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Transistors and IC's up to my eyeballs!! — Parallax Forums

Transistors and IC's up to my eyeballs!!

FreezeSukkaFreezeSukka Posts: 41
edited 2005-09-08 17:59 in General Discussion
I'd like to get everyone's opinion on this one.

I was wanting to stock up on items like transistors, for example.· I run into circuits everyday that I'd eventually like to make, and·it seems that most require transistors or some sort of IC's.· I want to just stock up on the most common parts to have so that I can build these circuits right then and there, instead of needing to order the parts and by that time I've forgetten about the whole thing anyway.· Also, it gets rather costly to buy just a few parts here and there and pay a huge shipping cost for a couple of items that can fit into a regular envelope.

To make a long story short,
I'd like to know what a good stock of transistors and IC's would be.
········· (Example: --· 20 each· -- ·2N3904 ·--· NPN· --)
··········(Example: --· 10 each· --··LM555··--)··················

I would really appreciate any and everybody's input on this one.

One of these days I'll actually be able to·answer questions on here instead of being the one who only asks the questions!· btw: Just got my copy of the "TTL Cookbook" in the mail today, maybe I can learn something from it.· I remember reading a little while ago a post about this book and it seemed that everyone on here praised it like it was a golden bible!

Thanks for the help once again!

~Jeff~

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P.S. This is what this part of the alphabet would look like if "Q" and "R" were eliminated.

Post Edited (Jsjga) : 9/1/2005 12:28:44 AM GMT

Comments

  • FreezeSukkaFreezeSukka Posts: 41
    edited 2005-09-01 00:33
    Just got to thinking about this and probably should add Diodes as well.· I have a bunch of different supplier's catalogs as well, but which is the best to order this type of stuff from......(Quality,·selection,·price, shipping costs, and service?)

    I hope that this isn't too much trouble.· Thanks!

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    P.S. This is what this part of the alphabet would look like if "Q" and "R" were eliminated.

    Post Edited (Jsjga) : 9/1/2005 12:34:51 AM GMT
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2005-09-01 01:33
    Jeff,
    What I do, is when I need a part. I buy a whole bunch (100 to 5000) of them (if there aren't too expensive).
    I get a much better price and I figure "If I needed it once, I'll probably need it again" and I figure it's a "lifetime supply".
    All of this is of course, if I have the bucks at the time.
    Bean.

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    "SX-Video·Module" Now available from Parallax for only $28.95

    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30012

    Product web site: www.sxvm.com

    "One experiment is worth a thousand theories"
    ·
  • ForrestForrest Posts: 1,341
    edited 2005-09-01 16:40
    Glitchbuster is a great place to get common electronic components - as he only stocks common parts. Shipping is only $1.85 regardless of the order size.

    www.glitchbuster.com/
  • steve_bsteve_b Posts: 1,563
    edited 2005-09-01 19:51
    I agree with Bean.

    Buy what you need to get started....but buy them in bulk.· Need 10x1k resistors....buy 100.

    This is how my 'wall' got built...took many years and there was even some DTL IC's in there!


    I do love showing this off!! haha

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    ·

    Steve

    "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."
    1600 x 1200 - 446K
  • David BDavid B Posts: 592
    edited 2005-09-01 20:40
    I agree with the other comments - when you actually have a need for some parts, buy a few extra.

    But while you're at it, buy a few items that you may not need right away but that you might want to hack around with someday - ADC chips, low-noise op-amps, optocouplers, mixers, maybe some TTL family you've never worked with before.

    Try to find some local Ham radio swap meets, meet some local Hams and you'll probably get a lot of stuff cheap or free. That way, as you learn circuitry and you smoke a few parts, it won't hurt so bad.
  • steve_bsteve_b Posts: 1,563
    edited 2005-09-01 21:07
    Also at hamfests you can pick up some 'toss-away' gear and "reclaim" components out of it.

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    ·

    Steve

    "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."
  • FreezeSukkaFreezeSukka Posts: 41
    edited 2005-09-02 12:52
    Wow Steve!· I don't have to stock up on anything now... I just need for you to move to NW Ohio with all of your stuff and we could just share!· Just a suggestion. smilewinkgrin.gif· Thanks again for everybody's help here, I really appreciate it. ~Jeff

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    P.S. This is what this part of the alphabet would look like if "Q" and "R" were eliminated.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2005-09-03 14:25
    I think it is very common to want to stock up in the beginning, but you can easily find yourself with a lot of things you no longer use.

    If you are unsure, buy no more than a dozen.
    I bought a lot of 555s, but don't have time for them - too simple for my learning curve and new projects.

    If you buy NPN transistors, why aren't you buying their compliment PNP [noparse][[/noparse]to make h-bridges or other symetrical circuits] So I buy 2n3904s and 2n3906s.

    If you are buying low power for the same price as higher power, why?
    So, I buy the 2n2222 instead of the 2n3904 and the 2n2907 instead of the 2n3906.

    In most situations, I can use either - but why have both when one the more powerful one works in both cases?

    With resistors, you don't need all the values in quantity - buy a card. Get a lot of 10K ohm because they are standard for pull-ups or pull-downs for TTL. Get 470ohms for LEDs at 5volts. If you buy a 1 ohm 1/4watt resistor, you will likely burn it up [noparse][[/noparse]and learn something about Watts]. 100ohms is just about the bottom line for 1/4 or 1/8 watt resistors.

    Don't buy wire in spools unless you have to wire an intercom or doorbell. Buy a yard of 25 strand, multicolored wire for small projects and cut a bit off as you need. Get both solid wire and stranded.

    Darlington transistors are nice, but be aware that they run hotter than regular transistors because there are two in one package. So, don't think of them as the do-all be-all jump from a BasicStamp to a relay if you are going to keep the thing on for hours. Take a closer look at the specifications.

    Don't buy capacitors under 25volts, unless you are sure that is what you need. You will more than likely have more need for a variety of capacitors in higher voltages. 6.3volt and 10volt are too close to the safety margin and may fail.

    The expensive DIP sockets are intended for permanent use. If you plan to plug and unplug an IC [noparse][[/noparse]or your BasicStamp], the cheaper socket will cause less wear and tear on you IC - less bent pins when pulling out.

    ZIF sockets are quite beautiful and extremely expensive. You probably don't need one unless you are building a production line or a universal programmer. Still, they really impress all your friends that know nothing about what you are really doing [noparse][[/noparse]carry a Calcilus book everywhere you go and people will thing you are Albert Einstien even though you never read it.]

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    G. Herzog in Taiwan
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2005-09-08 01:18
    Get the·CMOS 7555·(a.k.a. LMC555, et al.), not "555" ICs.· They run lots less current, notably during transitions (you don't get that spike/current surge.)· They tend to have a little ringing which can be damped out with a simple "low-pass" filter·on the output.· LM317L regulator ICs are very handy (the L-suffix is for Little, these are the TO-92 transistor-pkg'd versions.)· The 74HC4017 is a great, easy to use counter/divider (CD4017s are OK, too), great as a "pre-scaler."
  • FreezeSukkaFreezeSukka Posts: 41
    edited 2005-09-08 17:59
    I truly appreciate everyone's help with my questions. I feel like I have to pick and choose which questions to ask because I, at the moment, only ASK the questions and I am not knowledgable enough to actually ANSWER anyone else's questions, as of yet anyway. So I really do thank you guys for all of your help!

    ~Jeff~

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    P.S. This is what this part of the alphabet would look like if "Q" and "R" were eliminated.
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