Make: Electronics Component Packs

SkydivinGirl

SkydivinGirl

Retro Girl
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Hi Everyone!

I purchased the Make: Electronics book quite some time ago because I want to start learning the basics of electronics. In the book, they give you a complete list of components and tools you will need in order to complete all the exercises in the book. Unfortunately, gathering together all the components would take quite a bit of time if you don't have a local electronics shop to source all the parts.

Enter the Make: Electronics Component Packs. There are two component packs. The first pack contains all the parts necessary to do the first eleven experiments in the book and the second pack covers the rest of the necessary components. While pricey, purchasing these packs gives you everything you need without trying to source it all yourself.

Component Pack 1: http://www.makershed.com/Make_Electronics_Components_Pack_1_p/mecp1.htm
Component Pack 2: http://www.makershed.com/Make_Electronics_Components_Pack_2_p/mecp2.htm

Even though it represents a significant investment, I was ready to take the plunge to start on Electronics learning. But wait! Both component packs have been out of stock since I bought the book months ago. :(

So, my phone died yesterday (Waaaa!!!) and I had to go to Verizon to get it looked at. After I was done there, I walked into the Radio Shack a couple doors down was surprised to see that they started carrying Arduino stuff! But, to my utter glee, they also have their own version of the Make: Electronics component packs!

Component Pack 1: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=17538226
Component Pack 2: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=17241866

If you're interested in the book, then these packs are great. Even though I could source the parts much cheaper if I searched, it would take me quite a bit of time and I've got too much learning to do! I purchased the first pack today and will probably buy the second one in a week or two.

Just wanted to share!

Thanks guys,

Heather

pRS1-14698419w345.jpg
 
Cool stuff, for sure - but they seem quite pricey - some resistors, switches, etc and a case for $100 ?

I can see sourcing could be an issue in general - but have you tried putting the list together from somewhere like Newark/Element 14 ?

Never mind - I missed that you'd bought it already :-)

Hope you have great fun soldering it all together (or breadboarding it all - whichever you end doing) :-)
 
there probably great little paks for novices,but the price is steep for what you get.

but then again i wouldnt get these anyway as i get parts on the fly depending on what i want to build.

i never use breadboards for projects, because what i build i use.
 
Like I said, they are definitely expensive, but my time is worth more to me than the cost of these packs. The second pack contains the more difficult to find components, but I actually received a $10 off my next purchase coupon when I purchased this pack so there's a bit more off the price.

I just want to go through the book and experiments without having to worry about messing about trying to find every last component. If you've got more time than I do then it's certainly cheaper to source everything yourself. :)

Heather

---------- Post added at 16:16 ---------- Previous post was at 16:14 ----------
LonesomeAmiga said:
Do you already make Arduino things Heather ?
Click to expand...
Nope, not yet. I have a couple retro computing related devices that I'd like to develop and I'll probably use some sort of Arduino or Atmel solution. I know Arduino uses shields to keep you from having to get into the nitty gritty of the electronics, but I want to understand what's going on at the component level. :thumbsup:

Heather
 
dont get me wrong though:)

i put these kits in the same vain as meccano(remember that?)
the idea is simple,you buy a kit that can make multiple small items from schematics with all the parts for maybe 10-20 items that may take your fancy and as you make them you get more of an idea as to how they work.
then the more kits you have the bigger the project you can work by adding the parts from other projects you worked on,see?
so, the only limitation is your own imagination.
 
The packs are way over-priced, but I can understand their attraction, especially for someone who isn't used to buying components. It could take a long time for a beginner to find the right parts, with much uncertanty along the way. So they are very convenient.
Great to see someone actively wanting to understand electronics too. If there's anything you don't understand or the book doesn't cover properly, then remember there are many here who can possibly help you (including myself), so just ask.

Bryce.
 
Yeah - definitely agree with Bryce and the others. Plus keep us updated with what you're building with the books - it's always interesting to hear newcomers to electronics deal with issues in their own ways and come up with their own solutions :-)
 
I know they are way overpriced and I certainly mulled over trying to source everything myself but, in the end, I decided to bite the bullet and get the kits.

I figure the total cost of both kits and the book are still less than taking a class where I'd have to buy books and parts and pay for the class itself. I've also read really great reviews on the book itself. So, for my introductory course into electronics, it's still not a bad deal.

The main reason for my initial post was to point others to an alternative if they were looking for the official ones like I had been. :thumbsup:

I'll just have to fix a couple computers to make up the cost of the kits. :lol:

Heather
 
Heh, fair enough :-)

That's your work - computer technician/general fixer-upper ?

I've always steered clear of that as much as possible (apart from the usual Free tech support to family members, which apparently you can't get out of even if you're ill/dying!) ;-)

Software development is my thing, for my sins.

Good luck with the kits, anyway - nice to see a bit of electronics excitement :-)
 
Well, I got around to looking at all the components and found that I have quite a few of them so I think the first kit is going back to the store. :) Still, I may end up buying the second kit. I just have to look closely at the components to see how difficult the may be to source

Yes, I'm the only IT person at our company. I do everything: Servers, desktop support, networking, mobile, and on and on...

I do programming, but most of it is hobby stuff. I am also doing some programming in our CRM state.

Heather
 
SkydivinGirl said:
Yes, I'm the only IT person at our company. I do everything: Servers, desktop support, networking, mobile, and on and on...

I do programming, but most of it is hobby stuff. I am also doing some programming in our CRM state.

Heather
Click to expand...

I had an "everything" job once - it can be fun, but sometimes it was a little much being the only person - in the end, at the place I was working, it made for long weeks and very little time off in general (the systems were fine and set up to look after themselves for the most part, the support of the staff was the problem). I hope you never run into that issue at your place - sucks the fun out of work ;-)

Anyway, OT :-) You have an electronic component stash already huh - you'll make a good engineer ;-)
 
It is sometimes difficult being the only IT person in the company because I don't have anyone to help out or discuss ideas with. Still, with my slight OCD, I like being in control of all aspects of our setup and I never have to worry about someone else holding me back from doing things the proper way. :)

I also get a good amount of vacation, but it's rare that I don't have to log in remotely while I'm away in order to fix something. :picard

Before starting work this morning, I decided to piece together the first component kit that I bought yesterday using an online store (Jameco). After getting a little more than halfway through the list of components, I was surprised to see that the amount was already half the price of the whole kit. Even using a conservative guess for the other half of the components, I'd say I would only save about $20 -$25 at most piecing the first kit together myself.

All-in-all, the first kit doesn't seem like such a bad deal when compared to buying the components online from a USA supplier. It would definitely be less than half the cost if I were to source everything through eBay suppliers, but it would also take a couple months of waiting to receive everything.

Heather
 
You're right - letting someone else at the system would be a recipe for disaster (or always seemed to be - to me) ;-)

Sometimes I get the impression these jobs pick us, rather than the other way around :-)

Definitely agree on the Ebay front - it would take a couple of hours to sort through and order everything - then you'd be waiting a month to collect it all together - on top of which, separate shipping would make the cost unreasonable again. $25 isn't really a lot to save, is it, thinking about it now.

Time is definitely more important than money these days - must be getting old!
 
Gone through a bit of the book, but not a whole lot yet. I'm at the lemon battery portion and I need to pick up a lemon. :) So far, the exercises have been simple, but they explain everything very well. I plan on extending on a few of the examples to see if I really understand. Still, it's lots of fun.

Heather
 
There seem to be quite a few applications for lemon-based electronics - not many fruit opportunities in the field (aside from the obvious Mac one) :-)

At least you're not rushing through it - may as well get the most out of it at each stage.

Re-discovered my stash of electronics parts in the cupboard about a month ago - LCD screens and all kinds of processors and logic (plus the usual resistors, caps and LEDs) - very tempting to get out a soldering iron or breadboard and start fiddling! :-)
 
My three year old loves my basic electronics kit. When I set up led patterns he loves it. I would have sold my kidney at the age of eight if my dad had.
 
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