Suppliers in the UK

[antonm]

I've used Search to look for any posts on this, but the subject headings that came up didn't seem to cover what I'm after. If there are existing posts on this, please point me in the right direction... and I apologise!

I'm looking for good sources of components in the United Kingdom. I'm aware of Maplin and Farnell. Maplin has a reputation for being pricey, although that's only what I've heard. I have no experience of Farnell.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? I would be most grateful!

 

[picbits]

Rapid electronics

 

[Hero999]

RS Components
CPC Electronics

I don't know if they're any of the aforementioned where you live though.

 

[antonm]

Thank you, picbits and Hero999! -- those are suppliers I haven't seen before.

 

[Hero999]

I don't know this distribution of these companies in the UK.

I suppose picbits must be lucky being near both Maplins and RS. I live near Bedford, the nearest Maplins is in Milton Keynes which isn't to bad and RS is in Corby which is a bit too far but I'd go there in an emergency. Stafford is quite a large city so there's bound to be a store near you.

 

[antonm]

I'll admit, I'm a longtime electronics wannabe. My day job unfortunately prevented me from getting more deeply involved, but I think had I another go at life, I would have done electronics instead. I've dabbled quite a bit, and understand what most common components do, but not how to string them together. So here am I now, trying to get to grips with the theory, starting with what are probably equivalent to schoolbooks, although hopefully not as dry, and determined to get an understanding of what the different bits of a circuit are for, and why the designer chose them.

One of the books (on robotics -- yes, I know... cookery 101 starts with duck a l'orange!) requires that a small circuit be assembled on a supplied PCB, and one of the components is a resistor array which the author quotes as being "220 v 16-pin resistor dual in-line package". I can't find it -- not 16-pin. And surely it shouldn't be "220 v"??... more like 220 ohm?.. or K?... god knows what! I hoped that by looking around on-line suppliers I might get some clarity, but nothing quite like it seems to exist in the UK.

Sorry for the mild deception, if that's what it was -- I suppose I was really trying to conceal the depth of my ignorance!

Hero999, yes, Stafford has a Maplin in Stoke-on-Trent, within easy reach. Of course, the internet puts almost everything within reach!

 

[CanonMan75]

Hero999, yes, Stafford has a Maplin in Stoke-on-Trent, within easy reach. Of course, the internet puts almost everything within reach!

Don't waste you time travelling to that store, with it's ever-dwindling component range. Not to mention the fact that the prices of what's left of Maplin's component range have shot up just lately.....

You'd be better off buying from Rapid Electronics instead. I have no connection with Rapid, apart from being a satisfied customer.

 

[House0Fwax]

Another one for your list.
**broken link removed**

 

[picasm]

Here is the list of suppliers that I posted on this forum a while ago.
I have only used a few of these, my favourite is Rapid, but they don't sell quite as large a range of components as Farnell :

Farnell - http://uk.farnell.com/
Rapid Online - http://www.rapidonline.com/
Bowood Electronics -
Conrad Electronics - http://www1.uk.conrad.com
CPC - http://cpc.farnell.com (Part of Farnell group)
Cricklewood Electronics - http://www.cricklewoodelectronics.com
Dannell Electronics - **broken link removed**
East London Components - http://www.elclondon.co.uk/
Electron Electronics - http://www.electronelec.co.uk/
ESR - http://www.esr.co.uk/
Greenweld - http://www.greenweld.co.uk/
Harrison Electronics - **broken link removed**
Grandata - http://www.grandata.co.uk/
J A Crew - **broken link removed** (also sells hardware etc)
PW Electronics - **broken link removed**
BitsBox - **broken link removed**

 

[antonm]

Thanks everybody! That's a lot of really useful replies! Most grateful.

 

[Conradb]

RSH : http://www.rshelectronics.co.uk/
- their grab-bags and packs work well.