Electronics are delicate and the smallest faults in one component could damage the whole system. Counterfeit electronic components can lead to warranty issues, injuries, and lawsuits. It is paramount to ensure that the electronic components used are not counterfeit.
There are some complex methods you can use to check for authenticity but you can also perform a few quick visual tests to ascertain the possibility of counterfeit components. These visual tests are performed with a microscope with at least 30x magnification. Here are some of the things to check for:
- Typos on manufacturer labels. An authentic component will have perfect spelling, so one without is highly suspicious.
- The date codes on the label and the parts should be the same. If they are not, the counterfeits may have been added on later, and hence the reason for mismatched dates.
- Components big enough will display countries of origins. A part with the same lot code can’t be manufactured in separate countries.
- Compare the size and shape of the indents on the parts from the same lot. Every electronic component from a genuine manufacturer will always have the indents in the same spot and be of the same size. Counterfeiters usually have difficulty with consistency.
- Compare the markings on the parts with manufacturer specifications. Authentic parts should have the markings on the same spot on every part from the same lot, and they should never be on top of an indent. Sloppy markings is a good indicator of counterfeit components.
These are some of the quickest ways to detect counterfeit components. Avoiding counterfeits can not only save a company millions of dollars but also help by reducing risk to our lives as electronics play a significant role in today’s worlds, whether it’s pacemakers or airplanes.
Robb Hammond, founder and president of AERI (American Electronic Resource, Inc.). Founding member and former committee chair of the SAE AS6081 Standard created for the avoidance of counterfeit electronic components. Robb founded AERI in Costa Mesa, California, in 1994 as an independent distributor of hard-to-find, obsolete and allocated electronic components. AERI is AS9120B, ISO 9001:2015 and AS6081 certified, tests to AS6171 standards, and inspects every part in its in-house QC lab before it ships. Robb writes about electronic component shortages, sourcing strategy and counterfeit avoidance.
