Vendor Links

• Digi-Key The world's best inventory for electronics parts, and basically the easiest place on earth to order from. Good if you know your exact part or need to select a specialty item. If you're looking for common everyday items it's sometimes hard to distinguish them from the million variations available at Digi-key.

• Jameco Electronics Good general purpose electronics vendor. Good if you need to browse mostly standard off-the-shelf type components. They mostly stock standard everyday parts, not specialty parts or variations on the norm.

• Electronics Express RSR Another good general vendor, though not as complete a selection or as good a web site as Jameco. They usually have really good prices, namely because a lot of their stuff is generic/import items.

• Marlin P. Jones Surplus electronics of all kinds at great prices. Inventory is a bit unpredictable except for standard common items, but most items are often highly discounted. If you're looking for cheap components and interesting items for random projects and tinkering around, this is THE place to go, especially for LEDs.

• Mouser Electronics Similar to Digikey, huge inventory, many variations on each product, but they are not as easy to order from as Digikey. If both Mouser and Digi-Key have what you're looking for, get it from Digi-Key.

• Acroname Robotics supply, a variety of parts, sensors, batteries, communications, etc for robot building.

• All Electronics Another general supplier frequented by robot builders. Though more oriented toward projects and kits, they have parts, sensors, and other items.

• Tower Hobby Hobby parts of all kinds - motors, propellers, wheels, RC supplies, raw materials, glue, etc.

• Horizon Hobby Another hobby vendor with R/C emphasis, they stock lots of kits and parts, materials, motors, radios, etc.

Batteries/Chargers:

• All-Battery/Tenergy Huge variety of batteries of all types and sizes, chargers, power adaptors, etc.

• Sunn Battery Good assortment of batteries, chargers, and accessories.

• Waytek Your one-stop-shop for DC fuses, fuse holders, circuit breakers, crimp terminals, connectors, wire, switches, relays, wire management, etc. Originally an automotive electrical supplier, they have lots of really handy stuff for all kinds of electrical projects. Good prices too.

• Comm Con Connectors A one-stop shop for connectors like pin headers, connectors, housings, etc. They are good if you need a really particular connector and need to specify each characteristic. They are extremely slow, however, because they do not stock anyting - everything is made to order, so it can take several weeks to get your stuff.

• Pasternack Enterprises Coaxial connectors and cables of all kinds. RF Headquarters, period. If it exists in the world, Pasternack has it. However, they are very expensive. I find them quite useful in identifying the parts I am looking for, then try to find them cheaper elsewhere. If it's a common item it will cost much less elsewhere (sometimes an order of magnitude or more!). If it's a specialty item you may be stuck buying it from Pasternack, but that's ok because they WILL have it.

• American Science & Surplus The coolest mail order store on earth. A comprehensive collection of odd and bizarre items, all under one roof. Great place to look for random supplies, materials, and surplus items for cheap. Plus their product descriptions are comical enough to read for their own sake. Check it out!