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Claimed "1/4 watt" through-hole resistors from Amazon seller "Eamasawa"

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SilverSolder:

--- Quote from: Monkeh on September 17, 2020, 12:23:51 am ---It's a 1/4W resistor - how thick of a lead do you think you need?

You're being far too fussy and expecting everything to be made as if it's the glory years of material waste.

--- End quote ---

It feels good to work with nicely made stuff, and to work with tools that you feel are "just so".  That's a good enough reason to pursue these things.  If doing your hobby or work doesn't make you feel good, why are you doing it? 

That said, I can definitely also feel good about an economically optimal solution - if it is part of a product like a fridge or a TV where I don't really care about the aesthetics of the internal components!  :D

floobydust:
the chinese have optimized the cost of these resistors - using the least amount of metal for the leads. They're right - you don't need such thick leads for the currents involved. They're all steel nowadays. My 1980's Philips resistors are all copper leads. Sigh.
You don't need the leads to be so long either, we're not doing point-point wiring building antique guitar amplifiers anymore. So the cheapened construction is ok I guess.
But I found the 1% parts are around +/-4% and stayed with using higher quality parts made in Taiwan.

eti:

--- Quote from: floobydust on September 17, 2020, 01:04:43 am ---the chinese have optimized the cost of these resistors - using the least amount of metal for the leads. They're right - you don't need such thick leads for the currents involved. They're all steel nowadays. My 1980's Philips resistors are all copper leads. Sigh.
You don't need the leads to be so long either, we're not doing point-point wiring building antique guitar amplifiers anymore. So the cheapened construction is ok I guess.
But I found the 1% parts are around +/-4% and stayed with using higher quality parts made in Taiwan.

--- End quote ---

I am unsure which resistors use ALL steel in the leads, but these are plated copper for sure - I have just tested them.

floobydust:
A magnet tells all, and cutting steel leads they launch pretty far, even with safety cutters  :--
Name-brand resistor manufacturers state:
"electrolytic copper-plated with fused pure tin {leads} are welded to the termination caps." (Vishay MBA and Yageo MFP)
"Alloy coated leads"
"Hot tin dipped copper wire"

tkamiya:
Ha!  Someone with the same concerns as I...

I've purchased registers from Amazon, too, and were quite surprised how thin the wires were.  So far, for building purposes, they made zero difference.  Wires form easily and hold shape.  I never push 1/4 watt registers to the limit anyway.  I think they are the result of cost cutting measure.  Some dealers (like SparkFun) are starting to label their products as "thick lead" to differentiate from these.

I'm so surprised at the length some manufacturers in China would go to cut cost.

More concerning are their fuse holders.  Some "18 gauge wire" looks like 22 gauge. Yet, spec'd at 15 or 20Amp.  Some are now saying "real 18 gauge wire" in their ads.  These days, for things that matter, I buy from Digikey.  For ones they don't, eBay or Amazon will do.

I hope Amazon will recognize being a conduit for these substandard parts will reduce them to second rate merchant, and affect future growth.  Somehow, I doubt that will ever happen.

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