Grouping Transistors (The dog who caught the bus!) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: watchmaker
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 08, 2023, 01:18:40 pm
content: I have done the newbie thing of course and bought a couple grab (trash?) bags. One set was from a person who bought out a store when Radio Shack closed. Just went down the racks. But he also cut some of the hang tags to save space so there some 3 lead devices I had to leave to the $20 component tester. The only mark on these is a 3 band system (red,blue orange for example).I have all my transistors sorted in labeled bottles in 50 hole test tube racks. My ICs I have in plastic drawers labeled by function (OpAmp, Multiplexer, Latch, etc) which contain multiple numbers grouped on foam. Resistors are organized in labeled plastic bags stored in a free-standing plastic tray. Large pots are just stored in large drawers and capacitors are grouped by style and not size. My lab kits are stored as delivered.Unlike a pro, I do not need to worry about time wasted in locating a specific part. I just need things grouped in a way that allows me to find a group of parts that fulfill a general function. Then I can sort through that grouping.I would like to organize tranistors not by number, but by type/function. What is your opinion about this classification scheme?https://www.elprocus.com/different-types-of-transistors-and-their-functions/I am thinking of organizing them by type and then base polarity. Power transistors would be obvious and in drawers.LMs would also be organized by type in drawers on foam.ICs are organized by function w/ different numbers grouped on foam. Resistors are in identical labeled bags stored in an open plastic bin. Capacitors by type, not size. LEDs, zeners and switching diodes are separated, as are large rectifier diodes. Others are in their strips and a number are just a jumble. Trimmers are separated from control pots, etc.Also I have enough multiples of some unlabeled things to do destructive testing to determine the characteristics of the rest. For example, I have a number of large number of diodes that if I recall were used as rectifiers in the 60s/70s. And several groups of triacs that are unlabeled.What procedure should I follow to test the max parameters of these?Regards,Dewey

author: JohanH
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2023, 01:29:08 pm
content: What I personally think is important, is to have all your parts catalogued, so that you can search and look for a part. Could be a spreadsheet, text file or a "real" database. The important thing is to have the part number and/or description and a description of where it's stored.If I didn't have my spreadsheet, I would never in my life A. remember that I have a certain component when I'm designing something, B. remember where it's stored.

author: Terry Bites
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2023, 01:43:39 pm
content: Most of us just rely on memory to mange our component stock.I dont know anyone outside of commercial enterprise who finds it a pressing necessity.Consider a database if your thinking of becomming Mouser!Get a cheap multicomponent tester- you'll wonder you you ever lived without it after you first switch it on.IDs and tests your grab bag randoms.www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363704261698If your lab isn't a mess you're not a serious engineer!

author: Dan123456
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2023, 01:51:47 pm
content: I agree with JohanHHaving a record / database of what you own is really, really usefulThe amount of times I have bought a component only to find I already have the same thing at home is kinda embarrassing… and that is even with keeping a stock listAs for grouping them, I just go all “normal” NPN’s together in one tray, all “normal” PNP’s in another tray then “special” ones (MOSFET’s, SCR’s, RF ones etc.) in a 3rd trayI also take the time to sticky tape all the same ones together when I get them (like how capacitors or resistors / diodes come) and write the part number on the tape to make it easier to find them compared to digging through hundreds of loose transistors to find the one I need each timeThat said, I probably only have a 2-3 dozen different types of transistors in my stock so probably not the best system if you have heaps and heaps of different ones!

author: watchmaker
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 08, 2023, 01:57:53 pm
content: Thanks. But this is not going to be a business.I just need to know I have components and where they are stored. Then I need them grouped and sorted.This is very similar to the system I use for my watch materials. Pinions are in a box of bottles with rows being OD and columns being leaf count. Antique Jewels are stored in a box in bottles labeled by ID. New friction jewels are in their cabinets. Mainsprings are in a Storage cabinet by size. Chronometer parts are stored in one cabinet while aircraft clock parts are in another. Wristwatch parts by brand.I just need to know where each functional grouping is. Pocket watch screws are organized by manufacurer but not by size. I sort through them as needed.The only thing on a spreadsheet is my personal collection. Tools are grouped by frequency of use and function. If I tried to spreadsheet all this stuff it would become my hobby.People work in an almost infinite number of ways. This way has served me well for 40 years and I will apply it to my new avocation.I just need a schema for how to organize transistors in a way that when I want something to serve some function, I know where to look and then sort.Regards,Dewey

author: watchmaker
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 08, 2023, 02:08:15 pm
content: Quote from: Terry Bites on November 08, 2023, 01:43:39 pmYep. The $20 tester showed me how far things have come since I fell asleep. It is how I ID'd triacs vs thysistors vs SCRs. But need to do some destructive testing to find their limits. Suggestions!And you understand my way of working. Absolutely no intention of becoming Mouser. They already exist. I plan on having enough stuff to build a draft (daft?) circuit, do some sims to find what I really need and then order if I do not have. Exactly how I ran my timepiece restoration service for 40 years.Do you have a suggestion for grouping the transistors by type/function? I am thinking of using a scheme based on the article I linked in Post 1.THANKS!Dewey

author: CaptDon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2023, 03:10:36 pm
content: With those 60 drawer plastic cabinets being easy to find I have stuff really sorted well. In transistors alone there is small signal under 100v with a drawer for NPN and a drawer for PNP. Then there is small signal over 100v. Also places for Metal Power and Plastic Power as well as Metal Darlington and Plastic Darlington also by polarity. Drawers for SCR and for Triacs as well as RF and specialty transistors. Many drawers dedicated to I.C.'s also. Then there are two more cabinets for capacitors and resistors as well as a cabinet for the oddball stuff, lamps, sockets, LED's, readouts, card pulls, jacks and other crazy stuff all sorted often into sub groups. I was lucky that much of my stuff was aquired as over-runs from prototyping or end-of-run leftovers that were headed to the dumpster to keep the six-sigma wankers happy with a 'clean' work area. About 90% of my stuff is on a spreadsheet showing also quantity. I am sort of the go-to guy for local ham radio guys and experimenters in electronics as well as having the parts to keep the band equipment in good repair.

author: Jeff eelcr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2023, 10:44:35 pm
content: I did mine starting in small boxes moving on to drawers, 12 drawer cabinents sorted by size and number and type, as 2SA small, medium,largethru 2SD small, medium, large 2N, 3N, 1N, FETS, etc. most in labled 3X5 plastic bags.Matched, mixed, gain groups, etc labled. Bulk buys are harder as they seldom fit in a drawer these are harder to place and take longer to find inlabeled sleeves of 50 mostly outputs NPN/PNP matched.IC's same way, resistors boxes, sorted boxes, big boxes and 3X5 plastic bags.Capacitors drawers and drawers labeled and big boxes by types in bags.Skycraft here uses shelved bins for parts and 3X5 paper bags labeled for transistors.Jeff

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2023, 01:12:28 pm
content: Quote from: watchmaker on November 08, 2023, 01:18:40 pmThat is generally what I do, but function can be nebulous. For example there is too much overlap between general purpose and switching transistors, but there is no overlap with saturated switching transistors, which are now very rare but indispensable in some applications.- General Purpose Amplifier and Switching (2N3904/2N3906 2N4401/2N4403)- Saturated Switching (2N2369/2N5771)- Low Current and High Beta (2N5097/2N5089)- Low Noise and Low Rbb- Ring Emitter and Perforated Emitter High Power (D44H11/D45H11 MJL3281/MJL1302)- RF- Low Capacitance (KSA1381/KSC3503 KSA1142/KSC2682)- High Voltage