Fake Nichicon?

Given my bad experiences with so many fake power transistors, drivers and op-amps I expect the same issues with capacitors. For example, if a certain PP film capacitor from Digikey is not magnetic why are there so many of the supposed same brand on ebay and AliExpress that look very similar but have magnetic leads?

As a result it is best to stick with reliable authorized distributors.

With capacitors it is possible for fakers to take apart genuine capacitors to see how they are constructed. They could either manufacture or re-sleeve cheap brands that have similar internal construction if they even bother to go that far. But even if they did go that far the electrolyte formula and aluminum foil & oxides would not be the same or the same quality as the real Japanese designs/brands. Some fakes could be just the cheapest capacitor with a fake label/sleeve. Others might be a step higher with the cheapest low ESR capacitor relabeled with the most expensive brand and model names. That might look more similar in construction especially since cheap competitor brands likely based their designs on copies of the best Japanese capacitors in the first place.

Several times I have found suspicious capacitors where the physical size, capacitance and voltage combination could not be found in the datasheets.

As for yours I don't know but it will be interesting to see what the inside of the ones from the distributor look like. When you get them please also take side by side photos of the sleeves/labels so that we have a chance to compare the print and surface finish quality/appearance.
 
Does anyone knows if it's normal that my nichicon kg tpe 3 50v 4700uF are rattling abit when i wiggle them? it looks like there is a good half a centimeter space from the wall to the core...they weight 47 grams and look ok otherwise.
 
Last time that I ran into that, the capacitors were burnt up inside because the voltage rating was close, but not good enough for the job. You are speaking of new caps? It sure sounds suspicious to me. The core of a cap is just able to slide in the can when made correctly.
 
Sounds very suspicious. If a high-end/high-cost capacitor design has a larger than typical case size (such as some Nichicon series) than a fake made from a cheap capacitor will either have the wrong case size or I guess they could put the inside of a cheap capacitor inside a larger case size topped with a fake sleeve. I don't know what lengths they go to make fakes but if fakers put ceramic caps inside fake PP film caps and if there are photos of little capacitors inside larger cans then I guess there are many possibilities for fakes.
 
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Does anyone knows if it's normal that my nichicon kg tpe 3 50v 4700uF are rattling abit when i wiggle them? it looks like there is a good half a centimeter space from the wall to the core...they weight 47 grams and look ok otherwise.
I think it happens with more brands, when the cap pellet is (much) smaller than the can size. I have a lot of caps (also new Ketmet big ones) which are much more heavy on one side, they to not roll off a flat table as they stay in position....

I have a very nice example of some caps scavenged from ditched expensive equipment which turned out to be too leaky to reform, while old Sprague caps were still OK and their weight was way more. here are some pictures I put on another forum years ago.


Probably to avoid such, buying caps having an automotive spec would be beneficial, or maybe any rattling cap should be regarded as bad, I do not know....

capcaptech.JPG
capcaptech2.JPG
 
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I think it happens with more brands, when the cap pellet is (much) smaller than the can size. I have a lot of caps (also new Ketmet big ones) which are much more heavy on one side, they to not roll off a flat table as they stay in position....

I have a very nice example of some caps scavenged from ditched expensive equipment which turned out to be too leaky to reform, while old Sprague caps were still OK and their weight was way more. here are some pictures I put on another forum years ago.


Probably to avoid such, buying caps having an automotive spec would be beneficial, or maybe any rattling cap should be regarded as bad, I do not know....

View attachment 1382468View attachment 1382469

i am not a cap expert, but it makes sense that the foil and can don't match in an old or cheap capacitor, but here we are talking about a relatively expensive cap from a reputable company. There is no way that this much space it is not prone to damage. I understand it is not made to be put in a store paint shaker or be brought to a dance floor, but i kind of expect a bit more if i can say....i can clearly ear impact inside at 1 foot away with a little wiggle....not as much empty space as in your picture, but half a centimeter air space around is a fair guess. i have put few test cylinders inside a same size small bottle to simulate approximately the cap i received, and this is the result i get...

Also not to mention a company like nichicon would not waste that much space for no reason inside an electronic component. Anyway, that seems logical to me...
 
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Sounds very suspicious. If a high-end/high-cost capacitor design has a larger than typical case size (such as some Nichicon series) than a fake made from a cheap capacitor will either have the wrong case size or I guess they could put the inside of a cheap capacitor inside a larger case size topped with a fake sleeve. I don't know what lengths they go to make fakes but if fakers put ceramic caps inside fake PP film caps and if there are photos of little capacitors inside larger cans then I guess there are many possibilities for fakes.
it is indeed suspicious, but why not fill the void at minimum...? In any case, it is prone to damage if mishandled.
 
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Given my bad experiences with so many fake power transistors, drivers and op-amps I expect the same issues with capacitors. For example, if a certain PP film capacitor from Digikey is not magnetic why are there so many of the supposed same brand on ebay and AliExpress that look very similar but have magnetic leads?

As a result it is best to stick with reliable authorized distributors.

With capacitors it is possible for fakers to take apart genuine capacitors to see how they are constructed. They could either manufacture or re-sleeve cheap brands that have similar internal construction if they even bother to go that far. But even if they did go that far the electrolyte formula and aluminum foil & oxides would not be the same or the same quality as the real Japanese designs/brands. Some fakes could be just the cheapest capacitor with a fake label/sleeve. Others might be a step higher with the cheapest low ESR capacitor relabeled with the most expensive brand and model names. That might look more similar in construction especially since cheap competitor brands likely based their designs on copies of the best Japanese capacitors in the first place.

Several times I have found suspicious capacitors where the physical size, capacitance and voltage combination could not be found in the datasheets.

As for yours I don't know but it will be interesting to see what the inside of the ones from the distributor look like. When you get them please also take side by side photos of the sleeves/labels so that we have a chance to compare the print and surface finish quality/appearance.
No worries. I've already got about 70 caps with several values from Mouser distributor and one of them is 470uf/100V. I will do it tomorrow or day after and I'll post the pics side by side so we can compare.
 
Ok. I opened the Nichicon 470uf/100V KW capacitor from Mouser. Before I put this one side by side with the Nichicon 470uf/50V MUZE KZ that I bought from ebay and guess what?? They are look identical. I also installed the KZ on my Sansui Alpha AU-907i MOS Limited and the result are WOW! Take a look at the attached pictures and the pictures on thread #16 for comparing the pictures.
 

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Just to be clear. I don't said that all the capacitors on eBay are good and more than that there are a lot that are not!! But.. Specific from the seller that I bought they are OK.
From known distributor like Mouser or DigiKey you can be sure that they are OK.
 
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