OK,

So a couple of things have come my way lately where I have need to buy electrical gizmos. Since my local Radio Shack is gone and the one in the neighboring town sucks, what is an online source for electrical components. Things like LEDs, resistors, small circuit breakers, diodes, and other doodads. I have been able to scrounge them up on ebay but it would be nice to have a single source I can place an order at. I figured Servocity but they even seem limited.

Devon

Yep, I sure miss Radio Shack too! We had three in my town, all gone now…

My favorite online places:

http://www.mouser.com/

https://www.sparkfun.com/

https://www.pololu.com/

http://www.mdfly.com/

Thanks Martin,

I will give yours a look. I found Jameco but not sure of what all they sell yet but looks promising.

If I don’t get it from e-bay, I go to one of the two following places. And if you are worried about the small catalog fees, look through their catalogs and you will find a wealth of things that you never knew that you couldn’t live without that will more than compensate.

http://www.allelectronics.com/

http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/

Devon - I keep a list of vendors on one of my web pages - see:

http://davebodnar.com/Vendors.htm

I get most of my stuff from eBay, Amazon, Tmart, Banggood and Deal Extreme. When I need critical components I use Mouser & Digikey

dave

David Bodnar…

Tk’s for the link… Very interesting stuff. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

Thanks guys, each of you. I could see where this could become its own addictive hobby, like I really need another. Just watched a video on making a PCB board, down a rabbit hole I go.

Noel Wilson said:

David Bodnar…

Tk’s for the link… Very interesting stuff. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

Happy to help out, Noel - Happy New Year!

dave

I bought a lot of things from All Electronics in the past, but only use them for items I can’t find else where. The currency exchange, international shipping costs and time were the killers.

Both Mouser and Digi-Key will post both American and Canadian prices. The Canadian prices are often far less than the American prices with the currency exchange rate added. Both offer free shipping if the order is large enough. Mouser’s shipping is really fast.

But recently a friend suggested I try the Electronics Section in Amazon. Incredible! Components at a fraction of the price. But you have to know how to describe what you need. Typing in “Terminal Block” will bring up 356 pages. Typing in “Terminal Block, 5mm pitch” will only bring up 15 pages.

BTW: Cutting the new All Electronics straight trace perf boards is a challenge. Scoring and snapping almost impossible. So I bought an inexpensive plywood blade for my small and very portable chop saw. What a treat! Cuts them smoothly and only eliminates 1 trace.

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.7-14-x-140-laminateplywood-blade.1000710898.html

Yea, I need to start sourcing parts too. I used to shop online at Hossfeldt. They were, were close by in Youngstown Ohio. But they just kind of dried up and blew away.

So far In my playing around Bangood is a great spot. Free shipping on even the smallest order if you don’t want tracking and the prices are cheap. Sourcing all the parts David B suggested plus terminal blocks and two pin plugs came to about $12.00 bucks and that would be enough stuff to build five of the controllers less the actual LED light controller. Throw in a 11.1v LiPO and the bill is about a twenty spot. Add the three bucks I spent for the LED controller and for around $25 bucks you can have an RC/Battery ESC for a small loco or critter. And that leaves stuff left over to get a start on 4 more.

I can’t wait to start playing.