I'm hoping to get a little assistance compiling a nice list of common (things a typical/advanced hobbyist may use) electronic part categories. I'm no expert by any means so input from everyone here will help me out a lot. Categories could be things like resistors, capacitors, audio, optics, ICs, micros, etc.

Edit: I'm not looking to learn about electronics or to know what type of parts to buy. I'm writing an application to help categorize electronic parts and I'm just trying to get a handle (from other hobbyists) on how people categorize their own part collections.

Here's what I'm looking for:

In general:

Code:

Main Category [Properties]
> Subcategory [Additional Properties, if any]
>> Sub-subcategory  [Additional Properties, if any]
> Subcategory [Additional Properties, if any]

Some examples:

Code:

Resistor [Color Code, Value]
> 1/4 Watt
> 1/2 Watt

Code:

Capacitor [Value]
> Electrolytic
> Ceramic [C0de]

Thanks for your help!

You want to no what you need to get started ???? it All depends on what you want to do
you could go to radio shack get a bag of resistors $12.95 a box of Capacitors $3.99
15 npn $2.49 15 pnp $2.49 and A bread board $6.99 and find some old 4 wire solid copper
phone wire free if you look around for it. Get a good volt ohm meter $50.00 home depot
and check out this site Learning Electronics : Free Electric Circuits Textbooks

Originally Posted by bacterozoid

Thanks, but I don't need to learn about electronics - I already know enough about that. I'm looking to find some common categories of parts the typical hobbyist may use.

What you are asking is for someone to identify your interests.

You need to know if you are primarily interested in digital, or analog. Then start from there.

If you are into micro-controllers, the parts list is going to be different than ham radio.

The field of electronics is wide, you will have to be more specific on your interests in the field before anyone could give you categories of parts.

I'm a hobbyist. I did a lot of shopping at the thrift stores what I found common are 47uf capcitors 10uf and 1uf. But, the resistors were all different and from 1/4 to 1/2 watt. Power resistors went up depending on supply and output voltages.

I'd say buying a kit of resistors both 1/4 and 1/2 watt.

A lot of broken consumer electronics are just thrown away having a few scrap circuit boards laying around to rob for a hobbyist is not a bad idea saves money.


kv

Most people that ask for a list don't no what they need.

Thanks, but I don't need to learn about electronics

common categories of parts the typical hobbyist may use

I use them all you name it I would say I'm all most sure to have it. What do you want say's lets make a list for picmicro avr Intel uc. 1 for basic electronics 1 for radio electronics 1 logic electronics .

Digikey Catalog.......it's all right there in the index!

You could look at some sites that sell components, observe how their search engine works and then emulate that with your program. An example of sorting MOSFETs:
Digi-Key Part Search
I'll admit the DigiKey site is a little TOO detailed for the average hobbyist, but you get the general idea.

I agree with kchriste--check out some of the apps already available, look at online product catalogs, ask in various places for people's impressions of which ones are set up well and which ones aren't so easy to use.

Make up some mockups of the application using different sorting/category layouts, and get people to test them and tell you what they liked and didn't like about it. Essentially what you're doing here is usability testing. It helps if you get people to test it who have different levels of ability in various areas. For instance, try to get someone who is experienced in electronics but not so much in using computers; try to get someone else who is starting out in electronics but pretty good with computers (at least proficient in using different kinds of apps), etc.

It's a bit tedious but well worth it in the long run if you intend to sell the app.


Good luck,

Torben

This is what I have done. Most of my work is low power so I bought 50 of every value of resistor, 10%, 1/4W, from 100Ω to 10MΩ. These are MCF series carbon film and cost $1.00 per 50. There are 12 values in each decade. I group all my resistors together in clip lock bags (to stop the legs oxidising) based on their first 2 digits, and write this on each bag. That is, I put 10 on the bag containing 100, 1k, 10k, 100k, 1M and 10M. The same with the other 11 values. I also design high frequency circuits, because reactive components, such as capacitors and inductors, can be kept at low values, making them cheaper. I bought ±10% MCBU or MCFY series ceramic capacitors, 10 each, at around $1.50 per 10, ranging from 100pF to 100n. Above these values, use electolytics. A couple of 1000uF thrown in won't hurt. Dont bother with inductors to much. Also, opamps are very handy. You can do an awfull lot of trickery with these. I use single rail type LM324 quad opamp at $4.26 for 5. Maybe throw in a 555 timer or two. As for IC's, well I'll leave that to your imagination. They are lots of fun to use. Hope this helps.

Now I get what you are trying to do.

Here is an idea, get a label maker and one of these