Purchasing Electronic Components

There is a limited selection of electronic components available at Radio Shack. Although this is a convenient way to acquire the occasional resistor, pot, or switch in an emergency, one quickly discovers that their pricing is rather inflated. This is not to reflect poorly on Radio Shack, for electronic components for circuitry is not what their business model is based on, and their business structure is better suited for consumer electronics rather than small inexpensive components.

Thankfully there are places online to order electronic components in bulk for reasonable pricing. Here we will attempt to build a list of suppliers online as they are discovered.

Major Electronic Component Suppliers

Other Electronic Component Suppliers

Ocean State Electronics

http://www.oselectronics.com/

potentiometers

Electronics Suppliers Non-Surplus (unsorted)

Get DIGIKEY, Jameco, and MOUSER catalogs at the very least.

Also try FINDCHIPS.COM partnumber search on several companies

    Allied Electronics            Large electronics supply catalog
    http://www.alliedelec.com
    1-800-433-5700

    Allegro Semiconductor          Took over Sprague Semiconductor.
    http://www.allegromicro.com    Linear hall effect chips, stepper
                                   drive chips, power op-amps.

    All Electronics Corp.         Lots of surplus, some
    P.O. Box 567                  cheap components.
    Van Nuys, CA 90408
    (818) 904-0524

    Arrow Electronics             Large supply catalog (mostly semi)
    http://www.arrow.com

    Avnet Electronics             Large supply catalog (mostly semi)
    http://www.avnet.com/em

    BG Micro                      ICs, parts, motors, proto, PIC,
    http://www.bgmicro.com             AVR, ooPic, RF, aud., opto.

    Dataq, famous $25 A/D converter (data acquisition system)
    http://www.dataq.com/
    241 Springside Drive Suite 200
    Akron, OH  44333
    1-800-553-9006

    Digi-Key Corporation           Highly recommended.  Fair prices,
    701 Brooks Ave. South          very *fast* shipping, monthly
    P.O. Box 677                   catalog
    Thief River Falls, MN 56701-0677
    (800) 344-4539
    (218) 681-6674
    http://www.digikey.com
    Easylink: 62827914
    Telex II: 9103508982 "DIGI-KEY CORP"
    Fax: (218) 681-3380

    Edlie Electronics              Cheap test equipment, lots
    2700 Hempstead Tpke.           of components
    Levittown, NY 11756-1443
    (800) 645-4722
    (516) 735-3330

    ELECTRONIX
    http://www.electronix.com/
    Gateway Electronics             Components, etc.  Blue PNP film for
    9222 Chesapeake Dr.             making PC boards with photocopy
    San Deiego, CA 92123
    858-279-6802
    http://www.gatewayelectronics.com

    Gateway Electronics
    2220 Welsch Industrial Ct.
    St. Louis, MO 63146
    800-669-5810
    http://www.gatewayelectronics.com

    Halted Specialties Co. (HSC)       Components, surplus
    3500 Ryder Street                  electronics, computer periphs.
    Santa Clara, CA 95051
    http://www.halted.com
   +1-800-4-HALTED Orders only
   +1-408-732-1573 inside California and outside US

    Future Electronics             Large supply catalog (mostly semi)
    http://www.future-active.com/

    Jameco Electronics             Cheap PC source, some electronics
    1355 Shoreway Rd.              components, ICs, etc.  Cheap
    Belmont, CA 94002              prototyping boards, power supplies,
    (415) 592-8097                 etc.
    http://www.jameco.com
    Telex: 176043
    Fax: (415) 592-2503

    JDR Microdevices               Cheap PC source, some electronics
    110 Knowles Dr.                TTL, Linear ICs
    Los Gatos, CA 95030
    http://www.jdr.com
    (800) 538-5000
    (408) 866-6200
    Telex: 171-110
    Fax: (408) 378-8927

    Magnet Sales                    All sorts of magnets, ceramic
    1-800-421-6692                  alnico,neodymium.
    http://www.magnetsales.com      Get their catalog.

    Mendelson Electronics           Surplus in Dayton
    340 E First St
    Dayton, OH 45402
    http://www.meci.com/
    800-344-4465
    fax 937-461-3391

    Mouser Electronics              Another good new-parts catalog.
    2401 Hwy. 287 North
    Mansfield, TX 76063
    (800) 346-6873
    (800) 992-9943 (to order a catalog)
    (201) 328-3322
    Fax: (817) 483-0931
    http://www.mouser.com

    Newark Electronics            Large electronics supply catalog
    http://www.newark.com

    NTE Replacement Semi            Cross reference for transistors
    http://www.nteinc.com/

    American Microsemi              Obsolete/discontinued semis
    http://www.americanmicrosemi.com

    Unicorn Electronics             Interesting audio-storage and
    1142 State Route 18             other unique ICs
    Aliquippa, Pa. 15001
    800-824-3432
    unielect@aol.com