Chinese switch boxes?

[mercrazy]

Are Chinese switch boxes good enough for an old 2.4 that isn’t worth merc boxes? Anybody actually run them? Sorry if this has been discussed, I haven’t been here for a while.

[LakeFever]

I ran em hard for one season. Worked great I think I paid 32 bucks for the pair at the time. It was a 2.0L giving me grief I figured I’d buy the cheapest junk simply to rule out the switch boxes. Sold it the next year so no clue how well they worked out

[KIRCHNER]

i use em on two different lasers. everything comes from china, also 10$ water pump impellors

[mercrazy]

I installed Chinese boxes today. Seem to work perfect. Threw a spark an inch long. Ain’t run em yet but we’ll see how long they last.

[pcrussell50]

i use em on two different lasers. everything comes from china, also 10$ water pump impellors

The Sierra boxes are made in Germany.

At least one user on here rgsauger, has either been burned by the cheap Chinese boxes or knows someone who has (double firing), melted a piston. He hasn't been too active the past couple of years.

My 2.4/200 came with the German-made Sierra's. I dunno. I have plenty of Chinese stuff in my life and it's fine. But I have to admit I feel better about the German made switch boxes. Yes, they are expensive, from the look of things. But as I said, that's what my motor came with and they work, so no plans to replace.

Maybe search up rgauger and try to reach out to him by PM?

-Peter

[powerabout]

the problem wirh chinese stuff is good today when they copy stuff then bad tomorrow when they want more profit.
Worse is the staff substitute parts to make on the side and the boss doesnt know.

[LakeFever]

I can second the German Sierra boxes being good. I have a pair and tried them back to back on my recent build. They ran just as well as the Mer.c boxes. As for the cheap crap? I would only put that stuff on low power fishing motors nothing hiperf.

[nelson edens]

I started using the German switch boxes many years ago when they were Mallory 9-25100. I guess at some point they were bought by Sierra. Same switch boxes. In the last 25~ years, I personally have not seen a failure. They are labeled 'Prufrex made in Germany'.

[powerabout]

I started using the German switch boxes many years ago when they were Mallory 9-25100. I guess at some point they were bought by Sierra. Same switch boxes. In the last 25~ years, I personally have not seen a failure. They are labeled 'Prufrex made in Germany'.

prufrex also make the best omc coils

[mercrazy]

I used to work for Germans because Texas Instruments sold out to them. Anything German has a taint about it. Just look at German car quality. Over complicated junk. Wasn’t Rube Goldberg German?
How much are sierra boxes?

[pcrussell50]

I can second the German Sierra boxes being good. I have a pair and tried them back to back on my recent build. They ran just as well as the Mer.c boxes. As for the cheap crap? I would only put that stuff on low power fishing motors nothing hiperf.

Even at that, if you get double firing from them, you could melt a fish motor too. I think that's what happened to rgsauger with his Chinese boxes, (or his friend, I forget which).

-Peter

[LakeFever]

You get what you pay for. Even the best parts fail sometimes too. It’s your money and your motors it’s up to you to decide what’s worth buying. Can always skip the risk altogether and buy a new motor with warranty too. Lots of dollars between the options so it’s all about your comfort level and expectations

[David - WI]

This is kind of interesting, if you're interested in this kind of thing. LoL

https://forums.iboats.com/threads/ca...paired.426589/

[mercrazy]

99% of electronic components are made in Asia. The most important quality issues are using parts with proper voltage and current ratings. Soldering technique is also critical. Most new assemblies use lead free solder which is harder to do and can deteriorate much quicker than tin lead solder. Potting material is to protect the circuit from moisture, chemicals, etc. If the genuine Merc boxes are so great, why do we have to replace so many? I love Mercury outboards but their farmed out electronics are nothing to brag about. How many problems have the little black boxes caused?

[LakeFever]

Imo the issues stem from voltage issues caused by a trashed rectifier or regulator. These are not always the easiest things to catch because the engine keeps running normally, meanwhile your cooking your spark boxes and back feeding your stator too. I’ve had a lot of cdi lessons over the years mostly with sleds. It’s never the wrong call to swap fresh regulators and fresh spark boxes on a still good running motor. If it’s causing weird issues a fresh stator too. There are ways to test the stator with DVA and whatnot which can show stator health but the basic ohm test is easy and shows if the stator is corked or not.

All those black box idle control modules? Too old. They have to go imo they are not worth the risk. Same with oil injection on the nylon gear motors it’s best to just delete it and run premix. Keeps things simple and the most reliable for these old mills