Electronic components in southern New Hampshire?

[Joel Moore]

Sorry for the localized post but I'm really getting tired of dealing with
Radio Shack's sad selection.

If there's anyone from the southern New Hampshire/northern Massachusetts
area reading this, do you know of any sources for electronic components
other than that waste of retail space known as Radio Shack? I'm looking
for something similar to You-Do-It Electronics but closer to work
(Seabrook, NH). I wish Fry's would set up shop on the east coast.

It's insane that these stores do not exist. I understand that electronics
tinkerers may be rare but surely there are many, many companies that could
use a local source of components for prototyping.

Thanks,

Joel Moore

 

[Chafik Hankour]

Hi Joel,

I live 5mn from this store:

http://www.electronicsplus.com/

right on exit 31 of rt495, or about 20mn south of Nashua NH.

Chafik

 

[Joerg]

Hello Joel,

It's insane that these stores do not exist. I understand that electronics
tinkerers may be rare but surely there are many, many companies that could
use a local source of components for prototyping.

That's just the point. Local companies won't send an employee down to
the store. Accident liability is one concern but the main reason is that
the half hour or so in fully burdened labor cost would be much more
expensive than the Digikey shipping charges. Also, Hobbyists these days
rarely tinker on the transistor level anymore. Many are now unable to do
that.

We are located near Sacramento. The local Radio Shack became a cell
phone store. Sigh. Fry's is at least one hour's drive away and doesn't
carry much in what I'd need anyway. It is mostly a computer store with a
small parts section that carries the bare essentials. I don't think
you'd even find a simple BSS123 there. Then there is a smaller store
that has some parts but mostly deals in surplus. So, I guess it's
Digikey, Newark and Mouser.

Regards, Joerg

 

[RST Engineering \(jw\)]

What is a BSS123?

Jim

Hello Joel,

.. I don't think

 

[Rich Grise]

What is a BSS123?

Probably one of these:
http://www.fairchildsemi.com/pf/BS/BSS123.html
( http://www.google.com/search?q=bss123 )

Cheers!
Rich

 

[Joel Moore]

Hello Joel,


That's just the point. Local companies won't send an employee down to
the store. Accident liability is one concern but the main reason is
that the half hour or so in fully burdened labor cost would be much
more expensive than the Digikey shipping charges. Also, Hobbyists
these days rarely tinker on the transistor level anymore. Many are now
unable to do that.

I don't think accident liability or the cost of labor are really
considerations for small development companies like mine (<5 people,
owners are designing, building, and crating machines). The cost of
having to wait another day before I can finish testing a circuit design
because I don't have the right capacitor is far more damaging.

But I guess the simple fact that all the component stores are gone is
proof enough that there aren't many companies like mine working in this
area. At least not enough to make it worthwhile to keep a store running.

I wish one of the big online vendors would open up more warehouses and
offer will-call counters but I guess there's no reason for them to do
that.

I did find a local repair guy down the street who said he'd be willing to
sell me the odd component if he carries it (which is all I really need).

Joel Moore

 

[Joel Moore]

Hi Joel,

I live 5mn from this store:

http://www.electronicsplus.com/

right on exit 31 of rt495, or about 20mn south of Nashua NH.

Chafik

Thanks, that's good to know about. I think You-Do-It in Needham is more
accessible for me but there may be times when that's not the case.

 

[Joerg]

Hello Jim,

What is a BSS123?

Rich posted the data sheet link. It's a vertical DMOS work horse. Cheap
because it is now made by many companies, around 5c in qties. 100V,
6ohms. The BSS84 is kind of its p-channel sibling but much less voltage.

I can hardly recall a design of mine where I didn't use one.

Regards, Joerg

 

[Joerg]

Hello Joel,

I don't think accident liability or the cost of labor are really
considerations for small development companies like mine (<5 people,
owners are designing, building, and crating machines). The cost of
having to wait another day before I can finish testing a circuit design
because I don't have the right capacitor is far more damaging.

Best is to stock a pretty good selection of standard parts right in the
lab. Ideally all you should have to do is walk over to the bins. I found
that even a good electronic parts store won't offer much beyond what's
right here in the bin racks. Then if you need that special Schottky
diode or mixer chip the local stores won't carry these anyway and it's
going to be mail order.

But I guess the simple fact that all the component stores are gone is
proof enough that there aren't many companies like mine working in this
area. At least not enough to make it worthwhile to keep a store running.

I wish one of the big online vendors would open up more warehouses and
offer will-call counters but I guess there's no reason for them to do
that.

It would likely not increase their profits but probably decrease them.
Rent, tenant improvements, inventory, staffing etc.

I did find a local repair guy down the street who said he'd be willing to
sell me the odd component if he carries it (which is all I really need).

That's a good idea. I even did that with a company next door to a client
of mine. Saved us lots of time. And if they'd run out of some specialty
RF stuff they'd also know where to knock on the door.

Regards, Joerg

 

[Joerg]

Oh, and don't forget some other nice staples such as the old BFS17A. For
around 10c you get a rocket. Over 2GHz ft and it even offers a
reasonable noise figure at low currents.

Just imagine what you can do with one of these in nsec applications.

Regards, Joerg

 

[maxfoo]

Sorry for the localized post but I'm really getting tired of dealing with
Radio Shack's sad selection.

If there's anyone from the southern New Hampshire/northern Massachusetts
area reading this, do you know of any sources for electronic components
other than that waste of retail space known as Radio Shack? I'm looking
for something similar to You-Do-It Electronics but closer to work
(Seabrook, NH). I wish Fry's would set up shop on the east coast.

It's insane that these stores do not exist. I understand that electronics
tinkerers may be rare but surely there are many, many companies that could
use a local source of components for prototyping.

Thanks,

Joel Moore

Just use Digi-key http://www.digikey.com/ , they have a quick turnaround, I've
hard stuff delivered the next day using UPS-red...but normally it takes a week.

 

[Joel Moore]

Just use Digi-key http://www.digikey.com/ , they have a quick
turnaround, I've hard stuff delivered the next day using UPS-red...but
normally it takes a week.

That's not good enough if it's 8 PM and you just need a .47 uF capacitor to
finish the job. We can't afford to wait a couple of days for that.

I think Joerg had the right idea -- stock up our lab with a good supply of
essentials.