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666=the price of the beast (Sharp IR sensor & cable) — Parallax Forums

666=the price of the beast (Sharp IR sensor & cable)

ercoerco Posts: 20,257
edited 2015-05-21 17:58 in Accessories
The $6.66 price is bad for numerologists, but good for bargain hunters like myself:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Arduino-Sharp-GP2Y0A2YK-IR-Infrared-Range-Sensor-With-Cable-/300964844918

It's a Sharp GP2Y0A2YK IR range sensor with analog output. Domestically, I buy these for $9.25 from Junun, specs at http://www.junun.org/MarkIII/Info.jsp?item=73 plus another $1.10 for a cable.

Just found these. They're from Hong Kong, might be counterfeit. I have a dozen of the real units (I hope) from Junun, so I will be able to test them side by side. I ordered two to try out. FYI.
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Comments

  • ercoerco Posts: 20,257
    edited 2014-03-25 13:56
    Got 'em. They sure look, work & taste like bona fide Sharp IR sensors. I'm glad I bought eight at that nefarious $6.66 price back when shipping was free, because now there's a $2.29 shipping fee on each item: http://www.ebay.com/itm/300964844918

    Non-US folks (China seller won't ship to US, curiously) might want to check out the same sensor for AU $3.99 (US $3.64), no shipping specified.
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/200940090233
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,395
    edited 2014-03-26 11:57
    I'm pretty certain they're copycats, even though they look and act like the real thing. I've been amazed, over and over, and how well they can clone everything we like to buy. After all, they're at a lower cost than we'd buy them from a distributor - that's the first clue. Put one side by side with something known to be real and check out the plastic molding marks. You'll know what to look for because of your Mattel experience. Then cut them both open - still the same thing? Hopefully I'm wrong, and maybe it doesn't even matter because they work the way you want them to.

    Ken Gracey
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2014-03-27 13:52
    The say they're Sharp sensors, using Sharp's trademarked logo form. So unless they're intentionally risking having everything confiscated by customs, and their seller account suspended by eBay, these are Sharp surplus or seconds. The not-to-US seller might be abiding by Sharp's import restrictions. We know Sharp in the past has protected their distributors by controlling what merchandise is made available here. For the longest time you couldn't get certain new sensors here, though they were available worldwide otherwise.

    I'm almost positive Sharp no longer manufactures these sensors in this form factor, and hasn't for years. So whatever is out there is quite old stock by now.
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,395
    edited 2014-03-27 13:59
    Gordon, you'd have to come to China with me to see first-person examples of very good copies. For a long time, I shared your thoughts - it has the logo, would be risky violation, etc - until I visited component markets and manufacturers over an 18-year period. If Apple, GM and Microsoft have trouble stopping them, I'd say Sharp is also vulnerable. Though I'm not certain of my hunch, my skeptical viewpoint is based on what I've seen throughout China. Keep in mind the Parallax line is also copied really well in China, including the BS2.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2014-03-27 14:05
    Ken Gracey wrote: »
    Gordon, you'd have to come to China with me to see first-person examples of very good copies. For a long time, I shared your thoughts - it has the logo, would be risky violation, etc - until I visited component markets and manufacturers over an 18-year period. If Apple, GM and Microsoft have trouble stopping them, I'd say Sharp is also vulnerable. Though I'm not certain of my hunch, my skeptical viewpoint is based on what I've seen throughout China. Keep in mind the Parallax line is also copied really well in China, including the BS2.

    Wait a minute there, "Ken" Now that you've been to China, how do we know you just aren't a really good copy??? 18 years of "visiting"? Hmmmm......

    OK, "Ken", if that's who you really are, who won the 1959 Super Bowl and who kicked the tie breaking goal in the 7th inning??? :lol:
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2014-03-27 15:08
    Ken, Of course I was talking about "best of all possible worlds." I know there are lots of cheaters out there. It's a shame. As I've cried about in a few other messages, my writing business has been all but ruined by piracy primarily from China and Russia.

    I was thinking how Sharp had a bunch of these they wouldn't sell into the US. And then 10s of thousands suddenly appeared. I bet that had a hundred thousand of them, but might have preferred not to have them sold in the US to protect their distributor channels.

    Someday I'd like to go to China, but I think I'd be like Karl in 'An Idiot Abroad.' Not sure I could ever stomach toad.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgugWED16PQ


    Oh, and Rick, Ken is a lot older than he looks. He's really 84. It's all due to clean living!
  • Tracy AllenTracy Allen Posts: 6,664
    edited 2014-03-27 21:32
    I've been experimenting with the Sharp Dust sensor, GP2Y1010AU. After seeing that Digikey, Sparkfun, etc. were flat out of stock, I went to ebay and found stock in Asia. A shipment from Taiwan just arrived and they match my older ones in every detail, down to the custom house-numbered analog ASIC inside. I have no reason to believe that they are not the genuine Sharp article. The price was right, less than domestic even with shipping, and they came with the cable. The 6-conductor cable is worth a lot; I hate having to assemble those 1.5mm crimp pins.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,257
    edited 2014-04-01 22:10
    I finally connected with the Chinese Ebay seller who won't ship these to the US: http://www.ebay.com/itm/200940090233

    He was OK with a non-Ebay transaction. I ordered ten units for $54 total, his "rock bottom" price, paid thru Paypal. Perhaps a tad risky for me, no Ebay protection, but I enjoy a good caper and I've never been stiffed by a China seller. Will advise.

    Seller's email is ma jinna <majinna@gmail.com> for anyone who just can't wait. :)
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,257
    edited 2014-04-05 08:40
    GordonMcComb wrote: »
    The say they're Sharp sensors, using Sharp's trademarked logo form. So unless they're intentionally risking having everything confiscated by customs, and their seller account suspended by eBay, these are Sharp surplus or seconds.

    That doesn't seem to bother this HK servo seller, Gordon. Genuine counterfeit, I bought some. They work, but are very poor copies proudly wearing a Futaba label. http://www.ebay.com/itm/S3003-Standard-Servo-with-accessories-For-RC-Futaba-Car-Boat-NIB-Plane-TR-/181297739170?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a362ff5a2

    BTW, these Sharp sensors are suddenly popping up all over ebay for the first time. So either somebody just found a warehouse full of originals or it's the latest copycat part. I can already sense a contest with Amanda to find the lowest price!
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,257
    edited 2014-05-13 17:11
    Edit: Seller accepted my $12 offer for two units.

    Sharp GP2D02 digital output sensor, $6.71 free ship from US seller, sale ends in 17 hours. Or make offer. I must have two!

    Requires 2 I/O lines for clock & data FYI.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sharp-GP2D02-Infrared-Distance-measuring-ranging-Sensor-IR-Ranger-New-/350955542539

    Datasheet at http://info.hobbyengineering.com/specs/SHARP-GP2D02.pdf

    Application at http://www.ottawarobotics.org/articles/gp2d02/
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2014-05-23 13:12
    Darn you erco!

    I managed to avoid this deal the first time is was posted but when you mentioned it here, I could no longer resist. I purchased 6 of them (it seemed an appropriate amount).
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,257
    edited 2014-05-23 13:37
    Only 6? I have at least 16, including the ten from post #9. Doesn't MadeUSA/Eddie/Arlo have about twenty PINGs around the perimeter?

    Only 6? Please tell me you didn't pay more than $5.40 each w/free ship?

    Only 6? You'll have to try harder, my young Padawan.

    But don't have one of these 100-550 cm beasts yet: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sharp-GP2Y0A710K0F-Distance-Measuring-Sensor-distance-100-to-550-cm-with-cable-/181268115065?pt=Home_Automation_Modules&hash=item2a346bee79#ht_568wt_929
  • Bill HenningBill Henning Posts: 6,445
    edited 2014-05-23 17:56
    Dang it erco!

    Now I will be scouring ebay for more sensor to play with!
    erco wrote: »
    Only 6? I have at least 16, including the ten from post #9. Doesn't MadeUSA/Eddie/Arlo have about twenty PINGs around the perimeter?

    Only 6? Please tell me you didn't pay more than $5.40 each w/free ship?

    Only 6? You'll have to try harder, my young Padawan.

    But don't have one of these 100-550 cm beasts yet: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sharp-GP2Y0A710K0F-Distance-Measuring-Sensor-distance-100-to-550-cm-with-cable-/181268115065?pt=Home_Automation_Modules&hash=item2a346bee79#ht_568wt_929
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,257
    edited 2014-05-28 17:00
    Bill Henning wrote: »
    Dang it erco!

    Now I will be scouring ebay for more sensor to play with!

    That last long-range sensor I linked to really looks like a symmetrical pair of giant robot eyes, like Wall-E, even moreso than the GP2Y0A2YK I used here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08YB5BOLzgU
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2014-05-30 11:54
    Found some of these in my mailbox this morning :)

    I noticed the voltage goes up until you get close to it, then as you get really close the voltage starts going back down again. Is that normal?
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2014-05-30 12:27
    xanadu wrote: »
    Found some of these in my mailbox this morning :)

    I noticed the voltage goes up until you get close to it, then as you get really close the voltage starts going back down again. Is that normal?

    I think if you get too close the IR spot moves out of the receiving sides field of view. I'm pretty sure I've seen an article explain the geometry of the sensors. I'll try to find it.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,257
    edited 2014-05-31 21:20
    Yes sir. See page 4: http://www.junun.org/MarkIII/datasheets/GP2Y0A21YK.pdf
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2014-06-01 09:30
    Apparently these Sharp sensors can have very asymmetric sensitivity. I've read several places they work best when mounted vertically.
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2014-06-01 17:20
    Thanks that makes sense. That chart is exactly what I'm seeing.
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2014-06-01 17:35
    Duane Degn wrote: »
    Apparently these Sharp sensors can have very asymmetric sensitivity. I've read several places they work best when mounted vertically.

    Really glad you posted that before I mounted them, thanks.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,257
    edited 2014-06-01 17:54
    Duane Degn wrote: »
    Apparently these Sharp sensors can have very asymmetric sensitivity. I've read several places they work best when mounted vertically.

    Very true, I noticed that when I put a horizontal scanning sensor on Spiderbot. Thought I mentioned that somewhere in one of my many useless posts... My solution was to offset it somewhat.

    Edit: Le voila: http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/151632-Spike-the-Spider-Robot?p=1232292&viewfull=1#post1232292
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,257
    edited 2014-06-23 14:17
    Update: The ten sensors I ordered (total cost w/ship=$54) work great and sure look authentic, so I just ordered ten more for a class I'm teaching: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Arduino-Sharp-GP2Y0A2YK-IR-Infrared-Range-Sensor-With-Cable/200940090233

    No trouble doing an end run around Ebay, I still used Paypal. The only odd thing is that I can't contact the seller through his new Ebay listing. I had to go back to "my messages" and reply to an older email from our previous transaction. Maybe I ruined it for everybody else. :(
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,257
    edited 2014-07-13 21:36
    I received the second batch of ten IR sensors from that same seller, off the Ebay grid. No problems.

    Tonight I gave in and ordered one of the jumbo units. Best price was $25 from this US seller: http://www.ebay.com/itm/141324675326

    I have an interesting project in mind for this long range unit. It's an autofocus unit, working range is 1-5.5 meters. http://www.sharp-world.com/products/device/lineup/data/pdf/datasheet/gp2y0a710k_e.pdf
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2014-07-14 15:11
    erco wrote: »
    It's an autofocus unit, working range is 1-5.5 meters.

    That does look interesting. I was going to say let us know how it works when you receive it but I'll go buy one for myself. I can feel your Jedi mind trick working on me as I type.

    These are not the droids we're looking for. Must buy sensor.

    Curse you Jedi erco.
  • raunak parekhraunak parekh Posts: 1
    edited 2014-07-15 05:38
    hey can anyone here tell me which sensor to use for diameter or radius measurement?

    can pir sensors do this? or a ultrasonic sensor?
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2014-07-15 08:30
    Diameter or radius measurement of what exactly? An electron, hydrogen atom, a foot ball, the London ring road, the Earth, solar system, galaxy, universe?

    Without further information this is impossible to answer.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2014-07-15 09:21
    raunak parekh wrote: »
    hey can anyone here tell me which sensor to use for diameter or radius measurement?

    can pir sensors do this? or a ultrasonic sensor?

    Welcome to the forum. I removed your duplicate post in the Prop 2 forum. Cross posting is not allowed and the Prop 2 forum was not the appropriate area for that question.

    Please read:

    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/134682-Forum-Guidelines
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,257
    edited 2014-07-15 19:14
    raunak parekh wrote: »
    hey can anyone here tell me which sensor to use for diameter or radius measurement?

    can pir sensors do this? or a ultrasonic sensor?

    No risk of that with PIR or Ultrasonic. You'll need a contact sensor of some sort.

    Or, if you got tricky and built the V-notch jig illustrated, and the diameter was big enough to get an ultrasonic reading, you could calibrate that for some kind of accuracy.
    diameter.jpg
    400 x 500 - 32K
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2014-07-15 23:12
    Erco, resident psychic coupled with mspaint solves another mystery.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,257
    edited 2014-07-18 19:59
    That sensor is big, huh Duane? It's pricey but perfect for Wall-E/Johnny Five eyes.

    Got mine yesterday and I have a pretty cool application in process. Hope it works as planned, will advise.
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