Good buy?  40 spools, THT Yageo 1/4W misc. carbon film resistors @ 5$ per spool - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: bicstrom
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2025, 11:20:11 pm
content: Stopped in the local surplus store and saw it: a shelf full of 5000-count spools of 1/4w carbon film Yageo 5% resistors. Through hole. All looked to be purchased from Digikey. some were open, others still sealed. $5 each.40 spools of various E12 values. I noted the following:10r100r120r150r330R390r470r560r680r1k21k51k8 (x2_)2k (possibly 22k)2k23k3 (x2)3k94k75k66k88k212k15k18k39k47k82k100k120k180k220k390k470k560k680k820k (x2)1m1m52m23m3More resistors than I'd ever use in my lifetime.I can't decide if this is an amazing buy at ~$200 for everything, or if I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm an audio enthusiast, so low freq & low voltage for the most part. If these were metal film I'd probably have gotten it in a heartbeat. But I have some lingering bias that carbon film is not as good.Should I go back and grab them?

author: bicstrom
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2025, 11:22:01 pm
content: If it matters: it looked to be a mix of CR-25 and CFR-25 series. I need to look up what that means

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 25, 2025, 11:50:29 pm
content: IMHO better order 50-100 of each value metal film at LCSC. With these you'll just end with a bunch of E-waste you'll never need and probably don't have a space to store.

author: bicstrom
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2025, 12:29:25 am
content: Thanks for the reality check. I think you're right.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2025, 02:55:30 am
content: Metal film is better than carbon film (including for audio) for several reasons:1. "Excess noise" is higher with carbon, when there is voltage across the part (and therefore current through it).2. Metal film is more linear than carbon film (less voltage co-efficient of resistance).3. Carbon's temperature co-efficient of resistance is far worse than metal film.There may be higher parasitic inductance with a helixed high-value metal film, but that is rarely important for audio.

author: bicstrom
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2025, 03:20:11 am
content: Thanks for outlining those differences!

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2025, 03:50:13 am
content: You'll NEVER use them. You don't want to store them. Don't do it.OrGo back and say I'll take the lot for a dollar a reel. You will only waste $40 that way or nothing at all if they refuse. You never know how desperate they are to be rid of them.Don't die wonderingis my motto. I'm surprised how often I get YES for an answer. And I've got the stuff piled up around me to prove it.Maybe you can start a new hobby making stop motion animations with characters made of resistors.

author: bicstrom
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2025, 04:20:10 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on April 26, 2025, 03:50:13 amI'll give you a dollar for it

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 26, 2025, 08:23:43 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on April 26, 2025, 03:50:13 amWise words.QuoteDangerous approach...I fell into the trap at a Jaycar warehouse clearance... "There's a pallet. Fill it up. $50." I soooooooo had to restrain myself from throwing boxes and boxes of crap onto it - but even then, I brought home way more stuff than I'll ever use, sell or give away.QuoteOr...... making resistor sculptures and selling them on eBay?

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2025, 02:15:51 pm
content: The advise about not buying more than you will use is good.The statement that metal film is better is correct.But carbon film is more than good enough for many, many applications. Not for reference dividers. Not for front end stages of low noise amplifiers.