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Author: baldengineer
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What are the most important parts to have in your electronics kit?

baldengineer

This weekend I went to build a circuit for use in an upcoming video. There were two components I was confident that were in my parts kit: a 555 timer and a counter. Now, I did not know which counter I had, but I assumed I must have at least one decade counter in my pile of ICs. Imagine my surprise when I realized that I had no 555 timers and only a single type of counter. And that counter was a johnson-counter designed to drive common cathode 7-segment displays. To make things worse, the only 7-segment displays I have were common anode!

 

Thinking about all the various types of components, I started to wonder, what else should I check to see if I have in stock? Passives like capacitors or resistors seem like an easy one. But what values? Are inductors critical? If so, what kind? And then when it comes to ICs, what are ones people are still commonly using?

 

So, two questions for the community:

What are the top 5-10 parts you keep your electronics kit?

 

Related to that idea, what about consumables such as solder, cotton swabs, and tape?

What electronics consumables do you keep on-hand?

Anonymous
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  • There are a lot of good idea here.

     

    On by list would also be ATmega328PB.  Maybe it goes back to my software background, but I find that every project needs a microprocessor.  I have used 100+ of these parts and just had to restock my supply with another 100.

     

    Other items on my essentials list:

    • USB connector
    • FT230XS-R (USB to serial)
    • LEDs
    • 5V regulator (AP2210K-5.0)
    • 3.3V regulator (AP2210K-3.3)
    • Li-Ion charger (MCP73881)
    • small tactile pushbuttons
  • in reply to genebren

    Gene,

     

    This corresponds quite closely with the sort of components I use as well, although so far I am only up to about 10 Nanos. I don't think I'll buy 100 Nanos though as it would be hard to justify to my financial controller (wife).

     

    You could make many mobile robots with 100 controllers!

     

    Dubbie

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  • in reply to genebren

    Gene,

     

    This corresponds quite closely with the sort of components I use as well, although so far I am only up to about 10 Nanos. I don't think I'll buy 100 Nanos though as it would be hard to justify to my financial controller (wife).

     

    You could make many mobile robots with 100 controllers!

     

    Dubbie

Children
  • in reply to dubbie

    Dubbie,

     

    At a quantity of 100 parts, these ATmega328PB parts only cost me $1.14, so I don't really break the bank.  I find that like Nanos, I can use them in almost anything I build (and in some cases I have used multiples on the same project).

     

    Yes, I mighty fine lot of robots could be made.

     

    Gene

  • in reply to genebren

    Please. Send me a link.

     

    1.14 for each or is it 1.14 for 100??????

     

    This is a deal I need to see.

  • in reply to raspberrypitechguy

    Hugo,

     

    $1.14 each in a lot of 100.  But here is the sad news, the stock on these parts are drying up very quickly.  The vast majority of distributors (including Microchip) are quoting deliveries in October or even September.  I did notice the Newark is showing available parts (pretty low quantities) out of UK.  I have seen this happen from time to time (on this part) where nobody has them for months at a time.  I bought my last lot of 100 when stocks were down to <1000, so I was very happy when they arrived.  I have a couple of products that I produce for my clients, so I try to keep a stock on hand to fulfill any orders (I have been shipping ~20 units a months).

     

    Gene

  • in reply to genebren

    Ah, I thought it was 1.14 for 100!

    Guess things aren't a cent each.

     

    Do you have to buy in lots of 100?

  • in reply to dubbie

    Or you could buy Nano Clones on Aliexpress or something.

     

    (Sorry, Newark)

     

    Clones are usually 1-2 dollars each, excluding shipping.