​​​​Capstone Electronics, LLC

Counterfeit Silicon:

OK, this is as much a rant as warning to what has been happening with semiconductors being counterfeited and making their way into the global supply chain.  This is not a new problem, it has been happening for many years now.

There are many unscrupulous individuals out there that have been obtaining electronic components and remarking them with the more popular device part numbers and selling them online for irresistible prices.  In a great majority of cases, the specifications of these devices do not even come close to those of the original part being replaced.  Usually, the fake devices will self-destruct as soon as the circuit is powered on.  Typically it is the power transistors in amplifiers and power supplies that counterfeited since they are usually the more expensive and in demand components.  However, it can happen to capacitors and even smaller integrated circuits.

The unfortunate thing is after you purchase these devices, the vendor and ultimately the counterfeiter, already has your money and you are left with little recourse.  The only saving grace may be if you purchased the devices from a large vendor that supplies manufacturers and assembly houses.  They have pretty strict control and traceability of their supply chain.  It won't be an easy battle on your part to prove to the vendor the device is counterfeit  because you are going to be first reason the device failed..."You made a design error" or "There was something else wrong in the circuit that blew the device", etc.  You'll need to have your ducks in a row first with everything documented before approaching vendors. 

Summary:

If you purchase from a seller on Amazon or eBay you are definitely taking a large gamble.  If the price seems too good to be true, it most likely is.  I'm sure there ARE legit sellers out there...it is not my intention at all to slam you.

Short answer...Buy your devices from the large vendors.  It will cost more up front, but will save you loads of grief and headaches down the road.

Capstone purchases its electronic devices from reliable vendors that we have been using for many years.  Original (silicon) device part numbers and manufacturer are what is ordered for repairs for a large majority of our repairs.  There are times when a device may have been discontinued by its manufacturer and will need to be cross referenced  to another part number.  This can take a while to do since there are many parameters that need to be taken into consideration to meet or exceed the original device's specifications.  There is almost always a device out there somewhere that will work, you just have to do your homework to find it.

(I'll be updating this over the next few weeks)

These are some things that I feel need to be said.  Email with feedback if you wish...

Getting my thoughts together at the moment...