Hitachi industrial LCD from China... I think it's a fake...what would you do ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Milacron
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2011, 03:24:30 pm
content: Here's the ad-http://www.ebay.com/itm/SX14Q001-HITACHI-NEW-5-7-LCD-PANEL-/150594453661?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item231021009dWithout going into all the details, I got this in yesterday and I think it's not a real Hitachi... because of the label, serial number and some other differences in the design compared to a real Hitachi 14Q001 I have a photo of the back. It's also suspect due to the box not saying Hitachi anywhere on it, and zero paperwork with it.In reality, based on previous feedbacks it will probably work just fine but my use is for something where the Hitachi specs are critical. If this thing is just the least bit different in any spec it may not display the data.Thoughts ?

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 03, 2011, 03:30:24 pm
content: Quote from: Milacron on September 03, 2011, 03:24:30 pmBuying from anyone but reliable authorized distributors (which are unlikely to be on Ebay) sounds like a bad idea for your application. Even if it's made by Hitachi, it may have failed QC and reached the market via other channels.

author: Milacron
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2011, 03:59:18 pm
content: Quote from: alm on September 03, 2011, 03:30:24 pmThis model was discontinued a few years ago so I doubt any "authorized distributors" can supply the unit anyway. But there may be some NOS electronics brokers that have sources for real leftover new Hitachi SX14Q001 units.... so I will call around on Tuesday to see.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2011, 05:01:02 pm
content: Lots of reputable companies manufacture in China but buying from an unauthorised ebay seller is always a risk, even more so if they're based in China.

author: Milacron
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2011, 06:24:44 pm
content: Quote from: Hero999 on September 03, 2011, 05:01:02 pmI knew from taking with Hitachi engineer last week that the units were made in Taiwan, not China. However, the sticker on the unit I got in yesterday actually does have printed "Made in Taiwan". But the rest of the sticker and some other aspects seem wrong, so even if made in China they could easily enough have just printed made in Taiwan on the sticker even if it wasn't. And even if it really was made in Taiwan, but not by Hitachi, it worries me a bit for this application. Will know more on Tuesday.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2011, 07:49:41 pm
content: Maybe a silly proposal, as I don't know your project status, but why don't you test it in the application that is so critical ? If it works...great, if not...too bad a bad purchase."White box" products can often be unbranded yet come from a bona fide factory or they may be legitimate compatable equivalent products that will work where the Hitachi was used. It would be a mistake to write off this display just because there is no labelling. A true fake that is designed to deceive would more likely have Hitachi labels on it to convince the buyer of it's provenance. Have you spoken with the supplier... they may be more honest about the display than you expect.From the advert:----------------100% Tested Before Shipping.it is 2nd hand parts,Grade A ,and we warranty the quality,and we test it before we ship it.-----------------This is a second user part and is not 'new'. It would therefore not come in Hitachi packaging and may have different labelling to a retail part.If your application isn't ready for testing with an LCD you could try making up a test rig to drive the controller and see how it performs. If you are intending to use an obsolete item with very specific compatability issues you also need to consider the life of your product... it is already 'end of life' if it relies on such obsolete parts.

author: Milacron
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2011, 08:34:19 pm
content: Quote from: Aurora on September 03, 2011, 07:49:41 pmThe monitor goes on a control for a 1996 CNC router that probably cost over $50,000 new and is worth now (with all working properly) in the neighborhood of $12,000 to $15,000. So, it's a bit ridicuous for a few hundred dollar monitor to "obsolete" a 1996 CNC machine worth that much money.In the CNC machine tool world, 1996 is not considered old at all. For CNC, "old" is about 1986 or older...so it's pretty annoying that the manufacturer can't supply a replacement monitor for a 1996 machine. Still, it is a little unique situation in that most CNC manufacturers were still using CRT's on controls back in 1996 and these guys decided to be "cutting edge" using the first of the LCD's...which 15 years later has proved to be a major problem.Re testing it, the problem is there is a bit of labor involved in creating a custom cable to interface to the original plug for the control, which also involves essential ruining the flat ribbon cable on the new monitor (which in this case is hard wired to the PCB), which would mean I couldn't return it for credit.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2011, 08:52:10 pm
content: Ah a clearer picture of the problem emerges.Yes, scrapping a 1996 CNC machine due to a faulty LCD would be highly undesirable. Sadly these days I find more and more that companies produce machines with short product life cycle and 10 year support after production end...then totally unsupportedYou are in a difficult position but I fear you may have to risk $140 to see if it works or just return the LCD now and continue the hunt for a genuine 100% guaranteed part. Regarding the ribbon... I never cut them about when testing, I make up all manner of Heath Robinson adapters to mate with whatever the drive source is. In percentage terms $140 isn't a bad, risk versus the possible repair of the CNC machine and it's resultant value. before taking any action I suppose you should exhaust all other sources of the 100% guaranteed Hitachi part. I still think it is worth contacting the eBay seller though as they appear to present a professional service and may be able to tell you what the LCD came from and confirm whether it is 100% genuine Hitachi or a compatable part.I wish you luck on this adventure. I have been on similar Odyssey's myself and it can be very frustrating to have a piece of valuable equipment down due to a relatively simple but unavailable part.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2011, 10:08:01 pm
content: Quote from: Milacron on September 03, 2011, 08:34:19 pmI don't think ruining the ribbon cable is the preferred way to go. Better (if you can do it) is fit the proper connector to the ribbon cable on the LCD and then make an adapter to mate it with the connector for the old display. You could make the adapter by soldering sockets to a break out board for example, and then making the appropriate electrical connections between the two sockets.

author: Milacron
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2011, 10:39:28 pm
content: Quote from: Aurora on September 03, 2011, 08:52:10 pmActually I already tried that on another .5mm flat ribbon cable. I used a vertical connector where the pins were alternated..such that they were effectively 1mm apart instead of .5mm. But the original round ribbon cables looked like the cables from a suspension bridge under the microscope compared to the tiny pins of the surface mount connector and I just flat out could not solder the round ribbon wires to the connector pins without the connection either being weak or the solder running over to the next pin.I found itmucheasier to seperate the individual .5mm flat cables with Exacto knife under the microscope for an inch or so. That way each flat wire could be seperated from each other enough for easy soldering to the much larger ribbon wires, with solder paste. Then shrink tubing slide over and shrunk for a neat package.

author: project
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2011, 10:17:29 pm
content: This LCD was discountinued in 2006, and all made in taiwan hitachi. I am highly doubt some one would fake this type, fake a LCD cost quite high, this type has very low demand after 2005 as I remember. These are more like left over stock, or some of them that did not pass QC(like more than 3 dead pixels) and been got ridden of by factory via other channels.Also as far as I know, this LCD has more than 10 revs from 2001-2003, from ribbon pitch/size, physical size, to backlights control voltage5v/3.3v, also back lights itself. I don't know the changes after 2003. itself has sx14q001 and sx14q001-zza diff. U have to check the rev number from your old&new, then find the accroding SPEC pdf. 5 years to one model LCD is really long life.

author: Milacron
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2011, 02:32:30 am
content: Quote from: project on September 05, 2011, 10:17:29 pmThe serial number is a bit odd...for example it starts with 8, which should mean 2008 according to the Lot Mark codes near the end of the data sheets. The date goes go to 7 on that sheet, implying 2007 was the last year. But then again the sheet mentions revision A and this one is revision B.... so I don't know what to think.

author: CircuitMart
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2011, 03:20:12 am
content: Pity and shame that we chinese got non-positive impression from outsiders.but most of the time I also believe we chinese could manufacture clothings, at least it will not hurt too much.Even rural people wear something with foreign letter printings in our country.Not food, not high-tech things. it hurts too many.If you buy parts, if its too cheap, check more before you make decision.Nobody love you without reson.No Bargain without reason.Sometimes refurbished or original new parts really works and it is economical.But Cheapest Ones are really rubbish.For my own experience, If customer is highly cost sensitive and PCB is simple, I use ordinarymaterial to build to save cost for them.For multiple layer with complex design, I use field famous material and custom process to meetrequirement. Cost is higher, but no choice. I risked one time to save money., final result is to rebuildthem and wast client's time.Iris