Hello guys, i'm trying to get back into building electronic circuits for fun. I mostly like to build LED circuits, i like flashing lights, 7 segment projects and others... Questions are:
What's the best (U.S) online store to order electronic components?
What kind of electronic components (ICs, transistors, diodes, etc) are a must have for any hobby electronic technician?
Digi-key, Jameco, and Mouser have a wide assortment of parts. Some have no minimum which is good for small orders. Futurlec is a smaller supplier but has a good selection of popular devices.
If you select typical hobby circuits to build, that will determine the type of parts you need.
I personally like Mouser. A big part of the reason is I live close to where they ship from (Dallas, TX) so I get my orders really quick, but aside from that they have a huge selection and excellent customer service. On the rare occasions when they have made a mistake, they fixed it fast, with a single phone call, and with no hassle. I am by no means a large volume customer so it's nice to see they will still make an effort to do the right thing even for the little guy. As for what parts you should get, maybe this will help.