Part Numbers: MIC5219-3.3 MIC5219-5.0 MIC5205-3.3 MIC5205-5.0
This message is intended for those who are not already aware that there are fake low-noise regulators on AliExpress, eBay, etc.
These fake regulators “work” as basic regulators but are not low noise and do not meet the specifications. In other words, cheaper regulators are packaged and labeled to appear as more expensive ultra-low noise models. Since they regulate the voltage most of the users will probably be fooled unless they employ sophisticated tests with an LNA to determine that they are not really the ultra-low noise model they are supposed to be.
In this case they are faking these models of ultra-low noise regulators: MIC5219-3.3 MIC5219-5.0 MIC5205-3.3 MIC5205-5.0.
Since they are faking these less expensive and less known models, I would be shocked if they were not faking the more expensive and better-known low noise regulators that have more demand and higher profit…
The photo shows an example of the fake “MIC5219-3.3” model. A real MIC5219 has a bypass connection to lower the noise. On the fakes there is no connection to the bypass pin. The seller was one of my most reliable online sources. (Reliable based upon extensively testing the products received.)
When these are not fakes they are often used as low noise supplies and references for high performance ADC and DAC such as where they are seen inside the E-MU 1616m and 1820m recording interfaces.
This message is intended for those who are not already aware that there are fake low-noise regulators on AliExpress, eBay, etc.
These fake regulators “work” as basic regulators but are not low noise and do not meet the specifications. In other words, cheaper regulators are packaged and labeled to appear as more expensive ultra-low noise models. Since they regulate the voltage most of the users will probably be fooled unless they employ sophisticated tests with an LNA to determine that they are not really the ultra-low noise model they are supposed to be.
In this case they are faking these models of ultra-low noise regulators: MIC5219-3.3 MIC5219-5.0 MIC5205-3.3 MIC5205-5.0.
Since they are faking these less expensive and less known models, I would be shocked if they were not faking the more expensive and better-known low noise regulators that have more demand and higher profit…
The photo shows an example of the fake “MIC5219-3.3” model. A real MIC5219 has a bypass connection to lower the noise. On the fakes there is no connection to the bypass pin. The seller was one of my most reliable online sources. (Reliable based upon extensively testing the products received.)
When these are not fakes they are often used as low noise supplies and references for high performance ADC and DAC such as where they are seen inside the E-MU 1616m and 1820m recording interfaces.
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Certainly seems to be the case unfortunately. I thought that little known part numbers might be safe, especially ordered from a seller which had been reliable in the past.
I would have expected more well known and high value regulators to be high profit targets of fakers. Part numbers like LT1963, LT3015, LT3042, LT3045, TPS7A4700, TPS7A3301, etc.
Now we have more evidence that quite low cost and lesser known part numbers are fake too.
I've bought MIC29300-12 from eBay and they were genuine. Unless someone makes a fake that will regulate 3A with a 600mV drop, they are anyway.
LCSC sells this MIC5219-3.3 for 60 cents... why buy from Ali?
Microchip Tech|Microchip Tech MIC5219-3.3YM5TR|Dropout Regulators(LDO)|LCSC
I wish LCSC carried the one I use: Mouse wants too much! It's cheaper to build one using 7812 and a pass device! https://www.mouser.ca/ProductDetail...rel/MIC29300-12WT?qs=kh6iOki/eLEhfA37Oy7rbA==
LCSC sells this MIC5219-3.3 for 60 cents... why buy from Ali?
Microchip Tech|Microchip Tech MIC5219-3.3YM5TR|Dropout Regulators(LDO)|LCSC
I wish LCSC carried the one I use: Mouse wants too much! It's cheaper to build one using 7812 and a pass device! https://www.mouser.ca/ProductDetail...rel/MIC29300-12WT?qs=kh6iOki/eLEhfA37Oy7rbA==
I was ordering lots of items from a seller I have dealt with in the past (without problems in the past). So I added the regulators to the order. I will likely add them to my next LCSC or Mouser order. (I don't order from LCSC very often due to the very high shipping charges. Shipping cost is 2x to 3x Mouser and Digikey.)
I was a bit shocked that this regulator was faked. I didn't realize there was enough demand for it. I was also a bit shocked when I received the first fake NE5532 and first fake TL072. Before I saw the first fakes of low cost ancient op-amp designs I thought it was mainly high price op-amps that were faked.
That is in a way part of the problem. I often get a number of genuine items from a seller and then others turn out to be fakes. The worst ones are the ones that seem to be genuine initially and are mainly functional but further on in time it turns out to fail a key specification such as noise or distortion. (Because a cheaper chip was packaged and labeled as a higher performance part.)
I now have a pretty long list of what I will not buy online. But I will still share useful information with others as I see large quantities being sold which suggests large numbers of people are being cheated.
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True, I find I order at least 2kg of stuff from them at a time, but I also got 1000 resistors for 5$ that would have cost 50$ from digikey if they stocked them (1M 1/2W metal oxide) so even with shipping I would save money.
Passives except for large electros (because they are heavy), transistors, screw terminals, LEDs, diodes etc are a great value.
Passives except for large electros (because they are heavy), transistors, screw terminals, LEDs, diodes etc are a great value.
Yes. I have found that LCSC is a great source of long life/high endurance low ESR capacitors such as SamYoung and Rubycon. Also NP0/C0G capacitors.
But you would have to find an IC in the same package with a "compatible" pinout so your fakes at least somewhat work, which is not that easy for many of these parts. For SOT-23-5 or SOT-23-6 there are hundreds of LDOs, not only from well known manufacturers but also from the dozens of asian IC manufacturers you encounter on LCSC. I think you received some really cheap LDOs from one of those manufacturers.
LCSC is one of my favourite distributors to be honest, but only for certain parts. They are an authorised distributor for Panasonic and you will struggle to find Panasonic capacitors for similar prices. They also carry a great selection of Rubycon caps for good prices, as you said. Also a good source for relays from Omron or Panasonic, TDK inductors etc. . If you know what kind of parts to look for on LCSC you can really score some good deals.
For these regulators I think you are right. There are cheaper part numbers with a pinout that matches the fakes with the no connect on the bypass pin. But I am not sure they are removing markings and remarking SOT23-5. I think they were packaged and labeled at the factory with the fake markings. These look like totally professional factory parts on tape and reel.
Based upon the fake TIP35C/36C with the tiny die inside I wonder if some fakers are actually packaging chips now, not just remarking them. The fake TIP35C/36C lead frames and molding looked just like real ST parts but the die inside were obviously way smaller than TIP35C/36C die.
Based upon the fake TIP35C/36C with the tiny die inside I wonder if some fakers are actually packaging chips now, not just remarking them. The fake TIP35C/36C lead frames and molding looked just like real ST parts but the die inside were obviously way smaller than TIP35C/36C die.
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And as far as Asian companies, Kyet and Ymin make excellent caps IMHO. HF make better relays than Omron (prove me wrong), and HGSEMI make good cheap regulators.
I would not be shocked if they turned out to be something like "HX6211A332MR HX(hengjiaxing)" inside.
But I am not going to get nitric acid just to find out.
But I am not going to get nitric acid just to find out.
Fakes are different than generic though. If I find cheap "Nichicon" caps on eBay, they are fake. If I get Chengxing, they are Chengxing and I know it. (and I swear fake caps are the rejects of the major Chinese makers, but I can't prove it).
China is like any other place now as far as quality. Apple makes most of their stuff in China and no one calls it "Cheap Chinese sh*t" do they? I call it Apple's walled garden garbage, but never cheap Chinese sh*t though...
China is like any other place now as far as quality. Apple makes most of their stuff in China and no one calls it "Cheap Chinese sh*t" do they? I call it Apple's walled garden garbage, but never cheap Chinese sh*t though...
Makes me wonder about the cheap LT3042 and LT3045 boards for sale. The entire board costs $6 and you can't even buy the chip itself for that much. Not a common part or footprint for that matter. I looked at some of the pictures closely and they don't even have copper fill to act as a heatsink.
I use plenty of proper generics and I don't disparage their makers. For example, instead of Signetics NE5532 I have used plenty of generics made by Ti🙂
However fakes are a totally different matter such as 4558 op-amps marked and sold as OPA2134.
However fakes are a totally different matter such as 4558 op-amps marked and sold as OPA2134.
I was wondering about that too. I was thinking of buying one but at this point no way. I will make my own boards at JLCPCB.
It is interesting to note what the sellers do when fakes are reported.
In the case of these fake regulators the seller was shown how to verify that they are fake with simply an ohm meter reading from the output pin to the bypass pin. A photograph was provided of the very simple test. It is very easy to see there is no connection to the bypass pin and thus these are not the marked model/part number. The test takes seconds and can be performed with the cheapest of voltmeters.
The result? The seller continues to sell them. That says quite a bit.
In the case of these fake regulators the seller was shown how to verify that they are fake with simply an ohm meter reading from the output pin to the bypass pin. A photograph was provided of the very simple test. It is very easy to see there is no connection to the bypass pin and thus these are not the marked model/part number. The test takes seconds and can be performed with the cheapest of voltmeters.
The result? The seller continues to sell them. That says quite a bit.