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How do you manage "on stock" component on your personal lab?

strb

I was just wondering, how do you keep track of components on a personal lab?

I started by simply not doing it but pretty quickly found myself searching among an increasing amount of small component bags in search of the most close resistor value or the best op. amp. I have on hand for the job. For general passive components (resistor and capacitor) I've bought a couple of cheap kits but I suppose they were too cheap because values are scattered without an apparent logic (some E12 component, some E24 value, missing E12 values etc...).

I then started tracking available components in a simple Excel table and that for me was a big step forward: I could search any available component at "design stage" without needing to bring out the component box. A couple hours of inventory once saves me from needing to search among bags of component each time I'm designing something or drawing a scheme.

Less than a month ago I switched from Excel to "DB Browser for SQLite". I'm still learning it and using at most basic level but I'm quite pleased with the result even at this early stage.

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This is my experience so far and I'm not regretting doing it. What's your experience on this matter? Do you have any hints?

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  • To probably no surprise to anyone ... I don't keep track of stock at all.

    I just store my parts in boxes or bins where they should be. If I come to a project and find there's not enough, then I'll start my game of substitutions or ordering "way more than I'd ever need" and waiting it out for delivery (often taking advantage of specials and price breaks).

    As it's not really a job, just a hobby, I try not to take things too seriously. I don't need a full-blown stocktake inventory system, sign-in and sign-out of parts, quality management, safe work procedures, etc ... I just don't think I'd have the discipline to keep it up to date even if I had one, as I'd grab a component for a quick trial-and-error substitution and forget to note it down.

    - Gough

  • in reply to Gough Lui

    Phew, there is more than one of me. It embarrassed me to confess my parts organization or lack of it.

    I stored the components in the clear plastic bags they arrive in, arranged in an elongated cardboard box, like a card index filing system. I have a few other small boxes with lids that hold other larger stuff or more quantities.

    I visit the box regularly and shuffle through the bags, looking for something I might have or forgot I ordered. I do envy people that are organized but not enough to invest in the organization myself. I use very few smaller components, mostly prebuilt modules. Connectors, screw and crimp as well as sockets to install Arduino boards are consumed the most.

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  • in reply to Gough Lui

    Phew, there is more than one of me. It embarrassed me to confess my parts organization or lack of it.

    I stored the components in the clear plastic bags they arrive in, arranged in an elongated cardboard box, like a card index filing system. I have a few other small boxes with lids that hold other larger stuff or more quantities.

    I visit the box regularly and shuffle through the bags, looking for something I might have or forgot I ordered. I do envy people that are organized but not enough to invest in the organization myself. I use very few smaller components, mostly prebuilt modules. Connectors, screw and crimp as well as sockets to install Arduino boards are consumed the most.

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