I love electronics. I think I was 12 when I built my first transistor circuit (with my fathers help), and I have been accumulating parts since then. My first parts box was a Marsh Wheeling cigar box. I still have one some where. (No, I never smoked.)

As the number of parts that you own grows, so will your method of storing them. At one time I used a data base program to give me a list and to print labels for the parts I had. I don't use a computer to keep track of my parts anymore and hand written labels are just fine. Today, I organize my parts into functional groups, with a small amount of spec. data on the label. Such as: Op-Amp, AD8051, H.S., R-R, sing, (H.S.=high speed, R-R = rail to rail, single).

Create you own system. I did. (Some of the parts bins in this photo, I purchased new in 1970's.)

 

I need more boxes!

Going through all my electronics, I see that I need more boxes and shelves. Or be more harder on myself. If I bring something in, I must take something out. Better be organized before that happens.

I making sort of my own system, inspired by the replies here.

 

Nice.

Maybe this works in Arizona. In most other places, storage below grade level would need a dehumidifier running 24/7.

So when are you gonna get around to laying those tiles?

 

He bought too many, just like he did with the fluorescent.

But then again. so do I.

 

This program: http://www.trilogydesign.com/ might help. Currently I don't really have a system. SMD parts are worst.

 

This program: http://www.trilogydesign.com/ might help. Currently I don't really have a system. SMD parts are worst.

I think that program is a bit overkill. I just want to see what I have, without looking though all drawers, shelves and boxes.

 

He bought too many, just like he did with the fluorescent.

But then again. so do I.

Yup, you nailed it. Left over tile from a big porch job. I even did a bathroom with it and still had several boxes left.

 

I have a friend that set up a data base on a pre-IBM PC (don't recall the computer, it might have been an Apple-II) and he has all of his parts in it. All of them. In it is the count and the location. He makes no effort to physically organize anything, but instead finds a drawer or box (getting a new cabinet of drawers if necessary) and puts the item in that location and then adds that to the database. He has lots and lots of parts and so he completely relies on that database to find things, which means that it has to be religiously kept up to date. Hence, he doesn't remove a resistor without updating that thing. He may have a small non-inventoried stock of very commonly used things, but I don't know that.

It was an Amiga 2000... Not only do I have all of my parts in the data base but I have bare PCB's, assemblies and documents as well. Each item in the data base has a unique part number that I assign in numerical order. Some items have part numbers just for documentation purposes -- there none in inventory. The data base lets me do Bills of Material for projects complete with estimated costs.

The way I keep the data base up to date involves paper! Believe it or not, I print out the inventory. This is dozens of pages since I have thousands of different parts in stock. The inventory list has room next to the quantity-in-stock column. When I remove parts from the inventory, I put a line through the present quantity and write the new quantity in the empty space. To help me track the changes in inventory, I use a red/blue postal pencil and alternate between the colors. When the paper list gets too cluttered to use it is time to update the database and print a new list.

This method works since I am the only one that accesses the inventory. I am sure that even two users would cause chaos. A system using chits would work better for more that one person.

My bench stock is not inventoried. The parts are "paid for" when they are taken from stock and placed (lost) on my workbench. I sometimes chastise others for designing from parts they happen to have but... I _do_ have enough parts lost on my bench to do many projects.


Now for an admission. I _still_ lose parts. In fact if anyone can tell me where I put the 4.7 nH and 47 nH inductors, that I know I have, I would be greatly in their debt.

 

........... In fact if anyone can tell me where I put the 4.7 nH and 47 nH inductors, that I know I have, I would be greatly in their debt.

I will quote my wife, "look behind the milk in the refrigerator".

 

I will quote my wife, "look behind the milk in the refrigerator".

I am trying the next best approach. I am getting replacements. This guarantees that I will find the ones I no longer need.

 

I am selling electric parts now, about 500 kinds, all in unlabelled boxes.
I'm pretty good at finding 95% very fast.

There's no inventory list of any kind. The boxes are stackable with lids, have color handles too (i dont rely on them now), and different sizes too. A few cardboard boxes too but I only keep the ones made from very thick cardboard.

Of course its organized, so neon glow lamps, bulb sockets and xenon tubes would share a box, as well piezo buzzers and speakers, LEDs have their own boxes.

I can find most parts instantly. But I'm still working on it, always thinking of further optimization (basically get more boxes), and put away parts i dont access often in larger containers.

Ready made circuit kits share a larger container...

Nothing is listed or labelled.

One problem is leftovers, or parts that fall down + collected later. After a while, theres quite a few of them
And of course used parts from experiments they are more or less randomly smashed into a tower of stackable plastic drawers. That looks quite curious, often the fragments are no longer good for anything or broken in some way.

Parts from the time before I started selling are also seperate, share the container with some inductors bags.

Buying the appropiate plastic boxes, optimizing the usage, getting rid of messy cardboard boxes, I was able to double inventory, and can double again with no problems, so its a 4x increase. Mostly because the boxes are stackable, and I got some larger containers too, freeing up space i couldnt use previously for electric parts.

 

Plastic cases with those subdividers work for me. Each box for a grouping of similar components, labels on the inside of the lid above each compartment for ease of "finding" - labels include the part number.

I then keep a spreadsheet of part numbers so that I can access the full specs for a component - and re-order them easily without all that parametric searching...

I don't bother with inventory - as long as I can easily find what I've got... I'm seriously not going to update an inventory system each time I take a component out for a project... and then check it back in if teh project gets canned..

 

I'm donig an invenory list in OpenOffice. To get an idea of what I have. I will not keep track of quantity, taking components in and out of projects.

Another thing I have that bothers me a bit, is when I'm breadboarding a circuit that involves resistors. I'm not good at putting the resistors back. It is piling up...

 

I think we all have that problem, same with dirty underwear.
You have two options, either clean up or toss out.

 

Here is what I do with SMD resistors and capacitors.

I take a sheet of paper and slice it vertically. Then I join the two pieces with sticky tape leaving a gap between the two pieces of paper.
Now I stick the SMD component on to the tape and write down the value beside it.

 

Here is what I do with SMD resistors and capacitors.

I take a sheet of paper and slice it vertically. Then I join the two pieces with sticky tape leaving a gap between the two pieces of paper.
Now I stick the SMD component on to the tape and write down the value beside it.

That's a good tip. Thanks! I'll try that on my breadboarded resistors. In the end, all it takes is discipline.

 

I think we all have that problem, same with dirty underwear.
You have two options, either clean up or toss out.

Or the third option...
- live with the mess!

 

Or the third option...
- live with the mess!

Nah... I'm trying to get better at cleaning and putting things back where they belong. I have a bunch of resistors to measure with the DMM and sort out.

 

If I want to find something I need to order it when it arrives I find the one that I all ready had.

 

If I want to find something I need to order it when it arrives I find the one that I all ready had.

That's what I'm trying to avoid. Been there, done that... bought too much