Parts Starter Kits for Electronics Workbench

[SkydivinGirl]

Hi everyone!

I've been having lots of fun working with electronics lately and I'd like to get some ideas on a parts starter kit for my workbench. The main reason for doing this is that I don't know of a local electronics store and getting them online is either expensive to get them fast or inexpensive with a week or two wait to get them. Since I prefer the inexpensive options, it makes sense to get a good stash on-hand.

Resistor kits are really easy and I've already ordered a nice selection. What are some other parts I should keep on-hand? For capacitors, is it better to get the barrel type electrolytic ones or are the polyester film ones fine? There may be completely different uses for each type and I should get some of each.

I'm really interested in your opinions because all of you are my electronics peers.

Thanks!

Heather

 

[roy_bates]

as for parts heather,just get the parts you actually need for the project in hand.

my reasoning is that there are such a massive selection it wouldnt really work out as cheap.

because it wont just be resistors and capacitors,it will more than likely be the odd logic ic, diodes,regulators,leds even project boards.and even cables of assorted colours on basic projects.

one tip i can give you is to try to buy the parts in multipacks of the same part, so you build a nice set of parts over time you can fall back on for future projects and general tinckering.

a good thing to have is a small tray box with drawers for small parts
for organising where they are when you put them away(trust me,youll thank me for this comment in the future)
and a couple of different sized tips for your soldering iron is nice.


all the best,roy.

 

[SkydivinGirl]

Thanks Roy! What I'm looking for is extremely common parts that are worth having on-hand. I currently buy parts per project, but I don't always know what I'll need. I always buy more parts than necessary, if they aren't too expensive so I've got a small accumulation of items. I also have a large multi-drawer cabinet for storing and organizing parts. I also use cheap sewing thread storage boxes.

I've also recently purchased multiple color and size wires, and heat shrink tubing for working on my projects. Now that I have a nice supply of heat shrink, I'm using it constantly. I never thought that would be the case.

Thanks!

Heather

 

[roy_bates]

Thanks Roy! What I'm looking for is extremely common parts that are worth having on-hand. I currently buy parts per project, but I don't always know what I'll need. I always buy more parts than necessary, if they aren't too expensive so I've got a small accumulation of items. I also have a large multi-drawer cabinet for storing and organizing parts. I also use cheap sewing thread storage boxes.

I've also recently purchased multiple color and size wires, and heat shrink tubing for working on my projects. Now that I have a nice supply of heat shrink, I'm using it constantly. I never thought that would be the case.

Thanks!

Heather

youve pretty much got the idea there as time goes by your stock of parts gets greater and you wont need to buy as much later down the line.

you could also try to stock up on solder,switches(im forever buying these for small projects)and maybe dil sockets and sockets in general,some electronics shops do lucky bags of components.
in this case its worth looking down the isles for bargains(they will come in handy later especially with lucky bags if you happen to have some spare change)

 

[AmiNeo]

Take a look at Jeri Ellsworth 's vids on youtube and have a sneaky peak at what shes got on her shelves maybe?
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...lT6uOuLeDCt49CT8xF3MYvA&bvm=bv.42768644,d.d2k

 

[Stedy]

Hello Heather,

Welcome to the fun world of electronics.

In addition to the components you have I would recommend the following:

Basic transistors, BC108/BC548/2n2222 which are all NPN transistors, BC557/2N2907 PNP transistor, choose whatever part is available locally.

1N4148 signal diode and 1N4001 rectifier diodes. Add other types like Zeners as and when you need them.

555 timer IC. Search the web to see what you can't make with this chip
741/LM358 op-amp
LM339 comparator maybe?

Look at Light Dependent Resistors (LDR) to sense light levels and Thermistors to sense temperature, both cheap and easy to use sensors.

A selection of red/orange/green LEDs, 3 or 5 mm. You need to make traffic lights!

For digital logic, you don't need much, 7400 NAND gate, 7404 NOT (inverter), 7408 AND gate, 7432 OR gate, 7486 EXOR gate, 7474 d-type to get you started.

For digital logic, you want a 5V power supply, the LM7805 5V regulator, available in 100mA and 1.5A sizes is popular.

You will want some electrolytic capacitors, say 1uF, 4.7uF, 10uF, 47uF, 100uF, later on you can add other values. They will come in handy when playing with the 555 timer.

Get yourself a solderless breadboard and a wire jumper kit, makes it easy to play with circuits.

In the UK, there are a few suppliers who sell 'grab bags' of components, containing most of the parts I listed above. Take a look at the Nutsandvolts magazine suppliers list, http://www.nutsvolts.com/adlinks.php

I started off playing with electronics and have now made a career out of it.

Ian

 

[SkydivinGirl]

Hi Stedy!

Thanks for the tips. I've had a couple breadboards for quite some time. I also have plenty of power supplies. I've got a great book from Make Magazine about electronics. I'm going to pick up the parts for all the projects there and then I'll have those parts to add to my kit. It's a fairly basic introductory book, it introduces and explains many of the items you've mentioned.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

Heather

 

[Gene]

Electronic parts

Electronic parts

I'm not sure what you really need. Although things like resistors, and to a lesser extent caps are pretty standard, if you have project(s) you will probably find that very little will be used from one project to another. For example, 1K (one thousand ohms) resistors are very common, but even then, what kind? 10%? 5%? 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1 watt? Carbon film or metal film?

Let's try capacitors.

There are several types, including film, (and subsets of film, including several types of dialectric, polarized and non-polarized), electrolytic, ceramic, tantalum, etc.

Voltage ratings vary also, and are very important. Oh, even resistors are voltage-rated, and are very important if you are working with tubes, (valves for those across the pond).

Oh, and are you looking for discrete, or SMD compoents?

Remember soldering irons, desoldering tools, the correct solder, flux, breadboarding or point to point, or pcb's. Oh, and wire.

Gets complicated, huh?

My advice is forget building up a stash of parts, instead buy as you need, and if you are building from a kit, or a schematic, they will usually tell you what to buy.

Radio Shack is a ok source, *IF* they carry it. Mouser or Digikey are better. Much better if you have a local well-stocked electronics store, which are getting very rare nowadays.

Good luck!

Gene