Well, it's been an awful long time since I've had both the time AND the money to do any projects - and I find myself wanting to build some neat LED projects, like Square Eclipse (by James Clar), and a propeller clock. Now, I'm also getting into PIC programming - I've got a programmer, I've sampled some PICs from Microchip. But I find myself with a fair chunk of coin, and no components. I need a shopping list, since I don't want to make a huge trek out to the electronics store every week or so. So, I'm looking for some basic, generally used components that would be a good idea to have on hand. My list so far: 50x Red LED 50x Blue LED 50x Green LED Resistors --- they're cheap, so I don't mind buying 100 of a given type, but what values are most commonly used? Capacitors - yea, these things. I'm assuming I'll need some. Values? Transistors? Potentiometers? Any other recommendations?
Solder. Lots and lots of solder. And I like to have a few switches lying around, they're always handy.
resistors: although most electronics stores will stock assortments, here is a genral assortment most: 1k, 10k, 100k some: 1, 10, 100, 120, 150, 220, 330, 470, 560, 1.5k, 2.2k, 3.3k, 4.7k, 15k, 22k, 220k, 470k, 1MEG, 10MEG least: 2.2, 15, 22, 33, 39, 47, 51, 68, 82, 180, 270, 390, 510, 680, 820, 1.2k, 1.8k, 2.7k, 3k, 3.9k, 5.1k, 5.6k, 6.8k, 8.2k, 12k, 18k, 27k, 33k, 39k, 51k, 56k, 68k, 82k, 120k, 150k, 180k, 270k, 330k, 1.5MEG, 2.2MEG, 3.3MEG, 4.7MEG caps are harder... youll need electrolitic: most: .1, 1, 10, 100 err, ill have to continue this later. i had put a list together sooomewhere
If you're going to do transistor circuits, you might concider getting a piece of experiment board, "veroboard". and for using resistors directly with LEDs, you would probably want shrinkwrap in an unshrunk diameter slightly larger than the reistor.
10k is used a lot, AllElectronics.com sells a pack of resistors (like 1500) of all sorts of them for like 7 bucks I think, though I'm probably a bit off, you can't go wrong there. You might also want some, dah, I don't know the name. It's where it has one input, and it goes to like 10 outputs through resistors. Can't think of the name but it makes your job easier. I use 2N3904 transistors just because they were at radio shack and they work for me, I'm probably using the wrong type but I haven't been able to destroy these things so in my n00bish eyes they're tasty. Get a bunch of 22 gauge SOLID CORE wire, and a wire stripper if you're doing a lot. A jumper kit is nice, but overpriced unless you get it online. That's all I can think of for now. You can always find some old electronics and test your soldering skills getting all the resistors and caps out of the circuits. Oh, you might want an assortment of 4000 series IC's just because they're fun. I'm wierd.
http://www.futurlec.com/ValuePacks.shtml pick up some value packs from Futurlec, they're cheap and they have a bunch of useful components.
Well, I guess the thing is that I'm limited to what I can actually, physically, go to the store and buy. I'm in a city that has a couple of decent electronics suppliers, so that's good. But this is why I'm looking for some suggestions - I'll have to make the "value packs" myself, since none of the electronics stores seem to cater to the casual electronics hobbiest.
