Too good to be true (220V Hakko fx-888 replica)

[junggwok]

Just came back from a trip to China, purchased two Hakko FX-888D from Hakko's store in Shanghai (one genuine and one fake) fake one was purchased a electronics store close by.

Did you say you bought a fake FX-888D... which doesn't use an MCU?

I have bought 2 FX-888Ds from China, one genuine and one counterfeit. Also I have a genuine FX-888D purchased here in Australia. The fake one does not use an MCU.

 

If the fake does'nt have an MCU then how is it measuring temp and driving the 7 segment display?

It does have an IC to drive the 7 segment display (didn't take a close look, I remembered it was a box standard Maxim chip, it does not use a MCU to sensor temp, it is done by LM324

[amyk]

An ICL7106? And what about the buttons? Is there other discrete logic to handle the setting?

Very odd... even a single MCU to drive the display would probably be much cheaper...

[avrnoob]

Hey guys, I've asked several sellers on aliexpress and they all say similiar that this is "a high imitation products, but the function and quality are the same". So it's indeed a replica.
What bothers me is not a station but the iron itself, does it has a good heater as hakko one or not. Can someone open and compare?

[amyk]

Of course they're not going to say "this is horrible crap, nowhere near as good as the original"!

You may find this thread of interest.

[ThedboBoy]

I've also got one of the Chinese Hakko FX-888 "fakes" or "clones". I've done up a review on my blog if anyone is interested. http://electronicsreviewsblog.info/hakko-fx-888-soldering-iron-review-teardown-chinese-version/

For what it's worth it's not that bad but I also wouldn't describe it as awesome. Can't see how it compares to the genuine article as I don't have access to one of them. Price was right tho 

[avrnoob]

Well, I ordered one for myself, because original 220V cost around $500 here.
So mine internals look the same as from ThedboBoy's review. But mine cut cost all the way, they forget to put wet sponge and rubber feet for iron holder base.
Then rubber cleaner... well, it's made of rubber, not silicone rubber. When I tried to clean iron (<300C) this rubber just melted and produced smoke   
And that silicone inserts in the holder made of not silicone rubber too and melt easily. Iron wire actually made of silicone and feels good, not melting 
Changed heater to original (or good looking fake), one which was there is totally fake.

[lpc32]

What's that dent/burn mark on the transformer, near the white wires (posted earlier in the thread)?



Same thing in this blog post:


Or on mine:

[continuo]

They welded the steel laminations of the core, look at the image below:





I think they do this to reduce hum, but i'm not entirely sure, there may be other reasons for it... 

[lpc32]

I assumed something of the sort, but it's strange that there's a dent and scorch marks, and not just a bump of molten metal.

[Refrigerator]

I assumed something of the sort, but it's strange that there's a dent and scorch marks, and not just a bump of molten metal.

What you see ther is an example of a crappy welding job, could be wrong electrode or wrong gas.

[lpc32]

Unless it's close batches, they seem to be doing it pretty consistently.

[MarkDennehy]

Well, poop. Wish I'd read this thread a little earlier. I thought I was buying end-of-line old stock but nope, knock-off.



For those who bought these things, a question - how have the fakes held up? Did they last three weeks and then crap out or are they still ticking along?

[avrnoob]

For those who bought these things, a question - how have the fakes held up? Did they last three weeks and then crap out or are they still ticking along?

Mine still works great, almost 2.5 years already.

[hemdale]

Great topic and it seems FX888 replicas are everywhere. Do you guys know if it's still possible to purchase an "old" FX888 since I'd rather stick to a knob control rather than the digital control of the FX888D ?

Many thanks

[amyk]

Great topic and it seems FX888 replicas are everywhere. Do you guys know if it's still possible to purchase an "old" FX888 since I'd rather stick to a knob control rather than the digital control of the FX888D ?

Many thanks

Used would probably be the only choice if you really want a genuine one.

And I'm not surprised the fakes still work, they're based on the same internals as the generic 936-style stations (the ones without Hakko on them) and there's not much to go wrong.