Capacitors, ICs, etc. It's not just batteries, but they affect people in such a vibrant way that it's one of the few that might get enough attention to prevent the problem in the future. I predict batteries with holograms, watermarks, RFID chips, and other anti-counterfeit technology added in the near future. They'll be more expensive, but they'll be the only ones allowed on an airplane. Making cheap batteries is like printing dollar bills - you have the producers, the "middle men", the launderers, etc. The battery only has to function up to spec for a few months. Then the barriers can break down, the electrolyte can dry, etc. I'm interested to know where the supply chain breaks down enough that bad product can enter the pipeline. From my end it seems that Sony --> Arrow --> Assembler --> Me seems pretty tight. Either Sony trusts and sells product to a distributer that is shady, or the assembler trusts and purchases product from a distributer that is shady (or both). Alternately the assembler purchases and installs "equivalent" product without consulting Me. In the high volume business there isn't room for many middle-men. I suppose another method is when there are shortages and long lead times (and when aren't there?) then someone completely unknown "sells" their inventory they "planned" on using but the project was cancelled or changed, etc. At that point they could send good Sony samples for verification, then foist all the bad counterfeit for delivery. Ah well nevermind then. Even in a "supposedly easy to protect" supply line there are numerous ways to insert bad product. -Adam On 10/26/06, David VanHorn wrote: > Chinese batteries are pretty scary, and their NIMH cells aren't that much > better. -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist