Components you love. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Circlotron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2017, 07:40:35 am
content: Some electronic components become wildly popular because they are either simple, cheap, easy to use or just plain do the job properly. Examples are 555, 6L6, EL34, Z80, 2N3055 etc etc. Then there is specific classes of component. I love DC filter inductors. They are not much used in 50Hz power supplies nowadays but they are very useful for getting the most out of a transformer in a very low tech and extremely reliable way. I also love SCRs. They are easy to drive, hard to blow up and rugged as all get out. There must be heaps of other parts that have gathered a following for one reason or another. What's yours?

author: capt bullshot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2017, 07:46:32 am
content: '595 and '597 type shift registers.Simple way to expand ports on a microcontroller

author: IanMacdonald
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2017, 08:42:33 am
content: CA3140, for inputs at ground potential.BDY56 and 57. Superb audio o/p transistors.Then there's the ubiquitous 42k resistor.Replaces anything. Even if it wasn't a resistor that once occupied that charred hole in the board. Guaranteed never to fail, due to fundamental laws of the universe.

author: Wirehead
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2017, 10:11:23 am
content: ne5532.. for just about anything audio related.. Does RIAA pre-amp, line amp, mixer, equalizer, .. It's also very insensitive to oscillations, is just about happy with *any* power supply you throw at it,.. You can even use it as a regulatorOh, and the lm78xx lm79 and lm3x7.. for just about any quick supply voltage you need..

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2017, 10:34:14 am
content: BD139 (duh). Good pass transistor, RF PA, audio driver (with a BD140), power oscillator for royer converter, switching transistor, high VCE, high beta, package doesn't require a plastic bush when mounting, sensible pin ordering, dirt cheap!This is closely followed by the now impossible to get hold of CA3028A which can be used as a diff amp, cascode, RF amp, detector, mixer, log amplifier, power supply error amplifier.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2017, 10:42:01 am
content: ln2803a for everything that needs more current (500mA), directly controllable by a microcontroller.

author: PointyOintment
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2017, 10:25:47 pm
content: SX1509. It's an I/O expander with built-in keypad matrix reading and PWM LED driver.

author: ZeTeX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 12:14:00 am
content: LM358, TL074/21N4007, 1N4148, 1N581910K Resistor, 1k resistor2N3904, BC547, 2N2222most common used components ^^

author: hamdi.tn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 12:34:28 am
content: NE555.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 01:59:27 am
content: The 68000. Possibly the best microprocessor ever invented. It's the simplest to understand, and it's incredibly fast. It would have been interesting to see what the 68k family would have become if it had progressed as much as the x86 architecture had.

author: Whales
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 02:26:45 am
content: The leads on 1n4148 diodes. For some reason they seem to be stiffer/nicer than resistor leads, so I use them as small jumpers all the time.Many diodes with no arms and no legs now roam my floors.

author: buck converter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 02:53:01 am
content: How could we forget the lowly lm324

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 04:20:46 am
content: Quote from: Whales on August 24, 2017, 02:26:45 amIt's a diode butcher shop!

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 04:24:59 am
content: CD4046 PLL chip. Lots of neat applications.

author: TiN
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 04:29:49 am
content: LTZ1000.

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 06:08:05 am
content: 2n7000 & BC548I *loved* the LM3909, but they knew that and discontinued it just to spite me.

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 06:35:19 am
content: Quote from: PointyOintment on August 23, 2017, 10:25:47 pmI just searched mouser for it.Had a quick study of the datasheet.Looked at the price.I think I just found my new goto GPIO expander.Thank you for sharing.

author: Rbastler
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 09:00:22 am
content: EL84, E/PY500A, EZ80/81, ECC88/83/85, EF80, EM83/81/34/35Now for semiconductors: LM358/324, TL082/84, AD584, TL431, MC3468A, ICL7660, BC546/556, BD139/40, 2N3055, IRF540, IRFP250N, 1N4147, RGP10MEdit: Corrections

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 12:48:08 pm
content: IRFML8244.A trusty component if there ever was one. Used it on many designs.

author: gamalot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 12:54:24 pm
content: DTC143 digital transistor

author: Groucho2005
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 04:02:36 pm
content: IRF540 to switch (big) relaysIRFBC20 as a high voltage current source (or rather sink) for a large range of currents, it has a very linear drain-source capacitance across the voltage range.PSVANE 6SN7 which I got for my valve preamp:

author: vinicius.jlantunes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 06:47:58 pm
content: The 78xx regulators.

author: bjcuizon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 08:11:41 pm
content: *LM317 for just about anythin' needing oddball voltages.*LM386 for general purpose audio amps (like for radio circuits)*2N3904/BC547 for small current switching.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 08:27:06 pm
content: GP CRO final stage plate ampBF259SOT23/6 dual MOSFETIRF5851

author: ju1ce
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 08:38:09 pm
content: MCP1700T-3302E/TT, a 5V to 3.3V regulator in SOT-23 package that is small but still easy to solder.

author: Rbastler
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 08:38:28 pm
content: Quote from: Circlotron on August 21, 2017, 07:40:35 amI like them quite a bit. They offer a very easy way of filtering and actually aren't expensive, when bought new. The one in the picture is 20€.I use them normally in tube audio gear, were a very clean anode voltage is needed. So far only in my headphone amps (and a psu for 0-400V).

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 08:54:13 pm
content: Enpirion's range of dc-dc converters with built-in inductors: physically tiny, amazingly efficient, dead easy to use. A complete 'no-brainer' solution to powering low voltage devices from a 5V rail.https://www.altera.com/products/power/devices.html#powersoc-converters

author: neo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 10:11:55 pm
content: My personal all time favorite is the vacuum fluorescent display technology in general, don't ask me why. Close second are nixes and for logic to drive the glow the 4000 series is my favorite even if less useful than 7400 series.

author: M4trix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 10:38:38 pm
content: This ! My favorite bipolar power transistors for audio amplifiers. Robust and fast !