What to Buy

Ever go to order a component, e.g. a capacitor, only to find too many choices? If you’re not familiar with the subtle differences, how do you know what to order? This page should help.

I started recording every order I placed so that I could easily order again items that worked well, and easily avoid items that for whatever reason did not meet my needs.

Many students have the same problem, and it’s worse for them, because they don’t have much experience yet. They don’t have their own personal “Everything I have ever Ordered” list.

It occurred to me that for the novice, our list might be a useful starting point. In fact, if you have taken a Teach Me To Make class, chances are everything we used is on this list.

At the end are items that look interesting but have not yet been used.

As always, feedback is welcome.

Jameco
Great people, local,  phones are answered by a real live person!

Tools
215889 TOOL,STRIPPER,WIRE,10-24 AWG 3.95
195531 TOOL, PLIERS, FLAT LONG NOSE, W/O KNURLED JAWS 5.3″    6.85
177608 TOOL,PLIERS,LONG NOSE,4.7″ Half-Round Long Nose Pliers 4.95
161411 TOOL, DIAGONAL WIRE CUTTER, 5″ 4.3″ Diagonal Wire Cutter 7.49
215889       TOOL,STRIPPER,WIRE,10-24 AWG 5″             3.95
202411

Connectors
9V Battery Snap,3″Lg,6 Prong 26AWG Battery Snap
11280   0.3
Ring Tongue Terminals . Minimum order 10 pieces
302666 36152  1  #6  22-16 Red …………. $.24
302674 31890  1  #8  22-16 Red ….  .15
Spade Tongue Terminals
302869 #4 22-16 red
302877 #6 22-16 red
302885 #8 22-16 red

BAT HOLDER,2-AA,WIRES W/COVER & SWITCH
JAMECO RELIAPRO SBH-321-1AS-R 216120 $0.79 ea $19.75 qty 25

Kits of parts with storage cabinet and pre-printed labels. Very good for teaching and setting up a new workshop
81867  240 pcs. Radial Capacitor kit 5.3 …………… $36.25
81859  520 pcs. Ceramic Capacitor kit 5.0 …………… $38.4
82595        transistor assortment           $76

Components
690785       470 ohm resistor          $.01
690865       1k resistor                       $.01
100 OHM,1/4 WATT,5%, (100 BAG) 690620 $1.00
47 OHM,1/4 WATT,5%, (100 BAG) 690540 $1.00
68 OHM,1/4 WATT,5%, (100 BAG) 690582 $1.00
27422         IC,LM555CN, DIP-8      .20
24329        IC,LM556N, DIP-14        .60
29103 POTENTIOMETER,LINEAR TAPER,1/2W,100K OHM      .95
24539        IC, LM741CN, LINEAR, OP AMP, DIP-8   .25
24126        IC, LM386N-1, DIP-8,                   .49
23132        IC, LM1458N, DIP-8,                   .204

Grab bags. If you can tolerate a little uncertainty the price is incredible
18323        LED grab bag                  $25
169578       photocells grab bag            $20
135271       1LB ASST LEDS 1900  $59.95

Sensors
150551       flex sensor                   $14
196103       pressure sensor              $15
CdS PHOTOCELL, 100mW, 150VPK, 80KOHM        .69

Wire
WIRE,22AWG,STRN,BLACK,100′ UL1007,SOLD IN ROLLS OF 100′
JAMECO VALUEPRO UL1007-22-BK-C-R 126085 $4.09

WIRE,22AWG,STRN,RED,100′ UL1007,SOLD IN ROLLS OF 100′
JAMECO VALUEPRO UL1007-22-RD-C-R 126034 $4.09

Circuit Specialists
64-8932      Solderable Perf Board, 1-7/8 x 2-1/4″          0.58
66-4003      NO/NC, ON/(ON) Standard Micro Switch     .79
WB-102+J     Solderless Breadboard w/Jumper Wires    4.99

ABCTronics
1000 LEDs for $30 (red, yellow)

Kelvin
CD Disc to Wheel Converter / Reducer
Code: 990182
Price: $2.95 for 20 converters

Online Metals
brass tubing
$3 for 1′ length .25″ ID

smallparts
Brass Round Telescoping Tubing ,9/32″ Dia.x .014″ Wall x 12″ Length
Part Number TTRB-08-12
TTRB-08-12-06    12 inches    6 / pack  $9.90
TTRB-08-12-09    12 inches    9 / pack  $13.05
is that $10 for 6? that’s pretty good.

K S metals

Digikey

Trimpots that fit right into a solderless breadboard and have a knowb so you don’t need a screwdriver: 3386F-103TLF-ND POT 10K OHM 3/8″ SQ CERM SL ST
my favorite wire:
22 AWG (100′ for $17.68) for most everything
C2016R-100-ND RED STRANDED-HOOKUP WIRE 100′ 22 AWG
C2016B-100-ND BLK-STRANDED-HOOKUP WIRE 100′ 22 AWG
C2016A-100-ND,22 awg stranded general cable orange
C2016L-100-ND,22 awg stranded general cable blue
C2016V-100-ND,22 awg stranded general cable violet
C2016Y-100-ND,22 awg stranded general cable yellow

18 AWG for motors and other high current loads
C2064R-100-ND,18 awg stranded general cable red
C2064L-100-ND,18 awg stranded general cable blue
C2064N-100-ND,18 awg stranded general cable brown
C2064A-100-ND,18 awg stranded general cable orange
C2064B-100-ND,18 awg stranded general cable black

Best price for 3V lithium coin cells, perfect for use with LEDs and no current limiting resistor. price drop drastically in large quantities so buy 1200 and share with your friends.
P189-ND CR2032 BATTERY LITHIUM COIN 3V $.28 ea

67-1497-ND LED 5MM BLINKING HI-EFF RED DIFF red blinking LED
KE1137-ND SOLDER NO-CLEAN .031″ 21 AWG 1LB 56.15 favorite solder. contains lead.
EB1058-ND,BRAID NO-CLEAN BROWN .125″ X 5′ braid for removing solder

My favorite connectors. Very well built, polarized, available for both printed circuit board mounting or wire mounting. I use them for all my power connections.
281-1790-ND, male, wire mount, 2 pin
281-1243-nd, female, wire mount, 2 pin
281-1244-nd, female , wire mount, 3 pin
281-1791-nd, male, wire mount, 3 pin
281-1792-nd, male, wire mount, 4 pin
281-1245-nd, female , wire mount, 4 pin

Electronic Express
(03WIREGLUE) Conductive Wire Glue      $3.90

(1700TLRB) Mercury Tilt Switches       $0.95
Rollerball Metal Case

(10555) Linear ICs – Timer             $0.22

(32FLXSTRCH04) 4 in. Flexible Stretch  $10.95
Sensor

(32PX605-0004) Piezo Film Tab          $1.95               $1.95

3     (0604331) Utility Knife With           $3.50
Retractable Blade

(18STS100) Cermet Potentiometer        $0.90
One-Half Watt – 100 Ohm

(18STS1K) Cermet Potentiometer         $0.90
One-Half Watt – 1K Ohm

(18STS5K) Cermet Potentiometer         $0.90
One-Half Watt – 5K Ohm

(18STS10K) Cermet Potentiometer        $0.90
One-Half Watt – 10K Ohm

(18STS100K) Cermet Potentiometer       $0.90
One-Half Watt – 100K Ohm

(18STS500K) Cermet Potentiometer       $0.90
One-Half Watt – 500K Ohm

(18STS1M) Potentiometer Cermet         $0.90
One-Half Watt – 1M Ohm

(0302PB19) Prototyping Boards – Model  $1.05
No. PB-19 – 2.9 x 1.7 Inches

(060834) RSR Helping Hand              $3.50

(2801BST) 9V Battery Snap T-Type       $0.25

(29DCM2) Solar Toy Motor               $0.65

(25801B) Super Contact Cleaner With    $8.75
Phenyl Ether 4.5 Oz. Aerosol

(32FLXSENS) Flex Sensor                $11.95

(2801AA2P) Plastic Battery Holders for 2 AA cells   $0.73
no wire, snap connectors

Fun Gizmos
NKK Photo Interrupted Tilt Switch $4.25
Lots of Arduino and Arduino accessories

Spark Fun
Accelerometer Breakout Board – ADXL322 $29.95
Infrared Proximity Sensor 15cm to 150cm Range – Sharp GP2Y0A02YK0F
Lots of Arduino and Arduino accessories

McMaster Carr
5073T57 Easy-to-Assemble Cardboard Bin Box Standard
2″ Width X 9″ Depth X 4″ Height, Packs of 5, $5.16

5073T58 Easy-to-Assemble Cardboard Bin Box Standard
4″ Width X 9″ Depth X 4″ Height, Packs of 5, $6.86

5073T59 Easy-to-Assemble Cardboard Bin Box Standard
6″ Width X 9″ Depth X 4″ Height, Packs of 5, $6.86

5075T12 Easy-to-Assemble Tall Cardboard Bin Box
7-3/4″ Width X 11-1/2″ Depth X 8″ Height, $3.55

7712K12 Battery Holder Polypropylene
Side By Side Style for 2 AA Cell, 6″  26 AWG wire leads, $0.60
conductive tape
76925A1 Aluminum Foil Tape with Conductive Adhesive
2″ Wide X 36 Yards Long, .004″ Thick $55.15 per Roll

Less EMF
Great source of conductive fabric

HSC/halted
1N4148, 1N4001 between 3 and 5 cents each
9v battery clips 10 cents
wire great prices
photointerruptors
solderless breadboards: too expensive
battery holders: too expensive
cheap tools: <$2
3rd hands: <$3

Solarbotics
Best source for inexpensive yet quality gear motors
Numerous other robotic components
Great people

http://www.solarbotics.com/products/gmpw_deal/
GM2 motor and wheel (in choice of colors)
powerful enough that two of them and a caster could turn your laptop into a robot
runs on anything from 3-9V
$10

Hobby Servo Motors
Excellent price on miniature servo motors. Used many in my classes:
T-Pro Mini Servo SG-90 9G Servo for #2.77
Extensions and leads for hobby servo motors

Futurlec
2XAAHOLDERC 2 x AA Battery Holder 0.35 w/ wire leads
MCROLLER Roller Microswitch 0.40
MCLEVER Lever Microswitch 0.40
MQ135Air Quality Control Gas Sensor 6.90

Interesting, untested, or unsorted

glue guns w/ stands
http://www.mainstsupply.com/product.cfm/5/44/72252 Arrow Glue Guns – 72252

stand-alone glue gun stands
http://www.shopwiki.com/detail/d=SUREBONDER_Glue_Gun_Stand/jumpToFirst=t/

MPJA
leds  2c/piece
vex 6 channel rc for $30. arduino should be able to decode.
Maha MH-C777 Plus from Maha Energy:
Very flexible battery charger, recommended during a ham radio discussion.
Under a hundred bucks. Will properly charge just about any battery pack: range of 1.2V to 14.4V (1 to 12 cells) for NiMH & NiCD, and 3.6V
to 14.4V (1  to 4 cells) for Lithium Ion. In addition to battery packs, you can also charge 1 to 12 cells of AA, AAA rechargeable battery cells.

BP Hobbies
Magnetic battery connectors. In addition to their intended use, they can be used to make temporary, rapid,  reliable electrical connection to any ferrous metal (most battery terminals, LED and other component leads, etc.)
Seems like they also have a wide range of adapters for hobby RC units, which might be a good way to mount RC receivers onto PCBs

Velleman low cost soldering station Model VTSS5U
Electronix Express
0603VTSS5U Soldering Station $16.95
0606BITS5 Spare Tip 1.20