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12 September 2003

Components for Experimenting with Electronics

Before you can begin experimenting with electronics, you'll need a basic set of components and tools. In the USA, all necessary components and tools can be obtained inexpensively at Radio Shack. I don't know what alternatives are available in other countries around the world, but you'll need some source of components in order to perform these experiments in person. In any case, Radio Shack is my source for the specific items listed on this page.

Where possible, I've obtained items in bulk packages. They are common components and are quite satisfactory for all of these experiments. The components used in these experiments include:

Resistors: 500-piece carbon-film resistor assortment. This package includes at least 5 of each of 65 different resistance values in the range of 1 ohm to 10 megohms. All resistors are 1/4 watt, 5% components.
Capacitors: 100-piece assortment of ceramic disc capacitors. This package does not contain any specific guaranteed values, but will have components suitable here.
Signal Diodes: Package of 50 1N914 silicon signal diodes. These are suitable for switching as well as for analog signals.
Rectifier Diodes: Package of 20 rectifier diodes. These are good for 1 Ampere of forward current, and will serve in all required power supplies.
Transistors: Package of 20 NPN Silicon transistors (similar to 2N3904), and a package of 20 2N3906-style PNP silicon transistors. If you need alternatives, the 2N4124 and 2N4126 have very similar characteristics but lower voltage ratings. The voltage ratings will not be a problem here.
LEDs: Package of 20 assorted LEDs. This will primarily be a mix of red, yellow, and green LEDs in round and rectangular packages. If possible, locate a package with at least four each of red, yellow, and green LEDs in the basic 5 millimeter round package.
Integrated Circuits: These depend on which experiments you want to run. Operational amplifiers will be type 741 ICs or type 1458 (or 5558) dual-741 ICs. Digital ICs may be of the 7400 TTL series, the 4000 CMOS series, or the 74HCT00 series, which are CMOS devices with 7400-series pin configurations. Specific digital IC requirements will be provided with those experiments, along with appropriate pin configuration diagrams.
Hookup Wire: You will need some wire to make connections between some components. For easy identification, you should have wire with many different colors of insulation. For breadboarding purposes, you should use either AWG (American Wire Gauge) #22 or #24 solid hookup wire. Numbers higher than 24 indicate wire that may be too thin to provide reliable connections, while numbers lower than 22 indicate wire that is thick enough to damage the breadboard socket contacts.

If you're planning to build electronic power supplies for your experiments, you will also need the components listed on the pages for these power supplies. Refer to these separate pages for the required components and for assembly instructions of the power supplies you will need.

Note: Remember that it is better to have the power supplies and support circuitry separate from the breadboard socket, so they don't use up valuable breadboarding space.

If you're planning to build power supplies for multiple categories of experiments, select a transformer with the capacity to handle all of the power requirements. At a minimum, such a transformer might have a secondary winding rated at 25.2 volts center tapped (or 12.6-0-12.6), with at least a 1.5 Ampere capacity. That way, you can use the same breadboarding system for all of your experimental circuits.