Unkle

Hi

I have 2 DME relays and thought it would be interesting to open them up and see whats inside. To my surprise the material used seems different between the 2, its interesting to see the difference.

The one with the whiter base is the spare, yet it appears newer. My concern is where are these made? what is the consistency and therefore what are we buying?

Relay on left is spare, relay on right is in the car.

campoj2

I might be a Master of the Obvious (MOTO) but it appears to me they are made in Hungary.

Unkle

lol, I know what you mean but i was thinking about whether it was the same factory, or different production runs etc. They are essentially the same, but opening them up they seem very different.

campoj2

I think you're spot on with the different production runs. You would have to call Stuttgart to find out the real story.

Indycam

How so ?

Unkle

I thought the metal used inside with one looking like a copper mix and the other, simple steel, also the quality of the solder.

breale01

Were they both purchased from Porsche dealers? Dealer relays are pricier (about double that of Pelican or Vertex units) but have always wondered whether they were the same. I agree there are some obvious differences on the inside of your relays.

dfinnegan

Looks like the one on the right has been through an inspection process, note the blue marks.

The one on the left does not have them.

rarebear

I go for the one with copper frames !
but then again , if the part number is the same... who cares ?

Unkle

Both were in the car when i bought it, so I only just got round to taking them apart

Indycam

The frame of the relays are probably the same metal , one is chromed and one is not . The solder is "wave" soldering , not done by hand .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_soldering

Unkle

The one on the left looked like it had cracks along the poor soldering (bottom & bottom left) hence it is a spare.

You mention chromed, you think it has been? Just looks like cheap steel to me.
I use the copper framed one anyway even the copper earth strap seem just a little more substantial

I checked the box of receipts and the right hand one was purchased from Porsche £22 2007.

Indycam

Wave soldering is "poor" soldering , imho . Fast and cheap but poor .
Hand soldering is good if done by someone who knows how and cares .

If it was just cheap steel it would corrode . I see nothing but "chrome" .
Cheap steel is not shiny unless polished and its finish goes bad quick .

The "copper framed one" will attract a magnet ?
If you look at the edge where its been stamped out ,
you will see "not copper" .
The "copper framed one" is the same as the other one with a different plating .
Chrome is old school and "dirty" .