Counterfeit HRC Fuses? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: notaroketscientist
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 10, 2015, 01:10:00 pm
content: In googling around for replacement fuses for DMM's there are wide price fluctuations.Some as low as ?$5 and seemingly same fuses at $20.Is this a case of grab the margin where you can (such as among the ill informed) ormust one learn to recognize counterfeits?Is the best advice to buy from the big recognized suppliers without regard to costor are even they occasionally possibly unwittingly providing counterfeits?

author: Neilm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2015, 06:59:21 pm
content: The only way to really recognise a counterfeit would be to get one and take it to pieces. That way you can check it is filled with sand, and look at the fuse wire.Failing that - go to a proper supplier.

author: Paul Moir
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2015, 09:39:13 pm
content: Are you looking for one for a Fluke?Figure this one out: if you buy the fuses from fluke, you can get them for something like ~10 each or ~7 each in a 5-pack. Try to buy a the same fuse, a DMM-44/100 for example, from anywhere reliable and they're $40 each.So figure out the fluke part number for the fuse you want and get that part number from somewhere reliable...Amazon type sellers I'm leery of, but the prices *could conceivably* make sense.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2015, 09:50:41 pm
content: Quote from: Paul Moir on February 10, 2015, 09:39:13 pmFor mouser.com, the price is for quantity = 10. That is $29.64 USD for 10 DMM-B-44 fuses.http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Eaton/DMM-B-44-100/?qs=%2fha2pyFaduij2mtWHt%2fmFqnJlWrzDQcKalSvJmcuZ4k%3d

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2015, 09:52:18 pm
content: Quote from: retiredcaps on February 10, 2015, 09:50:41 pmNo, that's the factory pack. Notice it says 'sold each'.It's like buying a single resistor which comes shipped on a reel of 5000. The factory pack size is 5000.. but you're only buying 1.If you want to buy the 440mA fuses in the US, go to Newark:http://www.newark.com/fluke/943121/fuse-replacement-440ma-fast-acting/dp/52F4514http://www.newark.com/fluke/fuse-440ma-1000vb5/fuse-replacement-440ma-fast-acting/dp/16F7904They keep the 11A ones too, if you manage to pop those:http://www.newark.com/fluke/803293/fuse-only-replacement-11a/dp/20C4137

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2015, 10:15:27 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on February 10, 2015, 09:52:18 pmOkay, maybe I'm confused with the wording on the mouser.Here are a couple of links to digikey. $7 for quantity one.http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/943121/614-1083-ND/1802035This is the 440mA Littlefuse version for 10, but digikey has no stock. If I'm reading it correctly, it is $32.99 and standard package says 10.http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/0FLU.440T/F5081-ND/2518094BTW, Bussmann changed the packaging on their fuses for Fluke meters starting in mid 2014 so they have different fonts and colors now.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2015, 10:20:49 pm
content: Quote from: retiredcaps on February 10, 2015, 10:15:27 pmUnder the Fluke brand, yes.QuoteAgain, standard package is what is bulk shipped to Digikey. They are sold singly.

author: Paul Moir
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2015, 10:25:46 pm
content: What's weird is I can't get most of the Fluke part numbers to come up in Canada from Digikey. Price is reported as ERROR ERROR ERROR!Mouser says "Not available in your region."Must be some middle man thing.Thanks for the newark link though. Didn't catch that one.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2015, 10:28:07 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on February 10, 2015, 10:20:49 pmWow, that is sure damn confusing.I wonder how many fuses they actually sell at $30 to $40 each.

author: Paul Moir
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2015, 10:32:35 pm
content: I have a box of 10 KTK-30 HRC fuses sitting on my desk. It doesn't look like $400 to me!(I checked an old '09 paper catalog I have here and there's nothing to suggest you'll get 10 for that price.)PPS - I wonder if this is holding back some of the cheapy DMM manufacturers from using them? Maybe Fluke negotiated a reasonable price? Furthermore, perhaps that explains the Fluke branding on the new ones.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2015, 10:40:24 pm
content: Prices for normal HRC fuses are normally nothing like that, though.Solar rated fuses (fast or ultra fast blow, 1kVDC, 20kA or better, in other words, the same damn thing as multimeter fuses) are easily available at lower prices than the Fluke fuses over here.And a little hunting finds these, as found in many multimeters:http://www.rapidonline.com/electrical-power/10a-10x38mm-hrc-ar-fuse-26-5864I do believe Eaton and Littelfuse are simply taking the piss.Sadly, Farnell's down for 'scheduled' (and totally unannounced) maintenance again, so I can't quickly dig up the solar fuses they keep.

author: Paul Moir
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2015, 10:53:00 pm
content: Yeah, you're right I'm sure. I was just looking at some Siba 10A 120kA fuses too and they're reasonably priced.I know I've paid about $30 each or more for the Bussman FNQ and KTK series locally. And I think I ended up paying around $50 for a single DMM one. That got me looking for a cheaper alternative, which I found on Digikey, but I couldn't find them again when I went to order. I'm starting to get the idea why!

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2015, 11:05:52 pm
content: I thought I participated in something like this discussion before and even after almost 2 years, you would think I learned something wrt to the packaging?https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/beware-when-buying-dmms-on-ebay-fuses-ain't-cheap!/edit: fixed URL above

author: notaroketscientist
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 10, 2015, 11:45:31 pm
content: Thanks to all. So much for the search function.