Prototyping / Experimenting Component Kits
Jim McCorison
Posts: 359
Greetings All,
Has anybody run across someone that offers a "starter" kit of components for prototyping and experimenting? I'm thinking of a selection of TTL chips, or resistors, or whatever, that would have a good selection of the most commonly used pieces that you could order as a single line item. Granted a little of everything type kits as a general category tend to have more parts than you'll ever use. But it sure would beat ordering a $0.90 7404 from Digikey or hoping that a drive to Radio Shack will find one in stock.
Jim
Post Edited (Jim McCorison) : 1/3/2005 7:05:09 PM GMT
Has anybody run across someone that offers a "starter" kit of components for prototyping and experimenting? I'm thinking of a selection of TTL chips, or resistors, or whatever, that would have a good selection of the most commonly used pieces that you could order as a single line item. Granted a little of everything type kits as a general category tend to have more parts than you'll ever use. But it sure would beat ordering a $0.90 7404 from Digikey or hoping that a drive to Radio Shack will find one in stock.
Jim
Post Edited (Jim McCorison) : 1/3/2005 7:05:09 PM GMT
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-- will get you through most projects.
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Jon Williams
Applications Engineer, Parallax
Dallas, TX· USA
http://www.elexp.com/ics_3200.htm
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&categoryId=11108
there are some sources such as http://www.jdr.com/interact/categories.asp?cat=Integrated+Circuits·which offer prices on individual components a fraction of what digikey sells the parts for (the 7404 is $0.59) you may find grabbing larger quantities of parts you use more often a better buy than ending up with·5 7408's (8 in nand) you'll likely never use.
Another option availible and is actually quite cheaper (especially in the long run)·is abandoning discrete IC's altogether and go with CPLD's. For instance Atmel provides free development software (WinCUPL, simulator and part fitters), a schematic of their download cable (which you can assemble yourself for less than $10 in parts (by getting some compenents (such as the·parallel connector) from cheap electronics distributors such as www.allelectronics.com), or buy thier cable for $59) (you can also use the ByteBlaster cable which schematics are also available on the net) and quite a few documents to help you along (plus quite a few example circuit configurations). With a single chip you can replicate the function of many discrete components with the added capability of changing the logic configuration at any time while the CPLD is on your board. With a 7400 series cookbook in hand you can directly copy the logic equations (or truth tables) for any 7400 part into your CPLD. If you don't want the hassle of constructing a homebrew CPLD programming·system, digikey offers atmel's development kit http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/T051/0314.pdf·for just under $100 (you get an 84 pin·5V CPLD and an 84 pin 3V CPLD with the kit) (adapters for other chip sizes are extra $)
Paul
Most radio shacks carry a (I think 500pc) 5% 1/4W resistor kit for around·$15
Post Edited (Paul Baker) : 1/3/2005 8:48:51 PM GMT
Of course, this kit was based on what lab courses demanded.· I actually still have bits and pieces of my kit still (no component listing though).
But I might check with your local college (if your college is local
look for op-amps, transistors (3904 & 3906), resistors of various values (from big to small -- don't really need less than 100ohms unless working on RF!).·
Different IC's for different tasks!!· Some digital IC's (gates: ANDs, NANDS, etc...).
Diodes (including zeners of different voltages).
LEDs (various colours!)....it's nice if your LEDs have the built in resistor...but be SURE you know if it does or not!
Wire!!· Can't connect things if you don't have wire....which leads me to soldering irons and solder!
What you should do is figure out what it is you want to make....then create a shopping list!·
It does get a little $$ to buy everything you think you MIGHT need....so I buy bits here and there!·
Although, I am lucky enough to have thousands of components at my disposal at work....I'm not rubbing it in...honest!
Oh ya, avoid those 'GRAB BAGS' of caps and inductors.· I'm such a sucker for a sale, that I have bags of these things sitting in a drawer and will honestly probably never use them.· BUT, do go to radioshack and see if they are getting rid of stock.· A LOT of RS's up here have gotten out of the electronic component market and let go of their product at silly low prices!
Find your local electronics places and wander in and see what 'bin' sales they have....of course, use some thought when purchasing some of these if you are trying to save $$.·
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Steve
http://members.rogers.com/steve.brady
http://www.geocities.com/paulsopenstage
"Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that's ours and ours alone. Something that can't be learned... something that's got to be remembered."
This is because I find that if something worked once, I'm likely to use it again (unless it's a very special chip)
Resistors: Get those 5 values, and get enough of them.
A pack of small ceramic caps for noise elimination won't hurt, either.
(Size isn't critical)
And if you happen upon leds that are on sale, grab some.
(A led and a resistor connected to a chip pin can be quite a handy debugging tool
I use about 10 different common capacitors, so I bought another cabinet for those and although it's not full, I have room for expansion...
Another cabinet is all TTL/CMOS Logic (74xx/40xx), and another is all Linear/Analog (LMxxxx, etc).
Another is Switches, Relays, other hardware...All-in-all we have 11 of these 60-drawer parts cabinets (9 are for the electronics bench alone).· I guess you could call me a pack-rat!
Of course, my "PARALLAX" cabinet is full, and I will be needing a second one real soon!· The PARALLAX cabinet replaced my Z80/6xxxx series cabinet...
I know there are others that have similar setups since I have visited many of the forums user's Websites...In fact, one person (I don't remember who) had a bedroom that reminded me of mine when I was a kid!· Parts everywhere!· I certainly understand the need to have a nice kit of parts for experiments...
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Chris Savage
Knight Designs
324 West Main Street
P.O. Box 97
Montour Falls, NY 14865
(607) 535-6777
Business Page:·· http://www.knightdesigns.com
Personal Page:··· http://www.lightlink.com/dream/chris
Designs Page:··· http://www.lightlink.com/dream/designs
·
I'm totally spoiled!
The tech that I replaced told me that he never bought a couple things at a time...so far as the cheap stuff went anyways.
He'd buy 100packs of resistors.· For each value he got the 1/4W; 1/2W and 1W.
Same with caps....16V; 25V; 100V with a few odd ones in between!
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Steve
http://members.rogers.com/steve.brady
http://www.geocities.com/paulsopenstage
"Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that's ours and ours alone. Something that can't be learned... something that's got to be remembered."
Back when I first started messing around with digital stuff (S100 bus, Z80, designing a really big memory card of 2kb) I had a few of those cabinets full of stuff. Now I have to start over.
Since my project will be interfacing to the analog world, probably through differential op amps of some type, more sizes of resistors will probably be better. Unfortunately, at least around here, the Radio Shacks are into selling cell phones, PCs, and googags. The parts selections are pretty minimal. But I've found a few pointers to local supply houses that should help. Plus the pointers to the various web sites. I'd forgotten about JDR, glad to see they're still around.
The Atmel CPLD looks like a pretty neat solution to the bag of ttl logic chips problem. Of course that's one more thing to learn to program, which is both good and bad. Good, fun. Bad, time. But it certainly has the promise of making some aspects of this and future projects easier.
Thank you to all of you for your time and help. What a great group!
Cheers,
Jim
Yes Radio Shack does have a 500 piece resistor set.
Jim,
·· I guess expansion isn't an option on a Boat!· My wife has joked in the past about living on a houseboat when the kids are gone...Even traveling in an RV...Thanks to you, I am re-thinking that whole idea!· I don't think I could do without my wall of goodies...
Steve,
·· Very impressive...THAT's what I'm talking about...As a Boy Scout they taught us to "Be Prepared", and my friend, you certainly are!·
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Chris Savage
Knight Designs
324 West Main Street
P.O. Box 97
Montour Falls, NY 14865
(607) 535-6777
Business Page:·· http://www.knightdesigns.com
Personal Page:··· http://www.lightlink.com/dream/chris
Designs Page:··· http://www.lightlink.com/dream/designs
You just couldn't resist showing off could you? But, if this was a real workbench wouldn't there be some empty pop cans or a pizza box?
Lee
Something like http://www.reelfishingtackle.com/flambeaukwikdraw2tray.html
or even better http://www.reelfishingtackle.com/flambeaukwikdrawfrontw4tuff.html·.
I use ArtBin's version of the 2 tray (2 small parts trays lock in the top (I dunno if Flambeau's has this feature, it would seem so since the photo shows 3 small·parts trays) and a 3rd slides in the bottom front). Sadly it doesn't seem that ArtBin makes them anymore, they are moving to primarily soft shell containers. I still live in an apartment with no space to construct a work bench, so the coffee table is used as impromptu workbench and the supply box makes moving my·components simple and keeps the living room clutter free.
Paul
PS I heard of goodads and googaws but never a googag
Post Edited (Paul Baker) : 1/4/2005 8:58:06 PM GMT
I know we used tackle boxes in college to carry all our components.· I made the mistake of buying one that had two sides....so if you forgot to close the one side while flipping over to the other side then you weren't happy at all!
And things do mix around enough with the flipping that things get tangled...a pain, but not too bad.
It all really depends on how much you want to carry!· If you are only prototyping, then some pots will be nice.· Set to the pot value and when next in port, pick up the appropriate resistors.
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Steve
http://members.rogers.com/steve.brady
http://www.geocities.com/paulsopenstage
"Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that's ours and ours alone. Something that can't be learned... something that's got to be remembered."
I'm a great believer in tackle boxes and other compartmented plastic boxes. I must have a dozen of more of them on board. I have a large tackle bag that holds 6 large compartmented boxes which contain most of the electrical wiring supplies I need to work on boats. Then a bunch more boxes for fasteners, hose clamps, heat shrink, more fasteners, etc., etc. They all get stowed forward, some strapped down with cargo straps, and everything covered over with a cargo net. Haven't had anything go galley west regardless of how bad the seas get.
And you Californians though you had it bad with earthquakes. Try rolling your house sideways 20 degrees, then back the other way 20 degrees, over and over, all day long. (I guess I'd better be careful what I say, I'm a Californian now as well, I guess.)
Jim
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Chris Savage
Knight Designs
324 West Main Street
P.O. Box 97
Montour Falls, NY 14865
(607) 535-6777
Business Page:·· http://www.knightdesigns.com
Personal Page:··· http://www.lightlink.com/dream/chris
Designs Page:··· http://www.lightlink.com/dream/designs
·
Paul
Seeing the picture of my electronics bench reminds me of what I truly lack...And that is a single room to house all my parts, books and tools related to my electronics work.· Because we have 2 more benches for the computer business with the tools on those benches as well, and they are just behind me and to my right if I am sitting at the bench in the picture.· All the books and everything are mixed into one giant bookshelf too...I just don't have the room here that I used to have when I lived in the city.
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Chris Savage
Knight Designs
324 West Main Street
P.O. Box 97
Montour Falls, NY 14865
(607) 535-6777
Business Page:·· http://www.knightdesigns.com
Personal Page:··· http://www.lightlink.com/dream/chris
Designs Page:··· http://www.lightlink.com/dream/designs
·