Model Train Journal

What's a good on-line source for electronic bits, i.e. resistors, toggle switches, bulbs, shrink-wrap, wire, etc.?

Healey

Amazon?

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:Amazon?

Really? Wouldn't have thought of them, but I'll give it a shot.

healey36 wrote:

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:Amazon?

Really? Wouldn't have thought of them, but I'll give it a shot.

They sell just about everything else now.

10 seconds Google:

https://www.google.com/search?source=hp ... Bo2Lg9kNkc

All the RadioShack stores in Tucson closed but I still buy from RadioShack online (as well as the other electronic stores I posted above. Elliott's is here in Tucson.)

The last time I purchased from R.S. online it was for 10, 1 ohm, 10 watt resistors to build a 0.1 ohm, 100 watt current shunt. RadioShack does not supply an accuracy specification on these power resistors but the shunt turned out to be 0.099 ohms. Good enough for model train measurements.

There may be an electronics store in your "local" area that probably "specializes" in short wave radio or possibly security stuff.

We used to order electronic components for the instructional labs from Mouser and Digikey.

Fry's, if you want to walk in. Mouser, DigiKey for mail order.
Last night all my RatShack catalogs went into the recycle bin.
Overpriced, low quality.
But they'd give you free flashlights that rarely worked!

Thanks guys, I'll check 'em out. I stopped by Lowes this afternoon, and they had the spdt/dpdt toggle switches I needed, and one of my neighbors suggested an electronics component wholesaler over in Hunt Valley. Thanks again for pointing to some alternatives.

ScaleCraft wrote:Fry's, if you want to walk in. Mouser, DigiKey for mail order.
Last night all my RatShack catalogs went into the recycle bin.
Overpriced, low quality.
But they'd give you free flashlights that rarely worked!

Fry's sells mail order.

RadioShack overpriced? Compared to what? (You are correct about the flashlight, in my experience.)
Let's compare RadioShack mail order to Fry's mail order.
RadioShack 1 ohm, 10-watt resistors, $1.99, free shipping. Cost: $1.99.
Fry's 1 ohm, 10-watt resistors, $1.69, $24.54 shipping. Cost: $26.23.

Low quality, compared to what?
RadioShack 1 ohm ±1% (10 samples in parallel.) High enough quality for model trains.
Fry's 1 ohm ±5% (specification.) (Low quality compared to RadioShack.)

A word about the precision of the DIY current shunt.

It is built from all RadioShack parts (resistors, circuit cards, banana sockets, wire cutters, solder, solder paste, and soldering iron.) It will measure up to 30 amps continuous but, even though 10 10 watt resistors have a combined rating of 100 watts, it was not built to measure 100 amps continuously (gets too hot.)



As you can see from the photograph they are Dale 10% resistors. The actual values of individual resistors may have ranged from 0.9 to 1.1 and still be considered in-tolerance. The value of the current shunt turned out to be 0.099 ohms. Your results may vary.

Yes, all of the above but also EBay if you don’t need it fast. I’ve bought resistors, diodes, LEDs, heat shrink tubing, rotating multi-pole selector switches and DPDT toggle switches off EBay. They are always cheaper, usually free shipping, mostly from China and slow shipping.