Where to go to get cheap/unique parts

sbscott

Senior Member
Greetings!

Hippy posted info on a yard solar unit that might be useful in a PICAXE project. This prompted me to suggest that we should pool our knowledge of places to get cheap/unique parts for our projects. (Maybe this has already been done.)

I live in rural Colorado. To go somewhere (Denver) to get parts I need is a five hour drive. The internet is the place to go...obviously!
So, I suggest we pool/share our collective knowledge (on a worldwide basis) of those sites we have had good experiences getting those "treasures" that make electronics a great hobby !

To kick this off, I offer the sites I use regularly and hope that others will share their favorites..in no particular order..

http://www.bgmicro.com/
http://www.dealextreme.com/
http://www.hosfelt.com/
http://www.jameco.com/
http://www.allelectronics.com/
http://www.rentron.com/
http://www.goldmine-elec.com/
http://www.ozitronics.com/
http://www.westfloridacomponents.com/
http://www.goldmine-elec.com/
http://www.starsurplus.com/search.lasso?cat=Bundles
http://www.rentron.com/
http://www.j-tron.com/index.php
 

Goeytex

Senior Member
If you're in the States don't instantly write off the major
"Distys" such as Mouser, Digikey and Arrow.

Example ULN2803 Darlington

Spark Fun $1.95 ( Toshiba)
Mouser .45 (Toshiba)
Arrow .51 (TI)
Digikey .75 (Toshiba)
Jameco .44 ( MFG UNKNOWN/Various)
Futurlec .65 ( Motorola ?)
 
Last edited:

westaust55

Moderator
In Australia

to add some australian suppliers:

www.4dsystems.com.au
www.altronics.com.au = Perth based
www.aztronics.com.au = just down the road from Dr A
www.jaycar.com.au = AUstralia wide
www.littlebirdelectronics.com = NSW based
www.robotgear.com.au = Perth head office
www.robotparts.com.au = Queensland based

and

www.futurlec.com[B].au[/B] with Sydney store front/office but still dispatched out of Thailand
(note the ".au" - there can be some different items in the .com vs .com.au web stores)
 

Dippy

Moderator
Yes, there are many smaller/sprecialist Distributors that are very good.

If you need access to enormous Inventories you will have to stick to the Big Boys.

Farnell / (Newark in US though not so big)
RS Components (you'll need an account I believe though not 100% sure)
Digi-Key
Mouser (both already mentioned).

The above, not always cheapest(!), have a few advantages:-
(Usually) huge stocks.
(Usually) best brands/quality - they don't want to waste time/money on warranties.
On-line Data sheets for almost everything.
(Usually) real-time stock status reports.
Online RoHS and other documentation.

Certainly with Farnell/RS their technical support has been good - so no need to ask questions in Forum :)
Warranty Support excellent. No fuss, next day swapout (for account holders).

Long established - so they'll still be there before your warranty runs out.
And their tech depts don't seem to be manned by spotty Saturday Boys.

Farnell have a system where they inform you of pending doom if a Manuf stop making a component - gives time to change your design/BOM. Very handy. Not perfect, but easier than Clairvoyance.

For prototyping I'm (usually) more than happy to spend a few extra pennies for these adavantages.

For Brits I'll also add Rapid. I've had good service from them.
 

boriz

Senior Member
Great idea. Great list. May I make a small, extremely selfish suggestion?

Could someone compile this into a single list and sticky it? And please put beside each link some basic info like [PP/UK], meaning accepts Paypal, ships from UK.
 

Andrew Cowan

Senior Member
I'll compile it into a single list (with the basic info) tomorrow morning (unless someone else does it first). We can put it into 'finished projects, miscellaneous' prehaps - this forum doesn't seem to keen on stickies.

A
 

westaust55

Moderator
Further to suggestion by Boriz,
could be worth including the typical pack and postage costs associated with each company.

For example, from Aust we see most US companies send via means that incur around US$50 in postage/courier fees even for a single chip (ouch!)

Farnell here in Aust (from memory) isa round AUD$20 per order even for just a few chips

Futurlec cost AUD$4-00 per shipment for a good handful of components

MicroZed normally ship by next day mail at approx AUD$10 per order but can do by regular mail for about AUD$5
 

russbow

Senior Member
I use bitsbox a lot.
Postage is £1.50 per order regardless of size. Orders placed AM are usually sent same day, delivery next day.

Bob ( for that's his name ) has on a number of occassions sourced items for me that are not usually in his list - resonators, SIL resistors 90 deg headers.
First class supplier.

R.
 

Dippy

Moderator
This is a nice idea.

It really needs someone with a spare hour or two (Westy?) to collate the data and produce a single reference point.
Already bitsbox has had 3 (or 4) mentions... once we get over a (Forum) page then only a few people will read earlier pages.

This needs to be turned into a easy-access list rather than 'My Favourite' or 'I Luv..' ;)
 

westaust55

Moderator
This is a nice idea.

It really needs someone with a spare hour or two (Westy?) to collate the data and produce a single reference point.
Already bitsbox has had 3 (or 4) mentions... once we get over a (Forum) page then only a few people will read earlier pages.

This needs to be turned into a easy-access list rather than 'My Favourite' or 'I Luv..' ;)
Andrew C at post 14 has already promised to create his first "WA55 lookalike" Table

Oh the competition ;)
 

Dippy

Moderator
Ah, good.
If listed as a simple table of URLs people can just cut'n'paste and create a 'Supplier' folder in their Browser Favourites. Then it's there forever.
Naturally, I'll ignore it completely if Ebad gets a mention :)
 

Minifig666

Senior Member
In the UK I have found:
http://www.techsupplies.co.uk/ (Obviously, very good prices (there is nowhere cheaper for PICAXE of course) however lacks info on most products. Next day delivery on orders over £50)
www.ebay.co.uk (Fast Components sell cheap bulk packs which are good for building up a cheap component stock)
www.maplin.co.uk (Costly in some parts but convenient to just wander into the shop)
www.rapidonline.com (Huge range of items from components to tools ans other general tech (and LEGO for LEGO fans) at good prices and free postage on orders over £30)Very fast postage, I ordered at 6:30 last night and it came today at 11 today. (From Essex to North Yorks in 17.5 hours)
http://www.sparkfun.com/ (A nice range of kits and stuff like breakout boards but they get you on postage to the UK)
http://www.digikey.com/ (A huge range but somewhat expensive)
Ok, a fairly generic list but still good suppliers.
 
Last edited:

Andrew Cowan

Senior Member
Oh the competition ;)
I'm on it :D.

I'm thinking of the following headings - anyone got any that should be added?

Company name ; Ships from ; Typical items ; Minimum Order ; Postage to UK ; Postage to US ; Postage to Au ; Paypal? ; Notes

The postage column would be for one small item - eg an IC or LED.

The notes column would list people's comments - eg free delivery over £30, or super fast delivery to UK etc.

A
 
Last edited:

Dippy

Moderator
Keep it simple Andrew.

Provide links to the Distributor's Terms & Conditions pages and Delivery Charges pages.

If you start including Delivery charges etc. these things can change.
Some Dists have sliding scales eg CPC in UK. And/or weight related charges.
Customers may also be charged for Duty (payable on the doorstep).
This means your tables could:
a) Get out of date soon
b) not include 'surprise' charges like Duty.

If you can do it as a PDF then link clicks are easier.
 

Rickharris

Senior Member
A couple of unusual suppliers that serve the education industry but will deal with any client:

TEP - Technology Enhancement Programme Sell things you can't normally get hold of in small quantities. Also a lot of very cutting edge things like smart grease.
http://www.mutr.co.uk/

Hindleys for hardware, materials and tools
http://www.hindleys.com/

Tilgear for tools
http://www.tilgear.info/

K&M Materials a whole range of products but no web site
K&M Wholesale Suppliers,
Unit 24, Lion Park,
Holbrook Industrial Estate,
New Street, Halfway,
Sheffield, S20 3GH
Tel: 01142 474733
Fax: 01142 475335
 
Last edited:

Andrew Cowan

Senior Member
Slow down - I'm only up to post 2 ;). I'll probably PDF it when I'm done. Where postage is given, it cheapest way to send one small item.

A
 

Attachments

Andrew Cowan

Senior Member
I'll add the web addresses - that won't take a moment. I decided to keep in some indication of postage rates, because some rates mean it is not worth looking at the site.

Little Bird Electronics charge $8 postage to australia, but $45 to anywhere else in the world (when you spend under $150). Although postage rates may change, it's a good indication. A lot of my orders are for a few small parts - often it will cost more for postage than it did for the part.

A
 

Dippy

Moderator
Credit Cards accepted? (Which ones?).
Not everyone has/likes PayPal.
Account Holders only?
(Remember, not everyone here is a hobbyist or schoolkid or student).

Places like Farnell (the Grand-Daddy) have outlets all over the place, so 'Ships From' and 'Postage' might require BIG Text Boxes.
A general link like http://www.farnell.com/ would be more helpful for example.

Other variables are "Free postage for Account Holders".

Keep it simple Andrew, don't let it become a big mess in 6pt Arial.
Anyway, it keeps you off the street corners showing your bling to your bloods huh? Well done. ;) ;)
 

Andrew Cowan

Senior Member
I've finished post 6's links now.

Most places seem to accept cards - the ones that don't accept paypal definitly do. I'm not going to tell you which ones they accept - got to keep you off the streets as well ;).

This list is designed primarily for hobbiests/students - account holders probably know the basic details of the company (eg free postage).

All websites now added - 25 companies so far.

A
 
Last edited:

MartinM57

Moderator
+1 for Farnell (UK)

Ordered GBP23 of bits last night at 1855 - free delivery and courier man knocked on the door with the parcel at 0945....
 

Dippy

Moderator
That's good Martin.
I'd heard they have a special super-fast delivery when ordering the Playboy Magazine Bumper Fun Pack.

... ah , but some regular users may like to open an account and get the (few) benefits...

Right, I'm off to stand on street corners now frightening people.
 

MartinM57

Moderator
I also got a box of goodies from CityLink this morning (shame they took two days to try to deliver it to the wrong house, including putting a card through its letter box both times) from www.wiggle.co.uk (work-safe ;)) - and it had a free packet of Haribo inside :D

Shame Farnell don't do that...
 

Andrew Cowan

Senior Member
Ozitronics also have a base in Australia, but only charge from $12 for international orders. LBE's service is probably much more rapid.

Martin - I think you've sussed him...

A
 

Dippy

Moderator
It's not the Big Issue I offer.....
It's this month's issue of "Red Hot MOSFETs".
There's a new article by Manie in it - sponsored by Kidde Fire Extinguishers.

I also sell the new magazine detailing developments in the GIANT KLEENEX field.
It's called "Big Tissue".
 
Last edited:

Dippy

Moderator
Yes, "Reader's JUGFETs" is the most popular.

Hurry up Andrew... Westy would have been onto Revision 3 by now ;)
 

cactusface

Senior Member
Cheap components...

Hi folks,
Well here in the good old' UK we have Bitsbox, very good postage for £1.50, for lots of parts and a few odd bit too. ESR carry a good range with reasonable prices and postage. Just discovered these chaps http://www.modecomponents.co.uk/ seem OK.

I find Maplin and Rapid too expensive and their post charges makes it impossible, but I do have a Maplin store in town, but don't use it much unless I'm really stuck for something... Thanks for reminding me about Greenweld and Crickletwood electronics, did't think they were still around. Have used Techobots OK for motors and buggy stuff, etc .

Regards
Mel.
 
Last edited:
Top