Fake Mitsubishi RD15HVF1 from eBay

[Ian Greenhalgh]

Hi folks

I bought some of these RF MOSFETs and got fakes, so I thought I'd document things for the benefit of others.

Given the price and the Chinese source, I was sort of expecting fakes but relying on eBay to help me out with a refund if they were fake.

These transistors are out of production and a lot of fakes have appeared, they are said to be remarked IRF parts, probably the IRF510.

Here's some info I found:

The original RD15xx types have a small Gate to source C ca 80pF and the source at pin 2

The fake have high gate - C this one 800-900pF and its source is pin 3 like all IRF -types

The IRF510 has the lowest gate capacity of about 400pF the best of the rest

Misubishi's RD15HVF1 is a UNIQUE VHF power FET.

With its Source at pin2 = cooling flange, the only right place of course
No other manufacturers deliver comparable devices.

It must be hard to produce. The eBay offered types are all fake cheap IRF5xx imitations in fact fraud.

The RD15xxx is relative expensive for a small FET 5-7€ from vendors that will easy take 50$ or more for shipment.

Not sold by Farnell Digi Key Reicheld and Mouser

In RF high power FET segment there is plenty of choice but it's crisis in HF VHF medium power land. The classic bipolar RF medium power transistors are no longer produced.

Here's the ebay listing:

2PCS RD15HVF1 MITSUBISH TO220 NEW GOOD QUALITY G | eBay

Note the picture the seller used is of a legitimate, authentic part, all the other listings show pictures of fakes, so this pic of a real part is why I took the risk:

Here's some pictures of real and fake parts side by side:

Here's how a legit part should measure:

Here is one of the parts I got alongside an IRF520:

The IRF520 has a smooth, shiny surface, but the fake part has a rough, matte surface and it seems clear that they have sanded off the surface of the fake then remarked it.

Here's how the fake measures:

Here's how the IRF520 measures:

So I am fairly sure what I have are sanded down and remarked IRF parts.

I'll let you know how I get on with a refund claim with ebay.

 

[JonSnell Electronic]

Thereby lays a tale; Never buy from Fleabay unless it is for something that you know is correct quality; RD15HVF1 RoHS Compliance, Silicon MOSFET Power Transistor, 175MHz - 520MHz,15W, MFR: Mitsubishi (MFR #: RD15HVF1-101)
It would seem you are not alone; Fake RD15HVF1 FETs out there?


And the data sheet on this component for reference is here; http://www.mitsubishielectric.com/s...highfrequency/siliconrf/discrete/rd15hvf1.pdf

 

[Ian Greenhalgh]

Well, the seller issued a refund immediately, so I bet he knows they are fake parts, his use of a picture of a real Mitsubishi part would indicate that too.

 

[aparatusonitus]

See if you can use Siliconix/Vishay VN88AFD...easier to get real ones and cheaper too😀

 

[nigelwright7557]

I got burnt with fake power transistors a couple of times years ago.
Transistors that blew at the first glitch on the mains.

I now always buy from RS Components or Farnell and have much less trouble.

 

[Ian Greenhalgh]

Thanks for the tips.

I was just curious to try some of these after reading VladimirK's posts about how he uses Mitsubishi RF MOSFETs as he finds LDMOS to be highly suited to simple class A amp designs due to their very low input capacitance and high linearity in the audio frequency range.

 

[aparatusonitus]

Than VN88AFD is the thing you want to try...low Cin, highly linear ~650Mhz m-fet!

 

[Ian Greenhalgh]

I shall try to source some of those, cheers!

 

[rigmo]

Today production brand new ORGINAL

K19 Radio - RD15HVF1 fake or orginal

The most RD15HVF1 on... | Facebook
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC Semiconductors & Devices: Product Search

 

[davidsrsb]

At VHF you have to ground the source and the bond wire inductance of a normal TO-220 tab drain pinout will be hopeless.
I am using Polyfet LDMOS parts at work, real RF parts, but you have to work hard at stopping LF instability due to extremely high gain below 1 MHz

 

[bill_a]

Shipping to the UK might be an issue, but RF Parts (Home page) here in the States has them for $4.95 ea.

I would totally trust them for being real NOS parts, too. I've purchased and used them in several projects. The company is well thought of among the amateur radio crowd.
Bill