How do you store your resistors?
Brian Grimm
Posts: 7
Greetings all!
I've just received a resistor assortment which contains a metric buttload (100 ea. x 161 values)·of 1/4 watt standard resistors on tape.· I've gone through and marked the value on the tape, but right now I'm just sticking them back into the bags they came in.· Through advanced scientific methods, I've determined that the bags will last about one more use (they are a tight fit.)
I've considered stripping them off the tape and using little parts drawers, or just putting them into gallon zipper bags, sorted by decades, but I'm interested in how everyone else is dealing with them.
Thanks,
Brian, N7QJB
·
I've just received a resistor assortment which contains a metric buttload (100 ea. x 161 values)·of 1/4 watt standard resistors on tape.· I've gone through and marked the value on the tape, but right now I'm just sticking them back into the bags they came in.· Through advanced scientific methods, I've determined that the bags will last about one more use (they are a tight fit.)
I've considered stripping them off the tape and using little parts drawers, or just putting them into gallon zipper bags, sorted by decades, but I'm interested in how everyone else is dealing with them.
Thanks,
Brian, N7QJB
·
Comments
Just about a gazillion ways to skin this cat!
I use small parts drawers to hold the most common ones I use: 100, 220, 330, 470, 1K, 2.2K, 3.3K, 4.7K, 10K
In another set of drawers I put all the brown-blacks (10's), 12's, 15's, etc, etc, etc. That way, when you need one of the values not in the "favorites", you're only looking for the third color band. For example, if you need 15K, open the 15 drawer and look for the orange band in the 3rd position.
This presumes a working knowledge of the resistor color code, of course!
Cheers
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Tom Sisk
http://www.siskconsult.com
·
When you open one of these units, all the compartments are open, and subject to the cat, wife, bird, etc., helping you make a mess. This same feature makes multiple parts easier to pull.
I've got 3 of these with two values of resistors in each compartment. It started off with two 1/4 watt assortments from Digi-key, I'm not at home, and forgot the range and number of values, but it's basically every step on the scale.
I've also printed out a sheet of labels with the values and color codes for each "case".
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John R.
8 + 8 = 10
At work we use thoses small vertical envelopes (about 2 inches wide by 4 inches high with opening at the top) and we store each value seperately. Then the envelopes are put into a box with the smallest values in the front. Then tab cards are put in at 100, 1K, 10K, 100K points.
For SMT parts I use this from Jameco http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=164267
It's a little pricey, but it has 128 little compartments with hinged lids. And it's fairly well made.
Bean.
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Cheap used 4-digit LED display with driver IC·www.hc4led.com
Low power SD Data Logger www.sddatalogger.com
SX-Video Display Modules www.sxvm.com
"People who are willing to trade their freedom for·security deserve neither and will lose both." Benjamin Franklin
·
I used to store them on my bench in separate containers by the multiplier color band, but as a hobbiest, I don't use all that many resistors overall, and now that the color code of the most commonly used resistors is burned into my brain, it's just as easy to pick whatever I need out of a single tub. Plus it takes less benchtop area.
Ditto for small capacitors, diodes, and general purpose transistors and proto-board hookup wire. Each has a single tub. (old margerine containers)
But it is a constant struggle to keep the containers in order, not too full, no soldered-leads, etc. And as I remove commonly used values to solder into permanant projects, the less-commonly used values tend to accumulate and have to be thinned from time to time.
I do keep separate color-coded bins in the garage for excess, and high-wattage, and formerly soldered resistors. But that simple tub satisfies 90% of my protoboard needs.
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Paul Baker
Propeller Applications Engineer
Parallax, Inc.
They are more compact. All my resistors then fit in one sandwitch baggies. Each has a lable stuck on it.
I just go thru them like a deck of cards when I need a particular value. 1/8watt, 1/4watt, 2watt is obvious.
I just tired of too many trays and being a librarian.
I do the same thing with my capacitors.
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"If you want more fiber, eat the package.· Not enough?· Eat the manual."········
Actually, those drawer cases hold 60drawers with 3sections per drawer. I've got one value of resistor per drawer with 3 different wattages taking up the 3sections.
(not all the cabinets are resistors)
I've got a couple of small yellow cases on top that hold the 1%tolerance resistors.
This is my "Wall O'Wonder" at work....even if I had this much wall space at home, the mrs wouldn't let me put this up!
You'll find quickly that there are only certain resistors you'll use more frequently....so you'll probably want to keep the common items most accessible and retire the less used items to a case that's out of the way.
cheers
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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."
Sigh....
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Truly Understand the Fundamentals and the Path will be so much easier...
The drawer units·are nice, and if I had the space I'd prefer them,·but it seems like they take up too much space "per compartment".
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John R.
8 + 8 = 10
All the drawers are labeled.
Resistors are in their own area and diode-types in their own.
A drawer will have a label on the front like "74133"...open it up and of the 3compartments, there'll be 2 more labels for them (ie. middle compartment "74134"; last compartment "74135"). It was put together with some sense of organizing (by a previous co-worker) but there are some areas where you just have to get in and search....these were mostly parts scavanged from old gear that don't really have a home.
Have some basic hardware in there (screws/grommets/etc..). Makes things easier for sure...I do a lot of my personal projects here for when I don't have "that" item!
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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."
Just out of curiosity... Where did you get the 5x12 blue drawers?
I have 5 of them myself plus 6 5x4's and would like a few more, but my original supplier no longer caries them.
If I remember right they go for about $20 a pop.
SailerMan,
"...So how do you remember where everything is? Do ya have your own catalog?..."
Thus the need for something like this...
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=549166
Pointed at this....
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=531927
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Beau Schwabe
IC Layout Engineer
Parallax, Inc.
Post Edited (Beau Schwabe (Parallax)) : 11/16/2006 8:33:15 PM GMT
Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.
Good point.... That is EXACTLY what happens, eventually things settle and there are simply no more practical resistor values to add· ... You play "shuffle the drawers" on some rainy weekend until then.
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Beau Schwabe
IC Layout Engineer
Parallax, Inc.
Not that I have the space, time and parts to fill something like that though...but I wouldn't expect too much from a high-school junior, would you?
I move between the garage workspace and the computer workspace. I have an old HP Omnibook with a half-defective (hence the external one) keyboard on my homework desk, that moves to the garage sometimes. We're supposed to have internet in the garage...I made sure I ran some wire there when we were remodeling, but I haven't got around to connecting it yet.
Yeah...sometimes I wish I had a new soldering iron too...there's lots of things that could be added, even at my age.
Otherwise, I spend a lot of time at this computer (2nd pic), for the programming and internet. It's the same one·I use for all·my homework and that my brothe·uses for his·games (see Myst in the picture). It's actually in the dining·room (well not quite). Yeah that's my 2 cents worth...sorry for getting this thread off topic a bit, but I didn't reallt feel like recalling the old ones...
Rafael
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You've got to play the game.
You can't win.
You can't break even, except on a very cold day.
It doesn't get that cold.
~Laws of Thermodynamics~
Post Edited (FlyingFishFinger) : 11/17/2006 1:30:27 AM GMT
Whichever route you choose, if you "strip them off the tape", be sure to cut them off, leaving the ends in the tape. Tin snips work great for this. The reason for doing this instead of pulling them out is the adhesive residue remaining on the wires, which can really screw up a solder joint if it becomes lodged in a through-hole. I learned this the hard way.
-Phil
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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."
"Hi Beau,
my old co-worker picked them up. some at different times (looking at the different shades of blue)....I don't think he could get them anymore either. These ones are all metal cases (with plastic drawers) and all I can find now are plastic ones (and not in the same size)."
Thanks, that's what I have found out as well.... no metal, all plastic. Hmmmm?
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Beau Schwabe
IC Layout Engineer
Parallax, Inc.
Also, thanks for the link to the workshop descriptions.· I found one accidentally while looking for some woodworking information.· The builder even posted layout diagrams for those of you so inclined.· Its at http://www.davehylands.com/Wood-Working/Electronics-Workbench/.
A jeweler's web site I frequent has a section they call the BenchExchange.· I've gotten a few ideas from them for laying out my workshop, since both involve a number of small handtools and parts.· See http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/BenchExchange/index.htm.
Thanks again to everyone,
Brian, N7QJB
I often wonder how much of my "bench time" is wasted looking for components.
On some days I bet it is in the 30 to 40 percent range.
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- - - PLJack - - -
Perfection in design is not achieved when there is nothing left to add.
It is achieved when there is nothing left to take away.
I simply buy the resistors or capacitors about 2 dozen at a time and throw them into a zip lock bag with the store label. When I need the item I pull the bags and look for the factory packing. All I do is leave them in a row from smallest to largest.