[dorkbotdc-blabber] Place for parts?

[Lorne Covington]

Yeah, I normally use Digikey or Mouser for ICs and the like, but you 
really have to know your part #s.  When I'm doing a prototype, sometimes 
I just need to look at the connectors and such to figure what I 
need/will fit, so I want a shop I can walk into and check things out.  
And then there are the "dangit, I'm out of 1K mini linear taper pots and 
I need it NOW!" moments.

Maybe Arcade used to be a lot better; but just about any cap or resistor 
with a "4" and "7" in its spec was out of stock.  No 330 Ohm resistors 
at all.  No protoboards of any kind, even just perf.  Even their stock 
of NTE stuff was minimal at best, which surprised me given their web 
site.  I talked to the guy at the counter and he said there is no demand 
for through-hole stuff anymore, but their suppliers (such as NTE) insist 
they list their whole catalog even if they don't stock the stuff.

(Sorry for the dupe message, I got an email the first did not go through.)

Thanks!

- Lorne
(Who moved here from Silicon Valley and misses Fry's, and never thought 
he would be saying that...)


Thomas Edwards wrote:
> If you can't find it in Arcade, it's hopeless, go online to DigiKey!
>
> I've found the "key" to Arcade is to know what NTE part number you
> want using the NTE cross-reference:
>
> http://nte01.nteinc.com/nte/NTExRefSemiProd.nsf/$$Search?OpenForm
>
> That said, I don't generally go to Arcade unless I need something
> today.  If I need something tomorrow, I order from DigiKey or a
> similar outfit.
>
> Here are the sites to keep in mind for general parts...
>
> DigiKey
> http://www.digikey.com
>
> Jameco
> http://www.jameco.com
>
> Mouser
> http://www.mouser.com
>
> Slightly weirder stuff can be found here:
>
> MJPA
> http://www.mpja.com/
>
> -Thomas
>
>
> On 8/10/07, Lorne Covington <lorne at mediadog.com> wrote:
>   
>> Does anyone know of a good electronics parts place in the DC area?  The
>> kind of place that would have proto-boards, a decent stock of things
>> like variable resistors, ICs, power supply caps, etc. (by decent stock I
>> mean like 20 or more of one kind on hand, not 2 or 3 blister packs).
>>
>> I tried Arcade Electronics in VA, but frankly Radio Shack has a better
>> stock of components.
>>
>> Thanks a bunch!
>>
>> - Lorne
>>     
>