The raw materials for electrical contact components are typically silver alloys/copper/tungsten, which are expensive and account for a large portion of the total price. Therefore, some suppliers often resort to unfair means to win bids.

1. Exceeding the standard draft angle.

The typical draft angle for contact rivets is around 10 degrees. Increasing the draft angle reduces the amount of silver used, so cheaper rivets often have angles exceeding 15 degrees, even 30 degrees. This significantly reduces the contact area for the silver layer.

2. Insufficient silver layer and weight.

For example, if a 0.3mm silver layer is required, only 0.25mm or 0.2mm is achieved. Or, there may be no silver at the edges, resulting in exposed copper on the working surface, making it more prone to arcing. Reducing the silver layer slightly increases the weight of the copper base, so the total weight remains unchanged. Without a projector for cross-sectional inspection, relying solely on price will likely lead to being misled by unscrupulous manufacturers.

3. Replacing with cheaper materials.

This method is more covert. While the dimensions and weight may meet the requirements, the material will be replaced with one containing a lower proportion of silver. For example, if you require AgCdO10, AgCdO15 or 17 may be used instead. Spectrometers for testing material composition are expensive, and third-party testing is also costly. Therefore, substituting materials is common in low-priced rivets.

4. Silver-plated to resemble a single piece

This is a very egregious method. Pure copper contacts plated with silver are typically used to imitate single or composite contacts. They look identical, but the price difference is significant.

5. Defective products passed off as qualified products

In reputable factories, defective products with chips, cracks, delamination, silver shavings, burrs, or exposed copper are selected out. However, small factories often skip these selections or lower their standards to save costs.

Therefore, if you receive a quote that is significantly lower than the market price, it’s usually due to the reasons mentioned above. These factors increase the likelihood of product contact defects and reduce its lifetime. This is often because intermediary traders and small to medium-sized factories lack their own testing capabilities and are price-oriented in their procurement, leading to these situations.

SHZHJ insists on using sufficient materials and producing according to customer drawings. We have comprehensive testing equipment, and all product specifications are truthfully disclosed to customers. Material testing reports are available, and third-party testing is supported. While our prices may not be the lowest, but we offer the best value for money. We also support small-batch customization to reduce trial-and-error costs for our customers. If you have any needs regarding materials and parts, please feel free to inquire: info@shzhj.com