Do electronics distributers test each component before sending them out?

I'm trying to decide whether to order components direct from manufacturers in China or from distributors in the US. If I have to test each component either way, I'm not sure if it's a counterfeit, especially when prices are 100x more expensive from distributors.

If you are talking about IC’s, yes. Manufacturers (not distributors) normally test 100% of the IC’s as part of the production process. As far as I know, this applies regardless of country of manufacture. Distributors don’t test anything. That is not their job.

Manufacturers may not test 100% of the features in a product, but they will test the product in some fashion. At a minimum, they will test each component on the wafer and discard bad components prior to packaging. (Wafer sort). The extent of the post-packaging test probably varies depending on the complexity of the product, etc.

I think if electronics products factories test incoming electronic components prior to PCB assembly, they must be very faithful. You might have an acceptance test for things like speakers or LCD displays, but not for the components soldered to the PCB. If something like that is required, you would probably modify the design to exclude the troublesome part, or work with the manufacturer to improve outgoing quality.

One thing you should DEFINITELY NOT do in China is buy major brand parts through gray market channels. There is a lot of fraud and counterfeiting going on. If you buy major brands, buy through authorized distributors only.

#PCB Assembly  #PCB Testing

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Oliver Smith

Oliver is an experienced electronics engineer skilled in PCB design, analog circuits, embedded systems, and prototyping. His deep knowledge spans schematic capture, firmware coding, simulation, layout, testing, and troubleshooting. Oliver excels at taking projects from concept to mass production using his electrical design talents and mechanical aptitude.
Picture of Oliver Smith

Oliver Smith

Oliver is an experienced electronics engineer skilled in PCB design, analog circuits, embedded systems, and prototyping. His deep knowledge spans schematic capture, firmware coding, simulation, layout, testing, and troubleshooting. Oliver excels at taking projects from concept to mass production using his electrical design talents and mechanical aptitude.

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