As a hobbyist and occasional repairer (who prefers to re-cycle), I was wondering where to get components in low volume, i.e. one or two? I've recently found that AliExpress is a good source, albeit a long time to get a part, plus it seems hit and miss as to what your actually getting and the shipping can get a bit pricey if not Ali specifically. Farnell/CPC/RS/Mouser/DigiPak all charge horrendous handling/packing/shipping charges! I now have "job-lots" of bits I no longer need (e.g. 19 push buttons left over to fix a CTEC car charger!). What do you guys who similarly fix stuff do/recommend please?
ahsrabrifat
- Jan 18, 2025
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Not all alliexpress sellers are dependable. You have to choose carefully. Check their ratings before you place an order.
Hello,
You might want to have a look at this old resource:
Bertus
You might want to have a look at this old resource:
Bertus
Thank you, that's awesome. I'll go through the list, though it doesn't appear to have been updated since 2014.
Just saw this "Similar Thread", below:
Last edited:
poormystic
- Jul 23, 2023
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Hi Lobos
It might be interesting to know what excess stock you've got. Sending stuff through the mail still works.
I have high power, high voltage SMD MOSFETs, for example. They're tiny and cost little to post.
Swaps might be arranged!
It might be interesting to know what excess stock you've got. Sending stuff through the mail still works.
I have high power, high voltage SMD MOSFETs, for example. They're tiny and cost little to post.
Swaps might be arranged!
Martaine2005
- May 12, 2015
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I personally keep boards from broken electronics.
Printers, hi-fi, radios, TV etc can be a great source for components.
I recycle all the casings/ housings unless they are small enough to be used for projects.
The list of components and useful items in a printer is endless.
Printers, hi-fi, radios, TV etc can be a great source for components.
I recycle all the casings/ housings unless they are small enough to be used for projects.
The list of components and useful items in a printer is endless.
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I've been buying stuff from Amazon. Most of it is imported from Asia. Earlier in life, I would raid the dumpsters behind radio and television repair shops. I don't know if any of those "mom & pop" shops even exist now.
Martaine2005
- May 12, 2015
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Nope!.
I also buy through Amazon and eBay for bulk. But you can get caught with fake components.
We ‘relatively’ youngsters compared to the field engineer of yester year will never catch up. My personal experience is that it’s a dyeing trade for real component repair. Even in the 80s, a board swap was the repair.
Nice to see you on the forum Hop’. I hope your health is good.
Ps. I know the difference between die & dye. Obviously my phones AI Forsyth
Aw Yes, I remember: the days of the Maplin catalogue, full of fascinating kit and component pin-outs, "have you got the latest Maplin catalogue?" I would excitedly say to a friend at school when the new one came out. We would swap magazines, he Electronics Today International, me Hobby Electronics. Elektor I believe came out later and was more interesting... Ah, the good old days.
Hello,
Do you remember Radio Shack (Tandy in holland)?
They had a lot of booklets.
Those are scanned and available here:
Bertus
Do you remember Radio Shack (Tandy in holland)?
They had a lot of booklets.
Those are scanned and available here:
ENGINEER'S MINI-NOTEBOOK: Radio Shack technical publication
Radio Shack published a series of technical booklets beginning around 1983. Many were reissued with multiple printings up to 1993.
www.worldradiohistory.com
Bertus
Awesome, love the 555 cookbook.
Hello,
The posted page is one of the "bookshelfs" on radiohistory.
The main page with a lot of other "shelves" is here:
There are also pages with SAMS and TAB books .
Bertus
The posted page is one of the "bookshelfs" on radiohistory.
The main page with a lot of other "shelves" is here:
BOOKSHELF Home Page
WorldRadioHistory: Thousands of Radio Music Electronics Publications ALL FREE
www.worldradiohistory.com
Bertus
poormystic
- Jul 23, 2023
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It was Forrest Mims who got me properly started in electronics, although I was simultaneously doing my time as a telephone tech. Then when Horowitz & Hill appeared it seemed that the world had just unfolded another several dimensions!
...
It's worrisome that paper books are disappearing; generally ~ Meh.
Edit: I just had a good look at the link provided by bertus, above, and was delighted to find Forrest Mims' Engineers Notebooks, among others. I'll print these out... they made good browsing back then, and now that I'm slowly resuscitating my ancient knowledge (for design purposes) I think they'll make good browsing again.
thanks, bertus
...
It's worrisome that paper books are disappearing; generally ~ Meh.
Edit: I just had a good look at the link provided by bertus, above, and was delighted to find Forrest Mims' Engineers Notebooks, among others. I'll print these out... they made good browsing back then, and now that I'm slowly resuscitating my ancient knowledge (for design purposes) I think they'll make good browsing again.
thanks, bertus
Last edited:
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Actually, if you followed Stan Lee of Marvel fame, you would have realized the Universe is actually a Multiverse with an infinite number of dimensions. Good luck with that.
poormystic
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Understanding is one thing... realisation is another. The "Universe" is an illusion, which owes its existence entirely to our habit of trying to differentiate "things", which we "think" about, from one another.
It's fun though... isn't it
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It's been a fun ride these past 80+ years. I guess we humans will all eventually find out just how "real" it was. My current thoughts are: the Universe IS God. God is reality. Not sure just exactly what God is, but the usual superlatives apply. Pretty sure that, contrary to Albert, and based on the observation that quantum entanglement exists, that God not only plays dice with His creation: He loads the dice in His favor so everything is predetermined. If we are to be judged, it is our choices that are judged, not our actions. God already has decided the outcome, but for some reason wants to observe our choices. Love Him or hate Him, it's your choice. Choose wisely, grasshoppers!
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Cogito ergo sum. That's about all you say about it unless you dive into the rabbit hole of solipsism. Just My Stupid Opinion (JMSO) of course.Understanding is one thing... realisation is another. The "Universe" is an illusion, which owes its existence entirely to our habit of trying to differentiate "things", which we "think" about, from one another.
It's fun though... isn't it
I've often wondered if a clone, an exact copy down to the atomic level, was made of you at one instant in time. It would have all your memories and think/know it was you, but from then on it would experience it's own memories/life. So it would not be you. You would still be you and observe this new copy as another person. Or would entanglement mean that you could exist and be aware in both states? So what makes you...you? If God exists, would God allow the new you past the pearly gates?It's been a fun ride these past 80+ years. I guess we humans will all eventually find out just how "real" it was. My current thoughts are: the Universe IS God. God is reality. Not sure just exactly what God is, but the usual superlatives apply. Pretty sure that, contrary to Albert, and based on the observation that quantum entanglement exists, that God not only plays dice with His creation: He loads the dice in His favor so everything is predetermined. If we are to be judged, it is our choices that are judged, not our actions. God already has decided the outcome, but for some reason wants to observe our choices. Love Him or hate Him, it's your choice. Choose wisely, grasshoppers!
Delta Prime
- Jul 29, 2020
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The hookah smoking caterpillar says; “if you like to go chasing rabbits!”
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I have given up navel-gazing for Lent. Quite a sacrifice, too, since I'm not a Catholic.
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