Where'd Mornsun go?

[liteyear]

Mornsun, sometime in the last few weeks, has disappeared from DigiKey, Mouser and Element14. What happened?

All previously valid URLs seem to 404, like this one:

https://www.digikey.com.au/en/products/detail/mornsun-america-llc/B1212S-1WR3/13968708

Now the manufacturer is not even listed on the distributor's sites. Does not seem country specific, and the Mornsun product pages still look intact:

https://www.mornsun-power.com/index/sitesearch/partlink/keyword/B1212S-1WR3.html

Eerie...

[Someone]

Pretty weird, power module companies have been fairly fluid with ownership/names and I dont recall it being handled like that. Usually old/obsolete parts are kept in the databases with the pricing scrubbed.

Avnet?
https://my.avnet.com/abacus/manufacturers/m/mornsun/

[beanflying]

Strange. What I have used of their little ones have been really good value and worked well.

I have recently been buying some larger 10-20W DC-DC and AC-DC convertors from this seller and they have an actual website. Mainly used as Pi power supplies but I have hammered them on a DC load to test them as well.

There smaller 2W ones are I suspect Mornsun clones or badged but worth looking at too. https://www.aliexpress.com/store/345286/pages/all-items.html?productGroupId=40000000582067&spm=a2g0o.detail.0.0.2398rfcvrfcvwK&storeId=345286&sortType=bestmatch_sort&shop_sortType=bestmatch_sort

[nctnico]

AFAIK the Multicomp branded modules from Farnell / Element14 are Mornsun modules. It would be interesting to see if those are gone as well.

[S. Petrukhin]

Maybe sanctions?

[gamalot]

It is one of the sanctioned companies.

https://ru.usembassy.gov/imposing-new-measures-on-russia-for-its-full-scale-war-and-use-of-chemical-weapons-against-ukraine/

[mikeselectricstuff]

Weird - if they discontinued them for whatever reason, they would have stock that needed to shift.
Still listed at LCSC and Avnet

AFAIK the Multicomp branded modules from Farnell / Element14 are Mornsun modules. It would be interesting to see if those are gone as well.

Still there - exact same part no. as LCSC Mornsun listing
https://uk.farnell.com/multicomp-pro/mp-k7805-500r3/dc-dc-converter-5v-0-5a/dp/3584025?ost=K7805-500R3

[mikeselectricstuff]

It is one of the sanctioned companies.

Surely sanctions prohibit buying from that company - would it not still be OK to clear existing stock?

from
https://ru.usembassy.gov/imposing-new-measures-on-russia-for-its-full-scale-war-and-use-of-chemical-weapons-against-ukraine/

MORNSUN GUANGZHOU SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO LTD (MORNSUN) is a PRC-based supplier of Tier 1 and Tier 3.A items on the BIS Common High Priority List to Russia-based end users. Items MORNSUN has supplied include electronic integral monolithic circuits. One of the Russia-based companies that received components from MORNSUN was identified as a supplier to a Russia-based entity that specializes in the production and marketing of airborne equipment for military aircraft, such as airborne weapons control radars for Russian fighter aircraft.

[S. Petrukhin]

The sanctions obviously prohibit not selling only, but transferring money for what is sold.

Probably, the stocks were taken and successfully sold from us. Mornsun has very good sales in Russia, as far as I know.

[thm_w]

Surely sanctions prohibit buying from that company - would it not still be OK to clear existing stock?

It does sound like it, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/12/26/2023-28662/taking-additional-steps-with-respect-to-the-russian-federations-harmful-activities

c) The prohibitions in subsection (a)(i) of this section apply with respect to:

(i) products subject to the prohibitions of subsection (a)(i)(A) of this section imported on or after the date of this order or the date specified in any determinations made pursuant to that subsection, unless otherwise specified or authorized; and

Probably up to Digikey how to handle it. Might be their legal or IT preference to just disable the supplier account, limiting risks.

[SiliconWizard]

Good news for Faringdon, though.

[mikeselectricstuff]

Kinda scary that a supplier can effectively vanish like that - would  be a bummer if you'd designed in something only available from a manufacturer who got sanctioned.

[floobydust]

May 1, 2024 round of US sanctions has Mornsun on the list for "... support{ing} Russia's military-industrial base".

It's a supply chain disruption. What pisses me off is companies are now scooping up stock of the other companies making the same products like CUI, RECOM etc. and there is no stock and their parts are now on allocation.

I have to wonder what the point is- as these modules are made in China anyway. If it's from Mornsun or RECOM, the dollars flow to China regardless.
So the sanction does what exactly?

[thm_w]

It's a supply chain disruption. What pisses me off is companies are now scooping up stock of the other companies making the same products like CUI, RECOM etc. and there is no stock and their parts are now on allocation.

Scalpers must be eager for action after a few disappointing years.

I have to wonder what the point is- as these modules are made in China anyway. If it's from Mornsun or RECOM, the dollars flow to China regardless.
So the sanction does what exactly?

"China" is not a singular corporation and the sanctions flow both ways with fairly clear intentions.
You are straying into political discussion which is not relevant here.

[floobydust]

It's a supply chain disruption. What pisses me off is companies are now scooping up stock of the other companies making the same products like CUI, RECOM etc. and there is no stock and their parts are now on allocation.

Scalpers must be eager for action after a few disappointing years.

I have to wonder what the point is- as these modules are made in China anyway. If it's from Mornsun or RECOM, the dollars flow to China regardless.
So the sanction does what exactly?

"China" is not a singular corporation and the sanctions flow both ways with fairly clear intentions.
You are straying into political discussion which is not relevant here.

Mornsun disappeared entirely due to politics, and you're saying it's not relevant? We have to understand what happens POOF when sanctions take out a component you are using, have designed in and can no longer source, oh and the alternate part's price has doubled. I'm not sure if there was any forewarning.
I find the irony is that these components are manufactured in China, entirely. Mornsun they are a Chinese company but several others - COO is China so at best the sanctions causes a back-channel to take up the slack. In other words I don't see the sanctions accomplishing anything other than Mornsun losing some sales.

[tggzzz]

Good news for Faringdon, though.

You mean this bloke?
"Work wanted for EE with bad refs?"
'My friend was just  working at a electronics co in UK, who are importing in loads of semiconductors from USA, "for use in UK", but they
are being secretly sent to Russia. So he left his job, but now they are saying to possible future employers
that he is a "dropout" and advising them not to take him on. Please can anyone offer him work?'
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/work-wanted/work-wanted-for-ee-with-bad-refs/msg5478364/#msg5478364

[thm_w]

Mornsun disappeared entirely due to politics, and you're saying it's not relevant?

The reason was provided and there is no need to discuss that part further, this is not a political forum, find somewhere else to discuss china/usa relations.

We have to understand what happens POOF when sanctions take out a component you are using, have designed in and can no longer source, oh and the alternate part's price has doubled. I'm not sure if there was any forewarning.

Yes, that is a thing that can happen recently, the intent per link is not to have any forewarning at all. Not much you can do other than use more generic parts with multiple sourcing options, or buy years of stock ahead of time and avoid the US market.

In this case, Canada does not have the same sanctions as USA, so Canadians can buy from LCSC. But, make sure you don't sell the product to USA:
https://www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca/guides/us-export_eu/141452.aspx?lang=eng#us43
https://www.lcsc.com/product-detail/Power-Modules_MORNSUN-Guangzhou-S-T-B0505S-1WR3_C131038.html

[tom66]

It is one of the sanctioned companies.

Surely sanctions prohibit buying from that company - would it not still be OK to clear existing stock?

from
https://ru.usembassy.gov/imposing-new-measures-on-russia-for-its-full-scale-war-and-use-of-chemical-weapons-against-ukraine/

MORNSUN GUANGZHOU SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO LTD (MORNSUN) is a PRC-based supplier of Tier 1 and Tier 3.A items on the BIS Common High Priority List to Russia-based end users. Items MORNSUN has supplied include electronic integral monolithic circuits. One of the Russia-based companies that received components from MORNSUN was identified as a supplier to a Russia-based entity that specializes in the production and marketing of airborne equipment for military aircraft, such as airborne weapons control radars for Russian fighter aircraft.

Might be that the stock is on consignment - Mornsun would get paid only once it is sold.  This is common for lower volume items in retail, and it removes the risk Digi-Key has of stocking a SKU that doesn't shift too much.  But it will mean that the stock hasn't been purchased yet, it's only in Digi-Key's inventory, and therefore can't be sold on as Mornsun would be due to be paid.

[RoGeorge]

would it not still be OK to clear existing stock?

Probably not.  It says somewhere at the end of the gov document linked:

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today’s sanctions-related actions, and in accordance with E.O. 14024, as amended, all property and interests in property of the sanctioned persons described above that are in the United States or in possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Additionally, all individuals or entities that have ownership, either directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.

All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC or exempt. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

Quoted from https://ru.usembassy.gov/imposing-new-measures-on-russia-for-its-full-scale-war-and-use-of-chemical-weapons-against-ukraine/

My understanding is that all goods related with the enumerated entities were blocked.  That would include any already existing inventory/components in stock at 3rd party resellers.

[SiliconWizard]

Irrespective of the political situation, single-sourcing is always risky.
Power supplies are usually not that much of a problem to replace, even if it's always inconvenient. At least, compared to more specific devices. Imagine having picked a specific chinese MCU for some product, and the vendor suddenly gets banned. Fun stuff.

[boB]

I also remember hearing recently that Vicor power supplies were going into Russian missiles.  Those were not part of this though.

[nctnico]

Irrespective of the political situation, single-sourcing is always risky.
Power supplies are usually not that much of a problem to replace, even if it's always inconvenient. At least, compared to more specific devices. Imagine having picked a specific chinese MCU for some product, and the vendor suddenly gets banned. Fun stuff.

It makes me wonder though how this would work out for products you have assembled in Asia where they won't be affected by blacklisted companies to source components. You can't do a full supply chain trace on everything as many components themselves are assembled from various other components. This is not limited to power supply modules but consider RGB leds with an integrated controller for example.

[SiliconWizard]

Irrespective of the political situation, single-sourcing is always risky.
Power supplies are usually not that much of a problem to replace, even if it's always inconvenient. At least, compared to more specific devices. Imagine having picked a specific chinese MCU for some product, and the vendor suddenly gets banned. Fun stuff.

It makes me wonder though how this would work out for products you have assembled in Asia where they won't be affected by blacklisted companies to source components. You can't do a full supply chain trace on everything as many components themselves are assembled from various other components. This is not limited to power supply modules but consider RGB leds with an integrated controller for example.

If the assembly takes place in Asia and until the assembly house itself gets "banned", I think you'd be fine. At least I haven't seen authorities (yet) asking companies to declare the whole BOM of every product they sell, just in case. Imagine that. Although, I may be surprised by the creativity of bureaucracy. Question: if you import an assembled board, are you considered importing every single part it's made of? Ditto for an end product? (I might need some aspirin after I get answers.)

[mikeselectricstuff]

ISTR seeing a Mornsun PSU in a Bambu Lab A1 printer in a vid recently..

Hard to see how any restrictions on parts being used within other products would be practical - where do you stop - the PSU, the components inside the PSU...

Though if you did happen to be importing a product with a Mornsun PSU, maybe it would be prudent to slap your own internal part number stickers over the original manufacturer's labels...

[Someone]

Hard to see how any restrictions on parts being used within other products would be practical - where do you stop - the PSU, the components inside the PSU...

There are markets doing that with conflict minerals, so it does happen. RoHS/REACH would be pretty much the same thing.

[switchabl]

ISTR seeing a Mornsun PSU in a Bambu Lab A1 printer in a vid recently..

Hard to see how any restrictions on parts being used within other products would be practical - where do you stop - the PSU, the components inside the PSU...

Though if you did happen to be importing a product with a Mornsun PSU, maybe it would be prudent to slap your own internal part number stickers over the original manufacturer's labels...

My understanding is that these kind of sanctions target organisations/individuals and not products specifically. This would include freezing their assets (potentially including items stocked at distributers) and prohibiting US-based individuals and companies from doing business with them. Importing goods containing their products into the US shouldn't be illegal per se but might be depending on the specific circumstances.

[floobydust]

Next week, the Biden administration is said to be imposing new tariffs on many chinese goods.
Relevant to us EE's - semiconductor exports including older legacy IC's are on the list (and EV's, solar cells, batteries).
Means the trade war is also being upped, as well as this Morsun sanction. Sigh. It just makes our work harder.

https://www.reuters.com/business/us-set-impose-tariffs-china-evs-certain-strategic-sectors-bloomberg-reports-2024-05-10/
OP Ed https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Next-U.S.-China-chip-battle-will-require-more-than-export-controls

[5U4GB]

MORNSUN GUANGZHOU SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO LTD (MORNSUN) is a PRC-based supplier of Tier 1 and Tier 3.A items on the BIS Common High Priority List to Russia-based end users. Items MORNSUN has supplied include electronic integral monolithic circuits. One of the Russia-based companies that received components from MORNSUN was identified as a supplier to a Russia-based entity that specializes in the production and marketing of airborne equipment for military aircraft, such as airborne weapons control radars for Russian fighter aircraft.

Which could just mean "Some Mornsun devices were found inside a crashed Russian drone. Alongside parts from a who's-who of US manufacturers, but we'll pretend we didn't see those".

Kinda scary how a well-known manufacturer can be made an unperson almost overnight on a random whim.  I've got several systems here with Mornsun parts, I wonder what'll happen if any of them need replacing?

[mikeselectricstuff]

  I've got several systems here with Mornsun parts, I wonder what'll happen if any of them need replacing?

Buy them from LCSC

[floobydust]

[...] Items MORNSUN has supplied include electronic integral monolithic circuits. [...]

Seems to say Mornsun is leaking out IC's to russia. Unless there is confusion about a module not being an IC.
edit: NO. Apparently Mornsun makes IC's as well, I had no idea.

[tjlusco]

Oh boy this is annoying. DC-DC modules are about to get a lot harder to get again. Mornsun is the OEM for about half of the "western" power module brands. Hopefully another non-US stockist takes over distribution.

If you have a product that contains Mornsun components and you export to US, are you in the clear? EO14024 seems to only affect a listed person's ability to do business with any US person.

[S. Petrukhin]

In China, there is an analogue of Mornsun - TP Power, it has the same product line completely similar with the replacement of the body-body.

[Jasmeetgh87]

They got sanctioned by the Govt. I have contacted X-ON Electronics and got the equivalent of Mornsun Parts. I tested myself for electrical of the new brand was exactly same as the mornsun parts.

Anyone need replacement should contact them @ www.xonelec.com

[daisizhou]

Sometimes they look the same, but they are not actually the same

mornsun is different from other switching power supplies in the field of audio amplifiers.

I estimate that many friends in the United States cannot buy high-quality power supplies, or they need to spend more money to do so.

[S. Petrukhin]

Sometimes they look the same, but they are not actually the same

Yes, there is no guarantee.

I have a little experience using TP Power - about 2 years of continuous operation, the quantity is about 18 pcs.
There were no problems, but it seems that they heat up more, but this is my subjective feeling, there are no measurements and slightly different DC-DC, previously used 18-36->3.3, now 36-72->3.3 migrate to PoE power.

Yes, one more thing: the black paint is washed off.

[mikeselectricstuff]

Just received this from Digikey

Hello,

On May 1, 2024, Mornsun was placed on a United States sanctions list. DigiKey is committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations, and has taken appropriate action.

We have suspended all dealings with Mornsun, and immediately blocked all shipments of Mornsun product to customers while continuing to assess the situation. As our customer, we value your partnership and apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.

Please know we will continue to support our customers with thousands of cross references and a broad range of power supply products from leading brands such as RECOM, Murata Power Solutions, MEAN WELL, and more. We encourage you to use our Cross Reference Tool or contact our Customer Support team today to help find other options for your needs:

[S. Petrukhin]

Are you remember how very popular parts disappeared from the market?
It wasn't sanctions or an economic war.
There is always a risk of losing the availability of a part.
Design work includes forecasting available on the market, but sometimes it happens unexpectedly... 

[tooki]

would it not still be OK to clear existing stock?

Probably not.  It says somewhere at the end of the gov document linked:

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today’s sanctions-related actions, and in accordance with E.O. 14024, as amended, all property and interests in property of the sanctioned persons described above that are in the United States or in possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Additionally, all individuals or entities that have ownership, either directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.

All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC or exempt. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

Quoted from https://ru.usembassy.gov/imposing-new-measures-on-russia-for-its-full-scale-war-and-use-of-chemical-weapons-against-ukraine/

My understanding is that all goods related with the enumerated entities were blocked.  That would include any already existing inventory/components in stock at 3rd party resellers.

IANAL, but I would interpret that to mean that anything owned by the embargoed company cannot be traded. But if it was already sold to a distributor, it is no longer the property of the embargoed company. So it really depends on whether the distributor purchased and paid for goods (i.e. distributor has full ownership) or whether they have the goods on consignment (manufacturer has ownership).

[winfieldhill]

The Mornsun parts I've been buying from LCSC and JLCPCB have disappeared without a trace.  The LCSC part number, C411281, has disappeared, although you can see a history of it on Google.

[Gyro]

Just to link the threads both ways... https://www.eevblog.com/forum/manufacture/mornsun-on-the-naughty-step/

[thm_w]

The Mornsun parts I've been buying from LCSC and JLCPCB have disappeared without a trace.  The LCSC part number, C411281, has disappeared, although you can see a history of it on Google.

So much for Canada and other countries not being affected. Looks like LCSC wants to keep completely clean too.
Still on jlc as unavailable: https://jlcpcb.com/partdetail/MORNSUN_Guangzhou_S_T-SCM1201ATA/C411281

[daisizhou]

https://www.mornsun.cn/html/news-detail/companynews/881.html
This is the official announcement

[thm_w]

Translation:

statement
Guangzhou Jinshengyang Technology Co., Ltd.

Recently, we noticed that Guangzhou Jinshengyang Technology Co., Ltd. was included in the SDN list by OFAC, the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Our company attaches great importance to this and actively responds to it under the guidance of a professional team. Our company will continue to pay attention to the subsequent development, communicate with all relevant parties, and do a good job in various tasks.

May 10, 2024
Address: No. 8, Nanyun 4th Road, Huangpu District, Guangzhou (510670)
ADD: No.8 Nanyun 4th Road, Huangpu District, Guangzhou, China
Tel: +86(20/38601850 Fax:

[ajb]

MORNSUN GUANGZHOU SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO LTD (MORNSUN) is a PRC-based supplier of Tier 1 and Tier 3.A items on the BIS Common High Priority List to Russia-based end users. Items MORNSUN has supplied include electronic integral monolithic circuits. One of the Russia-based companies that received components from MORNSUN was identified as a supplier to a Russia-based entity that specializes in the production and marketing of airborne equipment for military aircraft, such as airborne weapons control radars for Russian fighter aircraft.

Which could just mean "Some Mornsun devices were found inside a crashed Russian drone. Alongside parts from a who's-who of US manufacturers, but we'll pretend we didn't see those".

US companies are legally required to at least make an effort to prevent their exports from ending up in hands they aren't supposed to, and they will keep a paper trail to demonstrate compliance with those requirements.  Hence the threads you occasionally see here complaining about Digikey or Mouser requiring additional paperwork from, or even denying sales outright to people in other countries.  So it's a lot easier for them to at least make the argument that they did their best, and they have plenty of properly-completed forms to prove it.  I doubt that Mornsun is in the same position. 

[quote snipped]

IANAL, but I would interpret that to mean that anything owned by the embargoed company cannot be traded. But if it was already sold to a distributor, it is no longer the property of the embargoed company. So it really depends on whether the distributor purchased and paid for goods (i.e. distributor has full ownership) or whether they have the goods on consignment (manufacturer has ownership).

IANAL either, but this is my interpretation as well.  The target is the assets of the sanctioned entity, not their products.  One of the hints here is that the sanctions are administered by the Office of Foreign Asset Control, not the Department of Commerce (which administers general commercial import/export controls) or Department of State (which administers import/export controls for 'munitions', which really means anything with military implications).

One of our overseas suppliers recently started using Mornsun PSUs in an assembly they produce for us.  We'll ask them to use a different supplier going forward to be on the safe side, but it's not clear to me if that's even necessary, since they're no longer Mornsun's "property" once they get to us.  I've asked a federal contact who's helped us navigate export controls in the past for guidance, will hopefully hear back on Monday. 

As an aside for anyone in the US who's having trouble navigating export requirements: get in touch with your local US Commercial Service office, they have teams of people who are paid to help you deal with those things, and if they don't know the answer they can connect you to the people who do. 

[swiftmed]

One of our overseas suppliers recently started using Mornsun PSUs in an assembly they produce for us.  We'll ask them to use a different supplier going forward to be on the safe side, but it's not clear to me if that's even necessary, since they're no longer Mornsun's "property" once they get to us.  I've asked a federal contact who's helped us navigate export controls in the past for guidance, will hopefully hear back on Monday.

Hi ajb!
Any luck getting interpretation on that "property" aspect of Mornsun power supply? We're pretty much in similar situation where those modules are purchased by our EMS even before sanctions. Moreover there are some units that are already manufactured before even sanctions took place.

Thanks!

[ehughes]

Unfortunately this ban caused a headache for a project with a client.  I am helping them with a design that is essentially a "one off"   (or more like 15....)  for a piece of specific to a manufacturing process.

We used a Mornsun  HO1-P1251H-1B  (5v to 1500v   supply).  It was was a simple solution for a specific problem (need a low-power,  but controllable 0-1500v for a manufacturing process).    The QTY was so low it didn't make sense to design the circuit from scratch, especially when the Mornsun option was only about $35USD and worked well.  We got notice of the ban right before ordering the PCBs.   Not huge impact long term but one of those annoying things as I was about 15 minutes away from order 30 of the power supplies to keep on the shelf for the lifetime of the project.

Luckily I had 5 of the supplies that were purchased for evaluation. We decided to moved for with the design as is and just use the footprint as the "formfactor"  for something else we will design/drop in.

Or maybe I can find someone that has excess inventory. Right before the ban, Digikey had several thousand in stock.  So, I know they are sitting on a shelf not to far away......

Just a weird situation.   I feel that there must be more going on behind the scenes.   (more than just having parts in Russian Military equipment).

[SiliconWizard]

Well, more... I don't know what more there is, the US has a passion for banning business with chinese and russian companies - sure these days, the ban is total with Russia, but there's an ongoing stream of "sanctions" with China as well, and you never quite know what it is about exactly, you're just supposed to live with it.

[daisizhou]

You just have to spend more money.Since it is your government's decision, only ordinary people will pay for it.