Inkbird SSR ?

[JONNYROTTEN]

SSR finally craped out. I see Inkbird has one on Amazon prime that will get me on my way. I didn't realize Inkbird was making them.Think its just a generic rebranded Fotek? Has anyone bought one?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C8R6HWS/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[stamandster]

Careful, Audiodoggy will tell you just use fotek branded ssr's ;-) ... I'm kidding Audio! Your likely right w them just being rebranded because I think inkbird usually do a combo w the foteks. If its cheaper then go w it, why not. Even the foteks can have knock off a real foteks from what I've heard.

 

[applescrap]

SSR finally craped out. I see Inkbird has one on Amazon prime that will get me on my way. I didn't realize Inkbird was making them.Think its just a generic rebranded Fotek? Has anyone bought one?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C8R6HWS/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Side question, How long did it take before it died? What brand? That ssr looks good enough.

 

[alphaomega]

It sure looks like a Fotek clone. I would be careful with any Fotek looking SSR and a load larger than 10A. No matter what it says on the front, most of them seem to have a 10 amp TRIAC.
Haven't tried them out myself, but PQLYT SSR's are supposed to live up to the markings.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

Side question, How long did it take before it died? What brand? That ssr looks good enough.

I had a Fotek 40 amp.It took 2 years and many brew days to fail so I'm ok with it. I did a little research on the fakes. Apparently the real ones say "Made in Taiwan" on the front and the fakes do not. Mine said Made in Taiwan so maybe I had a real one.I ordered one on Amazon then after the research cancelled it and ordered another one that said Made in Taiwan.Will see what shows up tomorrow.

 

[augiedoggy]

Careful, Audiodoggy will tell you just use fotek branded ssr's ;-) ... I'm kidding Audio! Your likely right w them just being rebranded because I think inkbird usually do a combo w the foteks. If its cheaper then go w it, why not. Even the foteks can have knock off a real foteks from what I've heard.

Actally they are not made by fotek but are likely from the same generic manufacture the makes the fake knockoff foteks you see for $4 on ebay and amazon...

This did come up in a past thread and I asked inkbird himself since he was present in the thread if these were from the same generic manufacturer that sells the fake foteks rated at a much higher amp rating than the internal components are actually speced for... I Dont remember ever getting a clear answer from him but a good experiment would be to crack one of these open and compared to the many fake fotek threads and reviews where the same was done.

Ebrew supply used to sell these same fakes it seems but right a few threads came up on it including one where he was asked to disclose who makes them for him and he refused to answer he moved to the same manufacturer that auber uses (mager) and depleted his stock of the white generic ones.. I guess we will never know for sure... but since I got a quote from alibaba for $3-7 each (as long as I ordered 100 or more) for the 4500 and 5500w ripple elements he sold (still sells?) for $42 each plus shipping I would not doubt it... That guys making a killing as are many of the distributors of these... They did change the photos because they were using some of the same ones as the distributors before..
https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...60465577242.html?spm=a2700.7724838.0.0.uUY2Au

https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...62175659.html?spm=a2700.7724838.30.260.wVmlxj

 

[augiedoggy]

I had a Fotek 40 amp.It took 2 years and many brew days to fail so I'm ok with it. I did a little research on the fakes. Apparently the real ones say "Made in Taiwan" on the front and the fakes do not. Mine said Made in Taiwan so maybe I had a real one.I ordered one on Amazon then after the research cancelled it and ordered another one that said Made in Taiwan.Will see what shows up tomorrow.

yeah I thought that too but its no longer true... it was in the beginning along with the cut corner on the sticker... it seems every time someone posts a way to distinguish them the clone makers change the process to hide them better.

The obvious indication that they were fake would be where they shipped from when you bought them? Like my fake REXc100 pid which came with RKC made in japan on the box only printed on a brown chinese carboard box instead of the inherent greenish tinted cardboard that the japanese use, it shipped from china... Inkbird is a chinese based company and I doubt they would form an oem manufacturing agreement with a company in Taiwan myself... It just doesnt make sense.
heres a link to the chinese version of the fotek branded ones which appear to be knock offs..

https://www.alibaba.com/product-det..._1976535977.html?spm=a2700.7724838.0.0.pfSuIa

They dont even disclose the price on that link but this clone maker is selling them for as little as A HALF OF A CENT! in bulk... now that quality!

https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...60460906970.html?spm=a2700.7724838.0.0.pfSuIa

There are apparently many clone manufactureres of these all over china.. Maybe some are better than others? its funny that many claim they make fotek ones...
https://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?fsb=y&IndexArea=product_en&CatId=&SearchText=40a+SSR

BTW im still using one of my likely fake fotek 25a ssrs for my 4500w HLT over 4 years now with no issues with an 18 amp load..

 

[alphaomega]

There is no guarantee that the fake Foteks can't handle current either. It all depends on the actual triac used (and you need to open, and destroy the SSR in the process, to find out). Granted, the ones I opened all had 10A triacs (no matter what the sticker said), so I wouldn't use them for anything over 10A myself (which really isn't a problem for me personally, as we have 230v over here, and are normally fused for 10A).
Like I've said before, the Fotek clones are not that bad considering the price, but you really shouldn't use them to do any heavy lifting.

 

[bmaupin]

I bought the PID & SSR combo back in March. I use it with a 5500W ULWD and a reasonably sized heatsink. Just finished a double brew day yesterday. It hasn't missed a beat.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RMDZVEI/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[augiedoggy]

I bought the PID & SSR combo back in March. I use it with a 5500W ULWD and a reasonably sized heatsink. Just finished a double brew day yesterday. It hasn't missed a beat.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RMDZVEI/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

they often do work fine but they are also the #1 most likely to fail ssr when you need them most (white generics like the fotek, mypin and inkbird ssr.) you may want to buy an extra to have on hand.. search fotek problems or fotek melted and youll see what I mean. Like I said Ive been lucky with one myself for 4 years now...

 

[bmaupin]

they often do work fine but they are also the #1 most likely to fail ssr when you need them most (white generics like the fotek, mypin and inkbird ssr.) you may want to buy an extra to have on hand.. search fotek problems or fotek melted and youll see what I mean. Like I said Ive been lucky with one myself for 4 years now...

That's solid advice - too cheap not to have a spare on hand - thanks!

 

[craigmw]

Careful, Audiodoggy will tell you just use fotek branded ssr's ;-) ... I'm kidding Audio! Your likely right w them just being rebranded because I think inkbird usually do a combo w the foteks. If its cheaper then go w it, why not. Even the foteks can have knock off a real foteks from what I've heard.

I'm not so sure about the Inkbirds being clones of the Foteks. I have looked at them side-by-side powered by a 9V battery, and the Fotek (50DA) has a much stronger LED output than the Inkbird (40DA). Both were bought on Amazon Prime:





Granted, the Fotek is the 50A version and the Inkbird is the 40A version, but I'm surprised at how different the LED signal appears. Note that the difference shown here may be not so obvious (due to the camera in my smartphone adjusting the exposure), but there is a huge difference in light output between the two. This doesn't mean the Inkbird is a lesser SSR, but I believe it is likely that they are using different parts. So, they don't appear to be simply cloned Foteks.

 

[augiedoggy]

those two ssrs are from different manufacturers but What you might not know is there are many clone makers that will make these generic ssrs and sell them with the fake fotek labels or whatever you want on them.. just search alibaba and you will see what I mean. you could buy fotek ssrs from 5 different sellers on ebay and amazon and chances are at least three of them will be slightly different on the outside or inside and none will likely be genuine fotek brand.
look closely at the photos of the plastic body one these clones sold for as little as 1/2 a cent each...look at the base by the screw holes and the plastic color and shape where the curve for the screw area is, the sharpness of the plastic edge.. They sure look like the inkbird ssr to me.. https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...60460906970.html?spm=a2700.7724838.0.0.pfSuIa
when an ssr can be sold in bulk for less than a penny and still make a profit that doesnt say much for the quality ..

notice how both the generic and fotek labels are different than the ones you pictured..