To avoid endless repititions of the 'anyone know where to get components online' question heres a list of recommendations. Feel free to post additions and i'll edit the thread down to one post if it becomes to big.
Europe Conrad - www.conrad.de ( pretty pricy but good selection of quality parts) Reichelt - www.reichelt.de (cheap and moderate quality parts, good for standard stuff) Pollin - www.pollin.de (opportunities for getting leftover parts in big amounts for real cheap)
US - Alltronics.com - they have dual 150k pots for the cheapest I found(3.95 US0, unlike this bastard who is a bit overpriced($55 US) also US - Bent-Tronics.com
I just tried mine and I am insanely pissed off/disappointed. It's a hit-and-miss chance that the button which actually break the circuit, the button press isn't that nice (the push-to-make pushbutton isn't nice either though at least it fucking works.), and if you can really easily melt the plastic if you heat up the contacts for more than 2 secs.
For parts in the US, I've had good experiences with Jameco. They have a pretty wide selection of good quality pots for around 80 or 90 cents per unit.
Steer clear of their rotary switches, as they smell poisonous. I've only bought rotary switches from a few places, but nowhere esle have I run across such a toxic smell.
Please add http://www.bitsbox.co.uk/ for the UK. I think the prices are good and the delivery is only £1.50 (unlike Rapid which had £5!)
I am reliably informed that bitsbox just buy in bulk from Rapid and then add a third or double the price on a lot of items. What you are saving in postage you are losing in price. They certainly have the same appalling push buttons mentioned previously at 25p each where as they are 14p at rapid.
But i suppose if you only want a few things the £1.50 shipping makes it a good deal.
Please add http://www.bitsbox.co.uk/ for the UK. I think the prices are good and the delivery is only £1.50 (unlike Rapid which had £5!)
I am reliably informed that bitsbox just buy in bulk from Rapid and then add a third or double the price on a lot of items. What you are saving in postage you are losing in price. They certainly have the same appalling push buttons mentioned previously at 25p each where as they are 14p at rapid.
But i suppose if you only want a few things the £1.50 shipping makes it a good deal.
Anyone ever buy anythiing from RS?
Hmmm. That sucks. They do have a few things which Rapid doesn't have though, for example stranded wire 8p/metre.
Note the way the shaft of the button coming up the the black tip is actually metal all the way up to the tip on those ones and the black tip presses down around the metal shaft, where as on the cheap ones there is no metal shaft and the button tip is flapping around loose.
I bought 100 of those JPR ones as i was scared i might never find them again and they are far better quality that the cheap rapid shit. Not as good as the maplins ones but then the maplins ones have mysteriously shot up to £1.62 each in my local store!
I'm not sure, you'd have to check out the site. I do know that the minimum order if you are paying with a credit card is £30 and you get free shipping on that much.
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and they are far better quality that the cheap rapid shit. Not as good as the maplins ones but then the maplins ones have mysteriously shot up to £1.62 each in my local store!