Parts every hobbyist should have

TC

Hello all,

What would be your recommendations on parts that every hobbyist should have at there disposal? I am talking about resistors, capacitors, inductors, transistors, basic logic IC, etc.. But since most hobbyists don't have that much money, the parts have to be cheep. For example; 10K, 5%, 1/4W resistors (perfect for pullups and breadboarding) are $2.19 for 100pcs at DigiKey.

This thread is for general information for current and future hobbyists.

Thanks
TC

Heater.

Planks of wood and a bag of brass nails. For that quick bread board knock up project:

TC

Heater. wrote: »

Planks of wood and a bag of brass nails. For that quick bread board knock up project:

Hahaha...

Also, awesome picture.

Heater.

But seriously.

I have seen electronics classes where the kids printed out a circuit diagram of say a transistor multi-vibrator. That diagram also doubled up as a physical layout. Pin the diagram to a piece of wood. Hammer in brass nails where all the connections will be made and start soldering components and wires on there.

Kind of a crude version of my Philips Electronic Engineer kit from the late 1960's which used spring clips instead of nails and soldering.

TC

Heater. wrote: »

But seriously.

I have seen electronics classes where the kids printed out a circuit diagram of say a transistor multi-vibrator. That diagram also doubled up as a physical layout. Pin the diagram to a piece of wood. Hammer in brass tails where all the connections will be made and start soldering components and wires on there.

Kind of a crude version of my Philips Electronic Engineer kit from the late 1960's which used spring clips instead of nails and soldering.

Now that is cool. I got my start in electronics when I was about 10, and my mom got me this. Sure, you made connections with wire and springs, but it worked. I learned a lot at the time. Wish I could remember half of it.

Duane C. Johnson

I experiment using PlugBoards a lot.
When doing so I need to see the conditions on logic pins. LEDs work nicely for this.
It's such a hassle wiring the current limiting resistor in series with the LEDs.
The best solution for this is get special LEDs that have the resistors built in.
I like these 3 parts:
They are rated to 14V but work very well on 3.3V logic levels.
Red SSL-LX3044ID-12V
Yellow SSL-LX3044YD-12V
Green SSL-LX3044GD-12V
Here is how I use them:

The plastic clips bridging the LEDs cut from DIP integrated circuit shipping tubes.

Duane J

TC

Duane C. Johnson wrote: »

I experiment using PlugBoards a lot.
When doing so I need to see the conditions on logic pins. LEDs work nicely for this.
It's such a hassle wiring the current limiting resistor in series with the LEDs.
The best solution for this is get special LEDs that have the resistors built in.
I like these 3 parts:
They are rated to 14V but work very well on 3.3V logic levels.
Red SSL-LX3044ID-12V
Yellow SSL-LX3044YD-12V
Green SSL-LX3044GD-12V
Here is how I use them:

The plastic clips bridging the LEDs cut from DIP integrated circuit shipping tubes.

Duane J

The shipping tubes are a great idea. I am going to start doing that.

kwinn

Now that's creative recycling at its finest Duane.

Duane C. Johnson wrote: »

I experiment using PlugBoards a lot.
When doing so I need to see the conditions on logic pins. LEDs work nicely for this.
It's such a hassle wiring the current limiting resistor in series with the LEDs.
The best solution for this is get special LEDs that have the resistors built in.
I like these 3 parts:
They are rated to 14V but work very well on 3.3V logic levels.
Red SSL-LX3044ID-12V
Yellow SSL-LX3044YD-12V
Green SSL-LX3044GD-12V
Here is how I use them:

The plastic clips bridging the LEDs cut from DIP integrated circuit shipping tubes.

Duane J

AdamantiumOgre

I'm just getting started too (or actually restarted too), so I'm in your same boat. The rub is that everytime I try to get off cheap, I end up spending more. I like the assortment kits and then buy things I use a lot in bulk,

LEDs - I bought 5mm LED's in Bulk (100 Each of Red, Green and Blue) awhile back. I have no idea what I paid, or what a good price is.
Resistors - http://www.elexp.com/ProductDetails.aspx?item_no=13RK7305&CatId= $11.95 for 1/2 watt. 1/4 watt is available for $6.95. This gave me a good assortment on hand, and then I buy bulk for common ones.
Switches (I think these are expensive, but depending on whether you are doing a finished project or breadboarding, it's nice to have some cheap ones around. http://www.mpja.com/DPDT-Push-Button-Switch-Alternate-Action/productinfo/18017%20SW/ I bought an assortment of these once and they were Smile. For switches, buy what you need to have around. A dozen or so should be plenty.
Seven Segment displays - I bought a few of these to mess around with.
Power supplies/Wall Warts. I bought a selectable power supply from Electronics Express that I really like, but they don't seem to offer it anymore.

Grab bags from Jameco are hit and miss. I think that's where I got the switches. I also got some Electrolytic Caps, which are easy to identify, and some ceramic ones which are not. The resistor grab bag is good, because those are easy to identify. Transistors, not so much.

Here's their catalog page to grab bags. You can save some money by sorting yourself, but a few of the components I have gotten are a little dodgy (bent pins, some resistors are dead, etc). http://www.jameco.com/Jameco/catalogs/c141/P33.pdf

The school selection for $70 looks interesting.

You can also get grab bags for IC's and Semis. I've been kicking around buying the logic series

https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_135280_-1

Some of these components are thru-hold and some are surface mount, but my experience has been that it has been primarily thru-hole stuff.

Again, I'm more in your boat so some of this advice could be wrong, it's just how I've done it. More experienced members can correct me where there's a better answer, or I'm just completely off base.

AO

kwinn

Some basic resistor values - 120, 180, 220, 1K, 3.3K, 10K
Capacitors (in uF) .01, .1, 1, 10
IC's '165, '595, ULN2803, one of the TPIC's
Transistors 2N2222 or 2N3904, 2N3906, and some small signal and power mosfets.

TC wrote: »

Hello all,

What would be your recommendations on parts that every hobbyist should have at there disposal? I am talking about resistors, capacitors, inductors, transistors, basic logic IC, etc.. But since most hobbyists don't have that much money, the parts have to be cheep. For example; 10K, 5%, 1/4W resistors (perfect for pullups and breadboarding) are $2.19 for 100pcs at DigiKey.

This thread is for general information for current and future hobbyists.

Thanks
TC

RDL2004

As a bare (low cost) minimum, 4.7k, 10k, and 100k resistors, plus some lower values for LED current limiting like 150, 220, and 330. Capacitors 0.01uF, 0.1uF, 1uF and some larger ones like 470 or 1000uF. That will cover most stuff well enough. Not much need to stock inductors.

A bunch of LEDs is good to have around. The small 3mm or even smaller 2.1mm are best for bread boarding. You can even get some with built in current limiting resistors, easier to use but they cost more. Regular diodes, something like the 1N4148 or 1N915 should be kept also.

Some basic TO-92 transistors are good to have, like the 2N2904 and 2N3906. It won't hurt to have some 555 timer chips and some op amps on hand. A decent all around op amp is the LM358/LM324 (dual/quad). Some basic voltage regulators are nice to have. 7805, 7812, LM317, etc.

I probably overlooked a few things, but other than that I'd just wait until a specific need arises and then buy whatever is required.


edit: Ah, kwinn posted while I was typing, good call there:

IC's '165, '595, ULN2803, one of the TPIC's

I'd also like to add that it can be good to have some 4093 quad Schmitt trigger nand gate chips at times.

Publison

Although not really cheap, Jameco has a few nice assortments of components in drawers:

http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDrillDownView?rf=1&history=tifrwuxi|refineType~String^refineValue~CKS^sub_attr_name~WebCode^from~mflisting^prodPage~50^page~SEARCH%2BNAV&sort_field=Price+(Ascending)&position=1&refine=1&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&storeId=10001

Or go on ebay and search for "Resistor Kit" and "Capacitor Kit" and you will get a few hundred hits from china.

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/resistor-kit

AdamantiumOgre

I found that power supply - http://www.elexp.com/ProductDetails.aspx?item_no=01PS28&CatId=

Disclaimer - I have not tried it yet, just have been basking in it's cool factor. For $17.90 it's probably either really good or really bad. I would pop the lid, but there are no screws, so I would probably have to destroy it to get inside.

Also if anyone has additional sources, post them here. Here's electronic sources I have found.

DigiKey - This is where I go to for most of my stuff now. Seems decently priced and can find what I'm looking for.
Mouser - Decent selection. Seems a little higher than digikey.
JameCo - mainly go here for grab bags, everything else seems high.
Abra Electronics - I use them for nichey stuff.
Electronics Express - I use them for the nichey stuff, but they revamped their web site in the past few months, so I think they are trying to move into the mainstream market.
All Electronics
Electronics Goldmine
www.mpja.com - This is from Duane Degn for the switch link above. Never used them.
Amazon - I bought a new soldering station from them (Weller WD1000). It cost a few bucks extra, but if items are shipped from Amazon, my experience is that returns are really easy.

Duane C. Johnson

Hi TC & kwinn;

Here is how I cut up the DIP shipping tubes:
Cut down the middle with heavy duty scissors.

Cut down one side,

then the other.

Voil

4x5n

I like Newark element14 for most parts. They have an amazing selection of parts at prices that are hard to beat. Also they keep a good stock with just about everything they sell in stock and ready to ship quickly!!

LoopyByteloose

Switches drive me crazy...... to debounce or not to; or should I use a one-shot to send a pulse to the uC instead.

Of course, hall-effect avoid the bounce hazard.. but you have to provide power to them. Arg.