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Good parts source? — Parallax Forums

Good parts source?

ROBSCIXROBSCIX Posts: 23
edited 2008-01-11 12:23 in General Discussion
Hello Guys, I have been putting together my list of parts for my getting started component box.· Do you guys know of good places to source parts?· Preferably cheap as possible such as allelectronics.· I spent about $40 there on a pending order·and I could use some more parts for sure...· I just want a good grab box so I don't have to order parts when I have ideas.· Thanks for the helps guys.

Comments

  • SuperwormsSuperworms Posts: 118
    edited 2007-12-29 20:13
    digi-key, yea digi-key rules

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    Equipped with his 5 senses, man explores the world around and calls his adventure science
    ·
    -Edwin Hubble
    ·
  • ROBSCIXROBSCIX Posts: 23
    edited 2007-12-29 20:26
    Yeah they are good but I was looking for cheaper...discount type places.
  • JDOhioJDOhio Posts: 72
    edited 2007-12-29 22:36
    Mouser is pretty good. www.mouser.com

    Joe
  • ROBSCIXROBSCIX Posts: 23
    edited 2007-12-30 00:03
    You guys don't know any other discount, surplus type stores? I am thnking of sites like all electrnoics etc that sell components for very cheap deals...motos controllers..etc. I gues I will just keep searching....thx.
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,218
    edited 2007-12-30 00:08
    www.allelectronics.com is very popular -- I live close and pop in quite frequently. Another "bargain" parts dealer is www.bgmicro.com.
  • ROBSCIXROBSCIX Posts: 23
    edited 2007-12-30 00:30
    Cool thx. I have another question if you don't when using wireless breadboards. Can you use 24gauge? Or 22 only? -I have been looking around for goo deals on hook up wire for breadboarding. -The normal white ones...
  • pwillardpwillard Posts: 321
    edited 2007-12-30 00:49
    My favorite "discount" vendor is BG MICRO at·http://www.bgmicro.com/

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    There's nothing like a new idea and a warm soldering iron.
  • datacpsdatacps Posts: 139
    edited 2007-12-30 01:37
    http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/products.asp?dept=1077 Try here too. They have cool kits
  • ROBSCIXROBSCIX Posts: 23
    edited 2007-12-30 18:26
    Well that's cool to find lots of places to source LCD's.....16X2 for 5$? with controller chip...nice deals.
  • Guenther DaubachGuenther Daubach Posts: 1,321
    edited 2007-12-30 19:14
    ...and don't forget to eBay for parts - I found (and bought) many cheap parts there, like 1,000 4MHz crystals for $0.05 each, or 500 smart card contact units for $ 0.40 each. Although these were German dealers, I'm pretty sure that there are many more active in the US.

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    Greetings from Germany,

    G
  • SuperwormsSuperworms Posts: 118
    edited 2007-12-30 19:21
    jameco??? 100 1/4 watt resistors for only $1 !!??!!

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    Equipped with his 5 senses, man explores the world around and calls his adventure science
    ·
    -Edwin Hubble
    ·
  • ROBSCIXROBSCIX Posts: 23
    edited 2007-12-30 19:45
    Thx, can any of you guys answer my breadboard questions? I found a great deal on solid core wire for breadboarding but it is 24 gauge. Is this acceptable for breadboard or is it to thin? For getting started I basically need to buy everything. I have education in electrnoics and robotics but I am not in that feild and I would love to get back into it as a hobby. The SX seems like a very cost effective starting point. This is a great forum populated by very helpful guys. Gives me great hope for delving into the world fo the SX controllers...
  • T&E EngineerT&E Engineer Posts: 1,396
    edited 2007-12-31 12:28
    24 Guage is ok but "may" come out easily. I usually use 22 guage solid wire sold at Radio Shack in spools. It comes in green, black and red 3 pack 90' spools. I cut it to the length I need and it works well and has a nice·snug fit but not too tight.

    For electronic parts and·cool items check out Futurlec. They have the cheapest of any place. I also shop at Jameco and sometimes Mouser. Digikey is more expensive but they have EVERYTHING. Futurlec's selection is not as big as Jameco, Mouser or·Digikey·but if there is a specific part or IC I am looking for, I check there first and I'm usually amazed that they have it.

    http://www.futurlec.com/index.shtml

    http://www.futurlec.com/IntegratedCircuits.shtml

    Shipping is a little bit longer but it is·only $4·- cheap prices!
  • ROBSCIXROBSCIX Posts: 23
    edited 2008-01-01 03:03
    Thx for the help guys. I am putting together a parts list and I will be getting started in the world of SX very soon.
    I will be buying a few SX/48 protos, the SX key -related components and I put together a starting component list of about 250 parts. This should be enough to get me going...I least to last a week or so until I put out another order for more parts.
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    edited 2008-01-01 17:42
    The 24 gauge is ok for breadboards but too small for many other connectors such as the black sockets used by Parallax. I would stick with 22 gauge. SparkFun carries small 25 ft. rolls but their stock is kind of low at the moment.

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    - Rick
  • John CoutureJohn Couture Posts: 370
    edited 2008-01-01 18:59
    (grin) My personal goal is to find as many DIFFERENT COLORS of 22 ga solid. So far I'm up to 12

    From Jameco
    black
    red
    yellow
    white
    red
    green

    I got these from EBay vendors:

    purple
    gray
    blue
    white/yellow
    brown
    orange

    Wire gauge is also important for amperage. Here is what I use as a guideline
    and where I get it

    12 ga - 20amps (THHN used to wire up 120V outlets) Home Depot
    (I buy this in spools and use it instead of zip ties
    where I need to open and close the wrap frequently)

    14 ga - 15 amps (THHN used to wire up 120V lights)
    16 ga - 10 amps heavy gauge lamp cord, extension cords (stranded)
    18 ga - 5 amps speaker wire (stranded)
    20 ga - 3.3 amps heavy duty hookup wire
    22 ga - 2.1 amps hookup wire (Jameco, All Elec, EBay)
    24 ga - 1.3 amps Cat5E cable (Home Depot)
    26 ga - 0.8 amps (haven't found a use for it yet)
    28 ga - 0.5 amps ribbon cable (stranded, because it is so small you almost have to use some kind of ribbon connector) A GREAT source of this stuff is old disk drive cables (i.e. Floppy Drives, hard drives). Over the years you accumulate several as you help people fix / upgrade their computers.

    Also check out these connectors that are nifty for making up quick cable assemblies between PCB's.
    They connect directly to .100 spaced pins on PCB's and wires just snap in (its a little easier with a
    tool but you can do it with a small screwdriver).

    www.jameco.com

    part# 841598

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    John J. Couture

    San Diego Miramar College
  • SuperwormsSuperworms Posts: 118
    edited 2008-01-03 01:41
    what about 30 ga? also what is the smallest gauge cable available?

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    Equipped with his 5 senses, man explores the world around and calls his adventure science
    ·
    -Edwin Hubble
    ·
  • ROBSCIXROBSCIX Posts: 23
    edited 2008-01-03 15:21
    @John, Care to send some to a up and coming SX user?
  • DigitalDjDigitalDj Posts: 207
    edited 2008-01-03 19:48
    This is a surplus dealer you might fine interesting, http://www.meci.com/

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  • Jason-WIJason-WI Posts: 35
    edited 2008-01-03 22:51
    http://www.alltronics.com/

    http://www.sciplus.com/

    http://www.herbach.com

    http://www.elexp.com/

    https://2298362093.monstercommercesites.com/index.asp

    http://www.surplussales.com/index.html

    http://www.mpja.com/

    http://www.halted.com/

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    He who dies with the most toys wins!
  • ROBSCIXROBSCIX Posts: 23
    edited 2008-01-03 23:05
    Thx guys..very helpful. I can't wait to get going. WHen I look at oarts catologs I want all of it becasue I want to experiment with everything. I have been bitten by the bug I think...
    Thx for the help. I will be putting in my orders within the next few days.
  • ForrestForrest Posts: 1,341
    edited 2008-01-04 04:32
    Radio Shack has a nice breadboard wire kit with precut/prestripped wires for $6.49 www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103801&cp
  • ROBSCIXROBSCIX Posts: 23
    edited 2008-01-04 15:40
    -I am in Canada we have no Radio shacks anymore...only the "SOURCE"
  • ForrestForrest Posts: 1,341
    edited 2008-01-04 18:00
    All Electronics sells the same breadboard wire kit for $6.25 www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/item/JW-140/105/140_PIECE_JUMPER_WIRE_ASSORTMENT_.html
  • ROBSCIXROBSCIX Posts: 23
    edited 2008-01-07 19:52
    thx guys. I will be putting together some parts lists for these companies soon.
  • dkemppaidkemppai Posts: 315
    edited 2008-01-08 03:58
    ROBSCIX said...
    Yeah they are good but I was looking for cheaper...discount type places.
    Just watch our for counterfit and sub standard junk...



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    "A saint-like quantity of patience is a help, if this is unavailable, a salty vocabulary works nearly as well." - A. S. Weaver
  • djmullendjmullen Posts: 10
    edited 2008-01-11 12:23
    I'd like to recommend Futurlec at http://www.futurlec.com/index.shtml· They have some fantastic parts and boards for sale and they're dirt cheap!·

    Examples:· A real time clock PCB with a DS1307 clock chip, crystal, battery and connectors all ready to plug into your system: $6.90 each!

    They have some exotic parts too, such as an MP3 decoder board for $22.90.

    They're pretty amazing, actually.

    I'm not sure if anybody recommended Jameco at www.jameco.com , but if you're looking for wires to use on a solderless breadboard, I highly recommend their "Reinforced Jumper Wires."· These are very flexible stranded·wires with metal pins on each end which slide o-so-easily into solderless breadboards.· The typical solid wires often require long nosed pliers to insert them into the board.· These snick right in.· They're on page 201 of their catalog, which·you can download from the address above.

    There·come in·three lengths:
    126360 50mm/2 "· $4.45 for a pack of ten
    126342 100mm/4"· $5.49 per pack of ten
    126325· 200mm/8" $5.79 per ten pack.

    Get three or four packs of the 50mm wires and a pack·of the 100mm·wires and all of your breadboarding will be 100% easier.
    One caveat - you can't lay the wires flat along the board like you can with·solid wire and you have to be careful with your routing or your parts will be buried under all the wires.

    I'd also advise you to order catalogs from lots of suppliers, especially Digi-Key and Jameco.· Online is nice, but when you're searching for a part, there's nothing like a catalog in your hands.
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