Used B&K 8500 vs New Maynuo M9712

[orion242]

So I'm looking at getting a 300w electronic load.  I can get a used BK 5300 which looks like its been road hard but in working condition, or a Maynuo M9712 brand new for about the same price.

I'm leaning towards the BK, but its missing the handle, full of scratches...  That Maynuo would be nice and shinny with the factory fresh smell.

I assume the software for the BK is going to be better than the knock off..

Should I go for the BK and risk any issues, or just give up and go for the knock off?

[dr.diesel]

The Maynuo has a dual line screen as well. 

But I have the BK version, and have been very happy, dual screen would be nice though...

[HighVoltage]

I assume the software for the BK is going to be better than the knock off..

Actually the software for the Maynuo is much better.
And it is not really a knockoff.

Although, I have both of them, I do prefer the Maynuo.

[orion242]

Actually the software for the Maynuo is much better.

Really?  Guess I'm a bit jaded after dealing with the minipro programming and the hassles of getting it in english, and the piss poor manual.  The software and decent manual was something I would have thought the BK would have been a clear winner.

[HighVoltage]

If I would buy one again, it would probably get the iTech DC Load, which seems to be the original designer of all of these DC loads knock offs.
I was told that even the BKP DC load is not designed by by BKP.

Funny also, the new iTech IT8512 DC Load looks exactly like the new BKP 8600 DC Load
 

[kaz911]

B&K and ITECH is same same

http://www.bkprecision.com/about-us.html

Asia - B+K Precision Taiwan, Inc., ITECH and Lodestar

Engineers in Asia know us through our ITECH, Lodestar and now our B+K Precision Taiwan brands. Offices in Nanjing and Taipei provide distribution and service throughout Asia, as well as the Middle East and Africa.

[PedroDaGr8]

If I would buy one again, it would probably get the iTech DC Load, which seems to be the original designer of all of these DC loads knock offs.
I was told that even the BKP DC load is not designed by by BKP.

Funny also, the new iTech IT8512 DC Load looks exactly like the new BKP 8600 DC Load

That's because iTech  is an asian subsidiary of BK Precision (along with BK Taiwan and Loadstar). Though it has been reported that the designs do come out of iTech. BK claims that these loads are one of iTech's original products from when they were founded (back in 2004), thoguh I have no clue when it was first released. I know the other designs are likely newer and a bit better.

The relationship is kinda murky between Maynuo and BK and Array. The founder of Maynuo is a former engineer for Itech named Xiao Tony (Tony Xiao in western naming). He appears to have been the chief engineer at both Array and iTech and is now the founder of Maynuo. He is known to have been the designer of the Array 371x loads, the iTech IT851x loads and now likely most things at Maynuo. BK claims that he stole a bunch of specification documents that allowed him to quickly copy their desings, though likely if he was the chief design engineer much of these designs are his own ideas. Still doesn't make it ethical but it happens in Asia, in fact much more blatantly wrong things happen.


These three iTech, Array and Maynuo are the OEMs for a bunch of other comapnies like Atten and others.

[orion242]

Good enough.  Thanks for the replies.

I'll skip the beat up 5300 and get something brand spanking new.