source for resistors in quantity

[ted01]

Anybody have any recommendations for a source for resistors? I would like to stock up and get the E24 series (24 values per decade) through 6 decades (1 ohm to 1 Meg). I'd like to get a quantity of 100 resistors per value; probably 1% Metal Film, 1/2 watt and 2 watt. I know it's a batch of resistors... It's just that I live in a rural area, and it's kinda getting old driving 40 miles each way just to find that the one value Fry's is out of is (of course) the one I want. Do ya' think I could find somewhere that would be able to price them at one to two cents a piece, or am I off in la-la land again?

Oh, got any thoughts on how best to organize all those resistors? I could get a whole mess of those parts bins, but I don't have enough wall space to hang that many. I was thinking of keeping them in the plastic and somehow using some of those "card catalog" style boxes.

Ted

[Andy Le Blanc]

it depends on the volume and type
I try to get box quantities of 1000
it a long term illness, hobby, and I dont like running out
now I could get reels but alas, 5000 would be just a little silly
check out www.mouser.com and look a the price breaks for quantity
1 will cost .39 10 - .32each 100 -.24 1000-.17
for example
they send small quantities in little bags in side zip locks
and theyre alway slidding around no matter how careful you are
the ammo boxes stack neatly in one container
and in the longer term the more you get the cheaper it is
anyway.... try to find larger authorized distributors
there reliable and you wont run the risk of getting stiffed on the web
or pay $ 1.99 for a pack of 10 that cost the guy selling .03 each
theres also ....allied....digikey.... and more.....

[ted01]

it a long term illness, hobby, and I dont like running out

And I got it bad...

[ted01]

1000 resistors is just a bit more than I need or can afford, especially given the fact that I'm looking at 288 values, total.

I've seen collections of resistors up on Ebay that work out to about 2 cents apiece. I'm guessing that they are being offered by companies that are located along the Pacific Rim (close to manufacturers). Anybody have any experience with any of those companies? As an example, I have used BestHongKong.com for LED's. Great prices, good service. Product is shipped via Hong Kong postal service and took just over a week to get here. That's what I'm hoping to find.

[Ron Worley]

As noted above, you can try Mouser, and there's also Allied Electronics, Newark and others.

My research shows Mouser to be the lowest cost... and with the internet, there's no reason to drive that far... but it does take planning...

Storage is the next challenge...

[ted01]

Here's an update... I found a vendor in China that sells through Ebay. Here's the link for what I got:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0227200118

While the shipping was more than the actual resistors, it still worked out to about 1.5 cents a piece. I got 306 different values and 100 resistors for each value.

Haven't received anything yet (just ordered 'em), vendor claims 3-7 days shipping from China. I'll update when I get them (or not...).

If you're looking to stock up a whole mess of resistors, this might be a good way to do it.

Ted

[ted01]

OK, here's an update. Placed the order. A couple of days later I get an email that the "producer" needs 15 days to complete the order. A couple days after that, I get another email that he can't do 1/2 watt, is 1/4 watt ok? Hell no. I ordered 1/2 watt, I want 1/2 watt. Finally, I get an email saying that the "producer" can't do it. Refunded my money. Repeat: He DID refund my money. Other than the inconvenience, I'm not out anything. However, I'm still a bit pissed. He sold something he didn't have and couldn't come up with. Ah well, live and learn. Damn, I had my hopes up that I could build up a stock of resistors for a really good price and never have to leave the house again! At least not for resistors. I guess I'm just going to have to settle for a much smaller quantity of each value. About the only way I'll be able to afford that many different values.... Back to the drawing board...

Ted

P.S. I don't suppose there's enough interest to try to put together some kind of a group buy, is there? Hell, I'd front the money if enough of you were interested in something like this. I was looking at 306 different values; a handful of values below 1K and then the E96 series (96 values per decade) from 1K to 1M. If this is something you might be interested in either PM me or post here. I have the full list of values in a text file if you are interested. Oh, my hope would be to try to get the price down to 1 to 2 cents per resistor.

[CaseyJones]

I'll either scrounge 1/2 watt carbon comps (for vintage repairs) from various sources or I'll go with 1 watt carbon film Xicons from Mouser.

I don't see any reason to stock every value on God's green earth. I'll go 820, 1k, 1.5k, 2.2k, 2.7k for cathode resistors. Then 10k, 22k, 47k, 56k, 68k, 82k, 100k, 150k, 220k, 470k and 1meg. Those values cover most of what I'll need.

If cathode bias is in your future 130, 220, 250, 330 and 470 ohms in 5 and 10 watt ratings are useful. I could get by without 220 and 330 ohms.

I don't screw around with stocking every value, my executor will just end up scratchin' his or her ass wonderin' what to do with 'em all when I drop dead. I buy what I need when I need it. I most certainly don't screw around with sketchy Asian vendors.

[David Root]

I use different resistors in different amps, so I don't carry huge stocks. The other reason is there is always something new coming out, which may be better or cheaper for the same quality as you have been using, so I don't want to get stuck with a lot of stuff.

OTOH I don't build a lot of amps. I do agree with Casey Jones about not buying all possible values, but occasionally I will buy odd values eg 51K, 510K, if I'm doing an old '40s Gibson circuit, just to be "vintage correct", although I know the 47K/470k is well within the original tolerances.

I have a small stock of 1/2W NOS carbon comps for '40s and early '50s circuits. Occasionally I will use 1/2W Riken carbon films, quiet and no drfift, but they're expensive.

In a modern 4-stage preamp crunch machine I use PRP GP and PR9372 in 1/2W and 1W. These are modern metal films, the 9372 is designed for audio work.

In between I mix & match depending on the circuit. For example in a Fender type circuit I would use 1/2W carbon comp as the plate resistor in stages prior to the PI, to get a little bit of that nice second harmonic distortion, and metal fim in the cathode resistor. I might use a carbon comp or metal film resistor in the signal line, depending on the circuit and the resistor's position in it.

In power supplies I would use Mills 5W wirewounds in the 2W and above required power, and PRP GP 1W between the preamp nodes.

Cathode bias power section, 12W Mills wirewound or Dale type wirewounds, chassis mounted, in power ratings above 12W.

[CaseyJones]

OTOH I don't build a lot of amps. I do agree with Casey Jones about not buying all possible values, but occasionally I will buy odd values eg 51K, 510K, if I'm doing an old '40s Gibson circuit, just to be "vintage correct", although I know the 47K/470k is well within the original tolerances.

There's a low buck dodge for that: Say for instance you want a 51k. I stock 47k / 10%. I can pretty much guarantee that "10%" for the most part means up to 10% over so 47k + 4.7k = 51.7k at the outside of the tolerance range. Dip into that parts bin DMM in hand, there's gotta be a 51k in there.

If you wanna be a pervert about it there's a vendor on eBay who sells 5 pound grab bags of German 1% resistors. That's good for hours and hours of fun and entertainment... sortin' values!