IR factory (is that the one in Mexico)?
Click to expand...
http://www.irf.com/aboutir-info/manufact.htm
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot. I had no idea they had a factory right here in the UK (Wales).
 
Zenid said:
I recently read a thread about distinguishing 'real' MOSFET 4110s from cheap imitations or fakes.

However I'm not entirely confident that based on the information there I could still confidently identify fakes. Price is not necessarily a clue, and neither is appearance, necessarily. And my own experience of buying "32GB" memory sticks on the cheap tell me that sellers frequently sell outright fakes with impunity. So how about we play spot the fake, based on the current crop featuring prominently on ebay?:

1) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5pcs-IRFB4110-FB4110-POWER-MOSFET-Transistor-TO-220-/170387751882?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27abe6c3ca

The little notches at the top look authentic, but the stamp and the circular depression don't look like the 'proper' one described. I'm not sure here, but I'd say probably fake.

2) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/10PCS-IRFB4110-FB4110-POWER-MOSFET-TO-220-/220527229754?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3358727b3a

This looks like the textbook fakes they were talking about. I'll say definite fake.

3) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/50-PCS-New-IR-IRFB4110-FB4110-Power-Mosfet-TO-220-/170524975782?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b414a2a6

This one looks just like the one they had as the real deal. So I'll say genuine.

4) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/10pcs-IRFB4110-FB4110-POWER-MOSFET-Transistor-TO-220-/330471685413?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf1a5bd25

These are just like 1), so once again maybe, maybe not.

This is a UK vendor, not ebay:
http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/displayProduct.jsp?sku=1436955&CMP=e-2072-00001000
But even with the exhaustive, respectable looking spec-sheet and crushing price-tag they look nothing like the ideal detailed in the first document.

Thoughts? Any idea how to end up with the real thing without paying through the nose?
Click to expand...

Best thing to do is use a genuine site like this -> http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/mosfet/0495578/

They are cheaper than thos fake looking ebay shops too

RS Componants have been around for years supplying the UK componants like these
 
heres pic #3 adjusted to make clearer, looks genuine, others not genuine ( farnel cant tell)
'
 
I'm always amazed by counterfeit electronics parts. I once purchased some unusual transistors needed to fix an amp that I popped the output stage on. Replaced them and popped them quickly soon after. Did some research and found out the replacements I purchased were fakes. Problem was I had no idea they even made fake transistors and these were not that common of a part. I only deal with reputable dealers now, never on ebay, never from China for semiconductors, especially for such small price differences. Lots of good suppliers in the USA for real parts that can be found on Ocatapart.com, not so sure about Europe though.

Any marked FB4110 are 100% fake, that's never been a valid part number.
 
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