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I am just getting started out learning electronics and I keep finding myself having to order capacitors and transistors and other parts for simple projects.

What are the best starter sets for a beginner? i.e. who sells a good set of capacitors for a newbie? transistors, resistors, LEDs, etc...

Im interested in both complete sets (that includes different types), as well as individual sets (say, for just capacitors).

Ideally, the kits are weighted toward pieces that you will use more often.

Any suggestions?

Brian Carlton
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mesh
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5 Answers5

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In answer, I'd try go for the Basic Prototyping Parts Kit from Electronix Express, and possibly the supplement if it has stuff you want.

As a meta-answer, there are a whole bunch of threads on topics like this one. I propose that we set up a FAQ, dedicated tags, or community wiki/sticky for this kind of question on supplies, stocking, and equipment, including:

Community
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Kevin Vermeer
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    Either that, or ask all the questions that need to be asked here (I think/hope we're getting close), and then mark subsequent questions as duplicates, but that feels mean. – Kevin Vermeer Jul 27 '10 at 18:06
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    I dont think this is a duplicate of those posts.

    I am looking for specific kits, not just lists of individual components that someone can put together themselves.

    i.e. kits such as the Electronix Express kit you linked.

     – mesh Jul 27 '10 at 18:33
  • Oh, I should add that they also sell individual resistor/capacitor/inductor/potentiometer kits on the same site. – Kevin Vermeer Jul 28 '10 at 12:22
  • "Specific kits" would be a shopping question, which is not allowed. I'm getting kind of sick of all the "I don't know anything, where should I start?" questions. Think about what you want to accomplish first, do some research, and then ask specific questions. – endolith Mar 06 '11 at 17:51
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SparkFun has a few various types of kits:

davr
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You can get kits of individual components for pretty cheap on eBay. For example:

davr
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  • There's little point in buying them if each bag isn't individually labeled though. >:( – endolith Jul 27 '10 at 20:39
  • To be fair, most of the ones on eBay that I've seen are labeled. I just bought a boatload of SMD caps/resistors on eBay and they all came labeled. – Flyguy Jul 28 '10 at 13:01
  • @endolith: In my above two links, the first one specifically says "Individually packed and labeled", and the second doesn't specifically say it, but the pictures show a bunch of separate little baggies with values written on them. – davr Jul 28 '10 at 16:18
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Rapid Electronics supplies component kits.

Leon Heller
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This Arduino starter kit from .:oomlout:. is fantastic, it's a really good price and you can buy it with or without an Arduino Duemilanove (Programmable micro controller) - plus .:oomlout:. is a groovy company too!

Jim
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  • I believe that starter kit is exactly the same as Sparkfun's "Inventor kit", just that this distributor is for the UK. – davr Jul 28 '10 at 16:19
  • Yeah - it's the same kit, it's originally by .:oomlout:. but you can buy them from Sparkfun, Solarbotics, Adafruit and floris. Was using one last weekend at a Howduino event.....they're a fantastic buy. – Jim Jul 29 '10 at 10:34
  • See also http://www.bitsbox.co.uk/compkits.html and http://www.bitsbox.co.uk/poundshop.html. Several other shops also sell "GCSE kits" (e.g. Maplin) – RedGrittyBrick May 31 '13 at 08:29