My Electronics Parts Kit Addiction

Whether you're an electronics hobbyist, like me, or a professional in the industry, you're going to need a lot of electronic components to build your circuits. As the number of brick & mortar retailers that offer electronic parts has dwindled, in most cases this will mean you need to order parts online, with the inevitable wait until they arrive.
This gave me a reason to create my collection of electronic components so they'd be ready to use whenever a project of mine called for them. The best and most seemingly economical way to do this was to purchase components in kits of parts. These are normally put together and marketed for a certain type of component for multiple values/variations. Purchasing these electronic parts kits has helped me to build up my stockpile of components and has come in handy with just the right part for multiple projects thus far. But,....there is a downside.
My Amazon packages started to come more frequently with these little kits and modules that were the result of stoking the fire for my online retail adventures. Soon other online retailers were involved such as Jameco electronics, Digikey, AliExpress, Battery Hookup and more. When I realized that some of these purchases had such reasoning behind them of "I'm sure I can use this someday" or "I may not find this part again" I figured out I might have a problem. I was an Electronic Parts Kit Addict.
With that public admission out there, and expressed in this video, I'll also cover some of the more practical reasons why purchasing such kits, AS NEEDED AND IN MODERATION, can be a very good thing to stock up your electronics workbench. I'll even show you some of the kits that I've purchased, admittedly mostly from Amazon and give my impressions on which kits are the best and some of the thought processes behind my decisions to buy certain ones.
If you're building up your electronic parts stockpile for your own work bench, hopefully this will give you some good ideas, but this is also a cautionary tale as this can be very additive, as you'll see.
Thanks for watching my video. If you enjoyed the content please like and subscribe as it really does encourage us KZbinrs to create more content and shows us which topics people want to see the most. Take care!

[@coptertim]

You're not alone. If I need a single part I always order an assortment pack. This is a great time to be in the hobby. Everything from parts to test gear is so inexpensive it's easy to have a nice, well stocked bench. But if I buy another oscilloscope I'll be sleeping in the garage....

[@jimedgar6789]

You gotta order it to your neighbors house and let them in on it. 6 pack of beer is a good incentive.

[@eddiechung675]

Especially if it's 10 bucks on Amazon and it's cheaper than I could source separately myself

[@indian.techsupport]

Sadly its a good time for electronics as a hobby but having a small company in electronics is horrible and i would really love that.

[@KJFMZ]

@@jimedgar6789 That's all well and good but I wouldn't be able to keep my mouth shut about the new toy. Her: "You've been in the workshop a lot lately..... Why are you smiling?"

[@bildersoft-consultancyserv5314]

x2 😭

[@622.by.sunrise8]

These kits are the perfect gift for any occasion for an electronics enthusiast.

[@sammorris2721]

We Need an EE anon group to discuss out the origins of our kit addictions... I too have this ailment, and sadly it has only been fed by positive reinforcement. These kits really can be worth their weight in gold, specifically as they are sorted and make fixing broken equipment easier... Anyway.

[@davidconner-shover51]

I once ordered a 1 kilo grab bag of LEDs from Jameco. 15 years ago. I finally sorted that bag out, when I needed a bunch for a small project this last spring

[@ravenbarsrepairs5594]

In the past year, I must have ordered 50lbs of electronics grab bags. Some from Jameco, many from random Ebay sellers. Got most of them fairly sorted out; and the reminder sorted by type for further sorting. I'm currently awaiting 11lbs more, from 3 Ebay sellers.

[@3nertia]

Oh, thank goodness! I knew I couldn't possibly be alone in this compulsion!

[@billybbob18]

I have a kit like yours. It's nice to see a schematic and to be able to build out the whole circuit with what I already have.

[@xpump876]

Unless you're a prolific tinkerer most those parts will just sit in their boxes. After 4 decades of electronic projects, I have built up a large surplus by ordering what I needed (Tayda mostly and sometimes Mouser) and then adding a few items extra if they seemed to be in common usage. Most all of the "collections" I've purchased are still like they day I received them. I might use one or 2 parts but overall, their just extra parts I will never likely use.

[@Skydivewags]

"SMDs are so small you could inhale them". There's a thought i've never had before and will never be able to get out of my head.😂

[@JCR43221]

The book of surface- mount compoments is a really great idea. Thank you!

[@johnwest7993]

I feed my addiction by living in a town with a lot of electronics companies. I then hit dumpsters. I have a LOT of parts, like 5,000 12 MHz crystals. And thousands of HP Schottky diodes, and capacitors, inductors, transistors. I probably have a million parts, digital and analog, even after losing that many in a fire. The real project is sorting and organizing so I can find them when I need them. As Tom Edison said, "To invent something you need an idea and a lot of junk." :)

[@LimbaZero]

How I did with those resistor kits. When some value start to be low quantity at that point I ordered like 5-6 most used one as 100 pcs each. Same with other component kits. If you are doing digital stuff you can optimize it like to "few" different components. Basically you use different set of component for 3.3V, 5V, 12v, battery operated devices or combination of those. Also be careful because some of those cheap kits can contain fake/relabeled components. Mostly in IC or transistor kits but can be usable if you aren't using close to maximum operating limits.

[@DustinWatts]

We need more kits!!! I'm not kidding. If you are prototyping projects, these kits are indispensable. Of course there is an order to it.Resistors first, then capacitors, etc. etc. you get it. But I aso must admit, my kits become more and more obscure :)

[@LimbaZero]

When you get over that you have basically few sets of components what you usually use for all projects.

[@DustinWatts]

@@LimbaZero Yes. Exactly!

[@CriusDigital]

Glad to see a familiar face here at the comments of this video 😁

[@DustinWatts]

@@CriusDigital If have just one of those faces :)

[@CooLDEaFY4204Me]

Wow you are lucky. I wish I collection those like your

[@JoeGoesXtreme]

For electronics repair profesionals and also for hobbysts getting a stock of parts is actually a very good thing to do. I also collect parts and I have a similar "addiction" but I am not ashamed of it. Parts dissappear from the market so havinf a few pieces of each can save your project. Parts are also an investment. You can always sell them latter on if you dont need them. Enjoy your electronics bench!

[@jimedgar6789]

Heck, who does not remember when an 7805 was $1.00 at Radio Shack.

[@MrMaxeemum]

OMG!!!! I thought I had a problem but I've only got a third of what you have.😳

[@jimedgar6789]

Bro, I feel ya there. And the collections keep popping up on AMZ and I am like... well, $10 for 100 OpAmps.

[@GothGuy885]

I too am guilty of hoarding electrical parts. I get my parts mostly from electronics items that I find at thrift stores, yard sales, or out of my community dumpster, that I cant fix, and scrap them out for parts. amazing what people throw Away! I found my first PC [ a 386 ] left for dead in the dumpster area, because a father threw it out, after his kids got into the bios settings, and messed around with things and it would no longer boot, or load windows, and he had no idea how to change things back again. and also have found lots of interesting gadgets in the " as-is" area of thrift / junk stores. I love dissembling the items I find that don't work, or I don't know what it is supposed to do and exploring and learning 😍

[@patkelley8293]

It's always nice to be excited about getting something you want that doesn't cost a lot of money. Speaking of parts where can I get good quality IC Sockets vs the crap I got last round. Need 28, 24 pin ect.

[@StingerSecSol]

I have been recycling them from non-working electronic items for years but recently started buying kits. I agree, quite addicting

[@vorerakash007]

Dude!! Me also a crazy guy like you.😂.all on sudden, I found your channel. Subscribed,only for this crazy addiction to electrical kits.

[@Mike.Kachar]

I agree with @coptertim when he says "you are not alone" 😆 Whenever I find myself needing one part/piece, I go on the hunt for a kit that would have it, along with AS MANY other pieces as well. Also, my FAVORITE is when there's a label on BOTH the inside of the case/box, as well as the outside 👍👍

[@mikehughesdesigns]

My favorite go-to place is Electronic Goldmine. Not only do I have an electronics parts addiction, I have a Harbor Freight one as well (I have nearly every Bauer cordless tool). And all this in a studio apartment...

[@christopherleubner6633]

EG grab bag boxes had all sorts of cool stuff in them. Harbor freight is awsome for mechanical stuff.

[@eraldylli]

Oh man, I must have about 90% of those on screen and who knows what else more... Often they come in handy, unexpectantly. I feel a little bad about spending, but IT IS my main hobby, so...

[@pitviper7924]

Not only do I store electronic parts, but also misc. hardware, various metal and plastic material, tubing, nuts, bolts, washers, chemicals, old circuit boards, etc. You never know when you need it.

[@christopherleubner6633]

Anyone else experienced regret about purging their junk board collection. 🤔 realizing the part you badly needed was on one you got rid of 2 weeks ago... 😂

[@wizzardofwizzards]

If you are going to be in the game for a while then why not! I am sure that many have started a design thinking they have what they need to see it through only to find a slight mod is needed for completion with no part substitute on hand. Best of all, these kits are way cheaper than they used to be.

[@conwaynoel3715]

Your mad !!!! A production facility wouldn't have that much hardware in stock ! But if that's what floats your boat then carry on !!! Magic .

[@chrisshaw7328]

Thats a commintment my friend, not an addiction, I have the same one, better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it right?

[@jimmartin8853]

I guess I'm strung out with my addiction. How do we get this classified as a disease? Then we could get the government to pay for our Ebay and Amazon orders.

[@michaelstraughn3465]

I'm with ya Brother.

[@JimmyCerra]

Radio Shack used to have a few great electronic kits. Before they went under I snagged a few and have used them often when prototyping.

[@KarldorisLambley]

this is like my desk. boxes and boxes of the buggers, inductors, film caps, ceramic caps, electrolytic caps, bjt, 'fets, wire shrink tubing, potentiometer, zener diodes, schitky diodes, rectifying diodes, 47 IC, 74 IC, LEDs, and some of them again for SMD bits. all bought from amazon and ebay in the last year, since i decided to learn how electronics worked. i have found these kits invaluable. with these kits, bigclive, and electroboom, and a 'scope and function gen, and a couple of bench supplies, i have gone from not knowing what ac and dc meant, a year ago, to building laser drivers, inverters, and model rocket avionics.

[@m1ha1mateescu]

You can salvage tons of components from many industrial/commercial electronic devices, defective or thrown away. Good for the environment, good for your addiction, good for your pocket.

[@ztechrepairs]

Oh my gosh I'm right there with you. Owning a general electronics repair shop every time I see a good price on Amazon for a kit I buy it. And now it's gotten way worse now that I work on so much surface mount stuff. I'm buying every SMD component kit I can find. Lol

[@davenally8672]

I have this addiction too. Its a terrible affliction. I need help but nobody understands me. I can fix just about anything though :)

[@SkriptKiddie709]

I just opened this video is because I also have this same problem. Before Watching this I was in denial.

[@keithflesser1533]

Same this way mate, I'm always starting projects I need the one extra part so I usually order more than needed.

[@curtisoneill9929]

I buy the assortment, use all of only one part, then buy bulk that part. Fun fact, im a hobby guy thats never actually used all of one part. But i do have a shiz-ton of really nice organizers filled with neatly seporated components.

[@Lyndalewinder]

Also there are some rules which I have discovered apply when you have this complaint. Firstly there are some kits bought without reading the description properly which you later discover are so specialised that you will realistically never actually use any of them. Secondly you find that some of the kits, particularly of semiconductors, only supply components which are rarely used and the most useful varieties are not included therefore you are not likely to use any of the ones supplied. And finally there are some kits which are genuinely useful, such as the heat shrink ones, but after several. years you find that you have completely used up the three useful sizes whilst the other 9 sizes are completely untouched. I am happy to say that I am now over this obsession and I now have the patience to only order what I actually need and just order a few more than I want each time so my collection of potentially useful stuff slowly increases. This has the side effect of focusing me on actually getting repairs and projects completed! Hope this helps!

[@stevekent3991]

If you feel guilty, just build some projects. Having O Rings is a must. The times you take something apart and the O Ring has deteriorated and needs replacing. It’s difficult to find somewhere local to buy an O Ring the right size same day. Better having a box of assorted O Rings in the house.

[@JohanlastZa]

Dont worry. A lot of people have some sort of addiction. Some people even watch tiktok stuff all day long....weird I know. But you are not alone as an addict.....lol

[@brucemarsh4521]

Where do you get your storage boxes? Like, the one you have your ESP32 in, and the one you have your Arduino in? What size are they? Actually, what should I search for on Amazon, to find those two boxes? Fellow hoarder here, desperately trying to get organized. :)

[@Reverend11dMEOW]

I managed to pickup four or five of the sensor kits. Where can I buy these parts kits reliably? I just found-out the XR2206 function generator kits have bum steer ICs. Thanks!

[@ricksanchez188]

I kept waiting for more to come out. I just started my 3rd very large tote... It's worse than I thought 🤣

[@sdt1sdt]

I just got over an addiction to buying analog modular synthesizers... My only consolation is that buying Arduinos and electrical components is way cheaper... Speaking of which, I think I need a couple of those switches and voltage regulators that I saw in your video. Do you need any analog modular synthesizers?

[@Mekazas]

You got a I.C. socket in your connector drawer! That would drive me bats.

[@briandrake6881]

A good addiction.

[@jackyluong9618]

You're not alone. 🙂

[@icollided]

My bench is starting to look like that. I didn't realize it was a problem.

[@generalingwer4341]

Nothing wrong with being a hoarder ,as long as ur a builder.😀

[@davidculot9607]

Oh man. I could do the exact same video. It is uplifting to know that I am not alone, and I will go direct to Amazon order those diodes and Zeners I am convinced I will need one day :)

[@marisakirisame867]

Dont worry, i feel you man cuz i also like you

[@donaldkirby1871]

My 3rd floor of my house is full of parts

[@jasonmitchell8733]

I started back in the Electronics Goldmine days :)

[@jtreg]

i feel guilty, not about the the buying but my disorganised mess... you are very organised!

[@Lunolux]

nice video, my collection is growing year after year, i always by a kit of component, didnt this hobby would be fun to do

[@smithdoesstuff]

I haven’t started doing this with electronics yet but I already have a problem with hardware and ball bearings (assemblies and balls)

[@padmad3k63]

I'm cured from this disease, I only buy what I need. The problem with those grabbags is they have components you'll never use.

[@carbonosilicio5318]

Well... i have about 100 times more than what you show in this video. I do not buy, everything is desoldered, cleaned and wire aligned, packed, organized, registered in a database. For example, i have about 5.000 semiconductor individual references, most of them with more than one item. Many resistors, caps, inductors, all types and flavors and many more parts... I do not think it's hoarding but a true collection since it's all cleaned, organized and easily accessible. A hoarder is someone that just piles stuff without no curation. OCD? yes, perhaps, but that's fine. Do i use the parts? Yes, everyday in my electronic refuge cave! Thanks for the video.

[@JohnUsp]

Very nice. I guess all your components are genuine, not a xineze shit.

[@carbonosilicio5318]

@@JohnUsp well... Yes but it's not always possible to know for sure. The type o equipment and PCB assembly quality tells me more or less if the components are worth de soldering or not.

[@floralies11]

Definitely not alone. I have seen a few interesting things. The problem is that need and want are both four letter words. Adding a 3D printer into the mix is great for enclosures and also for investing more of your money into. Do not feel guilty. There are a lot of us...

[@nuxboxen]

Suggestion, collect high quality components, especially NOS vintage.

[@robertcroft2591]

I bought a box resisters from a school auction. 168 thousand over 6000 values from 2 watts down to 1/4 watt. All downhill from there.

[@Zman-sk5sp]

This makes 200 000 of us :-)

[@maticz3923]

Ay got the same 74HC kit Great stuff to play with

[@johnfrancis9668]

Welcome to the club

[@StephenTinius]

Omg omg I have a whole closet of that stuff, boxes of parts, Arduinos, cars with remote sensors, silicone work mat, soldering station, every ADABOX, still virgin, all just waiting until I have time, just in case I need to fix something. Ohhhh, I need help.

[@MrSoundman1955]

No matter how big your parts store, the part you want will have to be ordered beacuse you either really don't have it - or you can't find the one you have already. I would say that along with setting up a good parts stock and selection you must index it so you can find stuff. Otherwise you end up spending more time looking for a part than building your project! Or buying the same parts that you thought you didn't have.

[@M4XD4B0ZZ]

Instant subscription

[@xVinceCx]

They say getting into Eurorack synth modules is dangerous, and they're right and I have bags of parts in case I see a module I want to build so I feel for the parts addiction.

[@uncle-ff7jq]

Man. This is relatable.

[@jj74qformerlyjailbreak3]

If you didn’t make this video, I was going to. 😂

[@loubarchey2823]

My only wish is to find source that uses all the same size cases. The cost of getting standard size cases then move items over is a hurtle as that is money that I could use for more parts. Thanks great topic!

[@IsraelJacobson-mt2vj]

Hi, I’m Israel, and I have a tool addiction…I’m two weeks sober

[@williamhemmings2879]

LOL

[@williamhemmings2879]

In fact I have things I didn’t even know existed.

[@IsraelJacobson-mt2vj]

@@williamhemmings2879 😹😂😹

[@ChadAF_YT]

I have a pretty extensive tht collection but now I see I need like 40 binders to start my and collection!

[@502deth]

same. me: "ohh, that looks like a handy assortment to have on hand for when i need them." also me: never uses any of them.

[@502deth]

also me: i need 2 of these specific transistors, better order a box of 1000, in case i blow one up.

[@jikosauce]

Pls lmk where u get them? I know about online but what about Ace Hardware, Advanced Auto Parts, Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot etc??

[@Pabloeskobar6680]

Any more videos ?:)😊

[@TheNCGardener]

Tayda electronics is hard to beat.

[@TheDradge]

When I buy from Aliexpress, I have to buy at least 10 of everything. What's the point of ordering just 1? I'm addicted too! lol

[@KeyhanAkbarzadeh]

hey there 👋same here✋😅 you can also create and add affiliate links for the kits you're showing, it will benefit you and the people looking for these kits!

[@romulopartoza5598]

Brod...With those so many e!ectronics components in your posession you can start electronics business!! .

[@SSJIndy]

Same here. I should change my name to Tandy. 😂

[@kimvermeulen6840]

i also bought lots of kits but after 15 years i could start a store with wat i have after many projects stil . i now has 12meter length in storage units its 4 or 5 boxes a row last time i was sorting gear out and i was like wow i stil has them old diodes and other parts

[@jugnu361]

same problem with me

[@Manny2211]

If you are planning on fixing an restoring electronics that collection helps

[@killzoldek6147]

basic... But can you tell us the best place to buy high quality cheap components?

[@richterareinternational2081]

wonderful addiction ;o)

[@jlucasound]

Gives a whole new meaning to "needing a fix". 🔈🎛📻🔌🔍💡🪛🔨🔬🔧🔩 🤣😂😉

[@onecircuit-as]

Addiction or devotion? 👍😀

[@aspirin4709]

I'm addicted to that too... Is it normal? Or is it some sort of hoarding disorder?😅

[@mbunds]

Sorry, that's not nearly enough parts to constitute "addiction". You know this; during the construction of a project, we have every part available, except the one we need.

[@MikeJones-uq8pi]

It'll come in handy, even if you don't use it.😙

[@bobdoritique7347]

Merci for this video.

[@apollorobb]

You think you have an addiction you should see my 25' long garage wall covered in Akro bins and shelves full of components. Now that being said i do electronics repair for a living so there's that but i do have an addiction to parts. If i find something in bulk on sale i WILL buy it i bet i have close to 20,000 different components and Most i have hundreds of . So i do understand the struggle

[@aldob5681]

you never know what you need tomorrow...

[@splitprissm9339]

6:41 Don't hoard the RIFA!

[@izzzzzz6]

Lol what you gonna do with all those crystals? Best start a shop!

[@2WR467]

I guess the question I have is is it worth the low quality buying on Amazon.

[@jimlovesgina]

Amazon does not equate to low quality. I could supply hundreds of examples of Amazon selling exceptional quality products.

[@lawabidingcitizen5153]

It's more of a gamble rather than consistently bad components lol

[@geofirefly7318]

What have you built?