Different looking IRF MOSFET

[jay]

I have quite many different TO-220 FETs made by International Rectifier Corp, but now I noticed that my IRLZ24Ns have different appearance: the texts have different spacing, the package dimensions are slightly different and few other details. See attached image. These are from a reputable source so maybe these are just from another IRF factory or something like that? If someone has IRLZ24Ns then could you check if it looks the same?

[jay]

Oh, and I have an old and a newer datasheet, that both show different part markings. Neither matches exactly the markings on this component.

[wraper]

If you look for many parts they have significantly changed their look over the years. For example 7805 in TO-220 from ST. Now it comes with a super thin tab, not just marking. Name your reputable source. Unless it is some huge company like farnell or Elfa, I don't believe their stock is 100% genuine. I would measure it's RDSon if have any doubt. Fake likely will have some weaker part inside with higher resistance.

[jay]

If you look for many parts they have significantly changed their look over the years. For example 7805 in TO-220 from ST. Now it comes with a super thin tab, not just marking. Name your reputable source. Unless it is some huge company like farnell or Elfa, I don't believe their stock is 100% genuine.

I got those from TME.eu, that is quite big player in Europe. As a random coincidence I also have 7805 from ST with different appearance. One reason for me to be suspicious in this case is that all the other IRF MOSFETs I've purchased during the past year look a like with only minor differences. It's a popular low cost FET so I'm hoping someone could confirm if their IRLZ24Ns look like this or not. Time of purhase and the date code on the package would be useful info. Any idea how to decode the date code on this one (maybe April 2010?)?

[Richard Head]

I've had the same issue with APT MOSFETs in the past. I received TO-247 devices when they should have been Super 247 packaging. The part numbers were correct.
I took a couple of photos of the suspect devices and mailed APT (now Microsemi) and they confirmed they were counterfeit.
The devices were not purchased through Richardsons (official Microsemi distributor) but from a European buying house.

[wraper]

If you look for many parts they have significantly changed their look over the years. For example 7805 in TO-220 from ST. Now it comes with a super thin tab, not just marking. Name your reputable source. Unless it is some huge company like farnell or Elfa, I don't believe their stock is 100% genuine.

I got those from TME.eu, that is quite big player in Europe. As a random coincidence I also have 7805 from ST with different appearance. One reason for me to be suspicious in this case is that all the other IRF MOSFETs I've purchased during the past year look a like with only minor differences. It's a popular low cost FET so I'm hoping someone could confirm if their IRLZ24Ns look like this or not. Time of purhase and the date code on the package would be useful info. Any idea how to decode the date code on this one (maybe April 2010?)?

TME is not of the same quality as major distributors and sell some crap parts, don't know about counterfeits though. Quiet possible that some part of their stock is from shady places. I still advise to check RSDon. You only need some low voltage PSU with current limiting  (set 0.5 - 1A),  some voltage source for gate voltage (you can just charge some electrolytic/ceramic capacitor to about 10V) and multimeter to measure voltage drop across the mosfet. Then calculate resistance R = U/I. Then compare with datasheet.