I want to order online the following list of parts for a breadboard project I am assembling. I have found many sites where I can order individual components on this list. However, I would like to order as many parts as possible from a single site in order to minimize shipping costs. Does anyone here have a recommendation for an online store where I can order most or all of the following:
breadboard
breadboard jumper wires
3.5 mm Mono phone cables
DB9 serial cables
the following components configured for PC board mounting:
relays
3.5 mm Mono phone jack
DB9 connector
mouser.com is also good as they have product lines that neither jameco nor digikey carry, and newark.com has an incredible amount of stuff in stock however they can be a bit pricey so they are usually down the list of places to shop.
You may want to check the shipping/handling charges for the various suppliers. Digikey use to add a handling fee for under $25 orders, and I think one must order “online” to avoid such with Jameco. In the past Mouser didn’t have a minimum order amount. One might also check the smaller suppliers that also carry surplus items that might be of interest. I’ve gotten small 5v relays and other parts inexpensivly from BGmicro (below). Almost all of the parts origionally listed in the discussion are available at Radio Shack, which may cost more, but has quick availability. I use a 15 watt soldering iron from RS because they also have the replacement tips there too.
I do this as well and reccomend it if you are going to be soldering for this project and do not have a soldering iron yet. They come as cheap as $9.00 and have the replacement tips, which in my experience is good since I go through a lot of tips for replacement and for different kinds of soldering.
Below is the type soldering iron I use. Works well for the small parts. The thin tip does dissolve over time, so easy access to the replacement tips is handy.
I have the big bulky “gun looking” one with a fine tip. Been needing to take a trip down to RS to get one of those, probably less powerful, but more acurate and easier to hold.
This is the one that I use at home pictured below . It gets the job done but it would be hard to use with fine pitched QFPs. I want to get the same unit that my work has (PACE ST-45) but for the money, something else always wins the battle.
Thanks very much for all the responses. I have a follow-up question:
I have a circuit that can provide up to 25 ma at five volts. I want to use this circuit with a relay to control a device which detects the opening of a normally closed switch. I don’t know the actual circuitry of the device, but it’s a 24 volt DC system and I would assume it only needs to send a few ma through the switch. Am I correctly understanding the specifications of this relay as being suitable for my needs? Link
thanks in advance,
Joe
Where do you live? If in Canada, Digikey all the way. Overnight $8 shipping, can’t be beat.
I use a $150 weller controlled temp iron. I do a lot of soldering so I can justify it. And I had $200 of Active electronics gift cards from the robot games one day.
