back to PP series (PP15,30,45)

identifying counterfeit and genuine PP housings:


I sampled several different sources of "cheap powerpoles" and was mostly disappointed in the end. Many of
the counterfeits look okay at a glance, but you usually won't realize there's a difference until you try to
use them. The problem seems to come down to a lack of quality control and trying to speed up the process
of manufacturing, leading to tolerance problems on the dovetails. Unfortunately, that's a pretty critical
thing with these housings, and can lead to housings that pop apart with little provocation, or housings that
are difficult to mate together and require a pliers to separate.

The most reliable way I have discovered to identify a counterfeit PP shell is to examine the "A" on the tongue
of the housing. (at the end, where they mate together) The "A" should be very crisp, with the strokes on the
letter being flat on the bottom, with sharp 90 degree edges pressed down into the plastic. Every counterfeit
I've seem has problems with this, usually having strokes that close in on the sides at depth, often coming
together to form a "V" at the bottom of the depression. Once you start looking for this, fakes will become
laughably easy to identify at a glance.

The letters probably look fine on their mould, but the plastic isn't being allowed to cool and solidify enough
before being ejected from the mould, so the plastic shift before setting up. The "A" doesn't create a problem
but the fine edges on the dovetails (both slots and grooves) are also affected, and are what leads to housings
that won't fit right.


comparisons

fake

real



last updated 08/04/2023 at 07:20:06