I've just bought the book Make Electronics and now I need to buy some stuff to do the experiments.

For the tools (multimeters, small pliers, diagonal cutter, wire stripper), do you think that RadioShack tools are good? For the multimeter, how much should I spend (they have several models on RadioShack) and what model should I buy? If you think that they are not so good, is there any other site were I can buy tools (possibly with a resonable price)? Is there any good tool set with the tools that I need and/or some other useful ones?

For the components, I have two options:
-Buy the Components Pack 1 (for the first half of the book) on RadioShack online store (in this case I prefer to buy also the tools there) or on an other website that sells it with a lower prices (in this case if this website has good tools I will buy them there; if they haven't, I will buy them on another site);
-Buy the components one by one on a cheaper store like Mouser, Digikey, Farnell or others. In this case I would like to know if it exist a precise list for all the components that I need (the list in the books has also some product codes but they are from many different stores and I don't want to do a lot of small orders)
or if someone can help me in the task of selecting the pieces. This option is a bit more complicated for me because I'm new to electronics so I have some problems to choose between thousands different types of components but I think that I can save a lot of money (maybe if they're really cheap I can also buy the other chapter's components).

Thank You!

 

I suggest you do some searching on Amazon. Savings of 50% or more are commonly to be found.

 

Make sure the DVM you buy has the features you want. For example, you can have the ability to measure temperature with a thermocouple for very little more money. Capacitor test functions on DVM's are not useful to most of us, though a good LC meter can be useful if you find yourself working with inductors.

There are some cheap ones out there with only a 1 Meg Ohm input resistance. That really harms measurement accuracy when measuring high resistance circuits. Make sure you get one with a 10 Meg Ohm input resistance, or higher.

As for components, if you can afford to, buy lots of parts. Never buy one of anything. Parts from some sources are so cheap it makes sense to order 50 or 100 components if you think you might need one. The advantage of this is that eventually you will build up a large inventory of parts and they will be within reach whenever you want to try something new. Assortments of resistors and capacitors are useful for this reason.

I buy most of my parts from distributors through their online "stores": Digikey, Arrow, Allied, Mouser, Newark, Electronic Source, etc. I have had problem with misidentified parts or wrong parts being sent (without authorizationfrom Dan's Small Small Parts and Futurlec. Some companies that sell parts and kits will have a page on their website offering their surplus at reasonable parts.

One thing to keep in mind is that it is rarely if ever a good idea to invest in large amounts of memory compared to your needs, no matter how good of a deal because it will likely be a lot cheaper or obsolete soon. (Those tubes of 1702A EPROMs must be around here someplace...)

 

I suggest you do some searching on Amazon. Savings of 50% or more are commonly to be found.

Thank you for your help.
On Amazon I've seen some great bundles with a lot of components that are really cheap. I will compare the components list of them with the Components Pack 1. For the tools, I've also seen that there is a very big choice on multimeters and I think also good prices. Maybe it should be a good idea to buy on Amazon.

Make sure the DVM you buy has the features you want. For example, you can have the ability to measure temperature with a thermocouple for very little more money. Capacitor test functions on DVM's are not useful to most of us, though a good LC meter can be useful if you find yourself working with inductors.

There are some cheap ones out there with only a 1 Meg Ohm input resistance. That really harms measurement accuracy when measuring high resistance circuits. Make sure you get one with a 10 Meg Ohm input resistance, or higher.

As for components, if you can afford to, buy lots of parts. Never buy one of anything. Parts from some sources are so cheap it makes sense to order 50 or 100 components if you think you might need one. The advantage of this is that eventually you will build up a large inventory of parts and they will be within reach whenever you want to try something new. Assortments of resistors and capacitors are useful for this reason.

I buy most of my parts from distributors through their online "stores": Digikey, Arrow, Allied, Mouser, Newark, Electronic Source, etc. I have had problem with misidentified parts or wrong parts being sent (without authorizationfrom Dan's Small Small Parts and Futurlec. Some companies that sell parts and kits will have a page on their website offering their surplus at reasonable parts.

One thing to keep in mind is that it is rarely if ever a good idea to invest in large amounts of memory compared to your needs, no matter how good of a deal because it will likely be a lot cheaper or obsolete soon. (Those tubes of 1702A EPROMs must be around here someplace...)

Thank you for all your advices, especially for the multimeter. For the pieces yes I think that if I buy them one by one I will buy bigger quantities. But, as suggested by Kermit2, if I find some good deals on Amazon I think I could save more money than buying components one by one.
This afternoon I will browse on some different stores and I will see if I find a place to buy possibly everything without spending a lot.

For the multimeter when I've chose one I will let you know.

Just 2 questions: I've heard that multimeter with the V, mA and ohms on one plug are less safer than the ones with a separeted plug for
mA. Is that true in every case? Because I think that with my first experiments I wont use big currents.
And is necessary to have alle the plugs fused?

 

mA and volt/ohm in one plug is no problem. Forgetting you are set to measure current and trying to check a voltage IS the problem.

 

I've just bought the book Make Electronics and now I need to buy some stuff to do the experiments.

For the tools (multimeters, small pliers, diagonal cutter, wire stripper), do you think that RadioShack tools are good? For the multimeter, how much should I spend (they have several models on RadioShack) and what model should I buy? If you think that they are not so good, is there any other site were I can buy tools (possibly with a resonable price)? Is there any good tool set with the tools that I need and/or some other useful ones?

For the components, I have two options:
-Buy the Components Pack 1 (for the first half of the book) on RadioShack online store (in this case I prefer to buy also the tools there) or on an other website that sells it with a lower prices (in this case if this website has good tools I will buy them there; if they haven't, I will buy them on another site);
-Buy the components one by one on a cheaper store like Mouser, Digikey, Farnell or others. In this case I would like to know if it exist a precise list for all the components that I need (the list in the books has also some product codes but they are from many different stores and I don't want to do a lot of small orders)
or if someone can help me in the task of selecting the pieces. This option is a bit more complicated for me because I'm new to electronics so I have some problems to choose between thousands different types of components but I think that I can save a lot of money (maybe if they're really cheap I can also buy the other chapter's components).

Thank You!

 

Do not purchase too many tools at first. Sears store sells all types of tools ...you need a small pair of side cutters, a small pair of long nose pliers,a wire stripper, screwdrivers assorted a small soldering iron, and a digital multimeter, Sears stocks all of those, take it back if it does not suit your requirements and get another. May I point out if you purchase at Sears choose Craftsmen tools and if they break they replace them free.When it comes to components at a later stage in your experience, try the military surplus stores for many electronic parts, for extremely cheap price, by dismantling electronic surplus you can use your soldering iron and save money.Cheers Jim

 

Have a look at taydaelectronics.com for $25 dollars you can get enough to make bunch of suff
leds uC like pic avr 8051 resistors caps Lcd strip bread boards wire crystals transistor LmXXX you name it.

Good place shipping is cheap not to long a wait on your stuff.

 

I am currently working on the Make books too and let me see if you really need anything ..

 

Thank to everyone for your help.
I've forgotten to say that I'm from Italy, so some online stores have too high shipping costs.
For the components I think I will buy them on Futurlec. And the tools on Amazon.it.
Is the Mastech MS8268 a good multimeter or there are some better ones on the same price range?

 

Thank to everyone for your help.
I've forgotten to say that I'm from Italy, so some online stores have too high shipping costs.
For the components I think I will buy them on Futurlec. And the tools on Amazon.it.
Is the Mastech MS8268 a good multimeter or there are some better ones on the same price range?

Not a bad meter but I would look at the Uni-t 61E meter and I not sure any electronics companies by you..

 

Not a bad meter but I would look at the Uni-t 61E meter and I not sure any electronics companies by you..

Thank you for your advice.
I looked at the uni t ut61e but it costs almost the double of the ms8268... Is there a Uni-T meter with a price similar to the ms8268?

 

Thank you for your advice.
I looked at the uni t ut61e but it costs almost the double of the ms8268... Is there a Uni-T meter with a price similar to the ms8268?

The reality is that any meter will work for the basic setup... Personal I like better quality meter for safety reason .. I would check out a used Fluke meter but any meter will do and make sure to pick up a couple fuse cause you will blow them ..

Also check out

 

For the components...

If you're starting from scratch, a 1/4W resistor kit and some solderless breadboards are must haves.

What country are you in? If you're in the US, I could send you some misc components (resistors, caps, LEDs, diodes, transistors) for the cost of postage to send.

Harbor Freight has a free basic DVM with a coupon and any purchase. Not a great meter, but free is a good price. When you need something better, you'll know and have a better idea of what to get.

EDIT: Just noticed that you're in Italy. Customs forms are too much hassle and I'd have to stand in line at the post office to mail. Sorry.

 

OP: Not sure if you're already done with this or not, but I originally got one of those kits from Radio Shack when they were on sale a few months ago, not knowing it was almost completely useless for me as it was for the old 1st edition of Make Electronics that came out back in 2009. Last month I picked up this one on Amazon which is made for the recent Make: Electronics 2nd edition from 2015. I kept the old kits for parts since I got it at a RadioShack going out of business sale and couldn't do much else with it, and most of the components have changed other then the resistors and capacitors.

 

If you're starting from scratch, a 1/4W resistor kit and some solderless breadboards are must haves.

What country are you in? If you're in the US, I could send you some misc components (resistors, caps, LEDs, diodes, transistors) for the cost of postage to send.

Harbor Freight has a free basic DVM with a coupon and any purchase. Not a great meter, but free is a good price. When you need something better, you'll know and have a better idea of what to get.

EDIT: Just noticed that you're in Italy. Customs forms are too much hassle and I'd have to stand in line at the post office to mail. Sorry.

Hello, I'm a complete beginner and I'm trying hard to learn more about electronics using the book Make:Electronics by Charles Platt. But as this guy from Italy already said, rounding up all the components can be quite a hassle. So I saw your post about helping out with some basic beginner components, and was wondering if this offer still stands by any chance?? I live in Texas and I'd be more than happy to send you a few extra bucks along with the cost of shipping. It would help me out SO much. Thx!

 

The reality is that any meter will work for the basic setup... Personal I like better quality meter for safety reason .. I would check out a used Fluke meter but any meter will do and make sure to pick up a couple fuse cause you will blow them ..

I used to like EEVBlog until I saw how elitist and snobby he could be in some of his vids. That put me so off he irritates the hell out of me. OK if you dont' like something say it and move on. Don't destroy and humiliate the poor soul who said they liked it. Terrible individual. Which is a shame because he has a lot of knowledge to impart.

 

I used to like EEVBlog until I saw how elitist and snobby he could be in some of his vids. That put me so off he irritates the hell out of me. OK if you dont' like something say it and move on. Don't destroy and humiliate the poor soul who said they liked it. Terrible individual. Which is a shame because he has a lot of knowledge to impart.

Its the snobs again!

Sure they all do but after some while they start to fail or stop working, depending how you look at it then you need replacement and youd see its a different experience.

 

That put me so off he irritates the hell out of me.

I can't stand his voice and he takes forever to make his point.

 

I was just reaching for parts for the sequal to Make Electronics (Make: More Electronics) and I found this thread and wanted to let you guys know their are some component kits for Make: Electronics 2nd edition on Amazon that really make it easy to finish the book. My wife got me the set of 3 kits for a Xmas gift after the author of the book recommended them. They are not cheap compared to the individual component costs but they are worth it IMO since everything is sorted and labeled to match the experments.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01EKO6FYQ

P.S. If anyone sees a premade component pack for Make: More Electronics or and good Arduino experiment book and kit that explains all of the experiments and code as you go for a bigginer please let me know