Cheap Resistors...an issue???

[Chris K]

Originally Posted by MuzzcoVW

There shouldn't be. I was taught to replace 1/2 watt with 1 watt etc. and never had any issues. Of course years ago you could still find carbon comp everywhere. I feel the modern resistors are in general far more robust...but for the few cents or dollars they cost I'm not buying unknown Chineesium off the jungle website, I stick with Mouser or Digikey in general and have had no issues with Vishay brand

Thanks. I have to admit, the reason I get the Chineesium ones is Amazon and the option of overnight delivery on most of the parts I've ordered. I have an issue with delaying gratification!

When I first began doing this, I had an attitude that anything made today...resistors, capacitors, diodes...even if they were cheap imports would be many times more reliable than what was installed in these units 70 years ago. I used to buy film caps in those variety packs for $10 and no name electrolytic filter caps by the dozens. Then I restored one of those art deco RCA 8" portables and could not get the horizontal to lock in no matter what I did or what I tested. Eventually, I traced the issue to one of these brand new pieces of junk...





That was it for using film or electrolytic mystery caps in a serious restoration as a permanent replacement. I have a few restored radios I did years ago that never worked right that I need to go through and replace the garbage I put in them. I haven't had that kind of experience with resistors yet but...I seem to learn electronic lessons the hard way!