What is your favorite electronic component(S) to use? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: AlanR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2014, 11:20:27 am
content: So, what component or components are your most favorite to use when designing some circuits?My first component I like to use is the Texas Instruments CSD18534KCS MOSFETS almost exclusively because these little bad boys are BALANCED. What I mean is the specs are very good in that the input capacitance is low at 1800 pF, the On state resistance is very low at 9 mOhms, and the total gate charge is very low at 20 nC, all with a 60 volt total rating from drain to source!! I have never seen any other MOSFET come close to having all of these parameters so low for a 60 volt rating. Usually on other MOSFETS, either the gate charge is too large for the low On state resistance as well as input capacitance, or the max voltage the MOSFET can handle from drain to source has to be low in order to get the other parameters low.My other favorite electronic component is the Linear Technology LT1018/1017 comparator because it has only a 1mv offset, requires no pull up resistor on the output, but CAN support a voltage applied on the output beyond what is powering the comparator itself for like powering up relays and such, and it has a wide voltage range from 1.1 to 40 volts while sipping only a few uA of current.Well, that is just a small sample of what I use a lot. So how about you guys?

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2014, 11:27:11 am
content: My favorite are resistors: simple, effective, and cannot really live without them.

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2014, 11:29:00 am
content: 7.2 MHz ceramic resonator.Useful in a wide variety of transmitter and receiver circuits it can be shifted 200kHz in frequency with a series variable capacitor.

author: AlanR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2014, 12:49:22 pm
content: Come on everyone, don't be shy about what components you use the most. Lets keep this going!!

author: TMM
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2014, 01:06:47 pm
content: ATMega328p? More due to laziness in not learning other MCUs though.If i have to nominate something that i actually think is a good part i'd say an LT1810 opamp. Rail to rail, 180MHz GBP, lowish Vos (2.5mV), reasonably low distortion.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2014, 01:13:21 pm
content: HIGH WATTAGE LEDS

author: jlmoon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 24, 2014, 03:50:27 pm
content: Microchip 24FJ128GA010 microcontroller part, love the versatility.didn't know I could list more than one....Linear's LTZ1000A reference zener2+ Watt laser diodes and CC drivers are pretty cool as well!

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2014, 09:01:04 pm
content: Solder.

author: jlmoon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 24, 2014, 09:23:25 pm
content: flux-capactiors

author: retrolefty
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2014, 11:05:57 pm
content: Put me down as another AVR ATMEGA 328P fan. It just seems to scratch a lot of itches for me.

author: Terabyte2007
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2014, 11:24:18 pm
content: MOSFETS and OP Amps!

author: Lee697
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2014, 11:39:36 pm
content: 555 timer.....

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 12:10:34 am
content: There's something I just like about the ATTiny2313/4313.

author: SirNick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 12:12:26 am
content: In the spirit of discovering new and useful parts, the Texas Instruments SN74LVC1G97DCKR is a pretty nifty little chip. It's a configurable logic gate. It can be a: buffer, inverter, OR, OR with one inverted input, AND, AND with one inverted input, NAND with one inverted input, NOR with one inverted input, or 2-to-1 input selector -- which one depends on which pins connect to inputs and which are strapped to Vcc or ground. And, it's about the same cost as a single-purpose gate.They're really handy for LED drivers (~20mA drive or sink, depending on Vcc -- 1.65 to 5.5v) to buffer low-power MCU pins, or reasonably fast digital inputs or clocks (3.5pF input capacitance.)

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 12:16:20 am
content: Simple buck converter IC - cheap & easy to implement for up to 3A output - TPS543311117 series regulators or MCP1703 for local 3.3VNoritake GU112x16G-7002 VFD - I have a small stock and they are excellent little displays. Very easy to drive too - simply throw UART data at them with the right baud rate and they'll display it. Graphics also possible with a bit more work. Very high contrast and brightness.

author: rob77
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 12:41:42 am
content: all components are my favoriteespecially those which i needbut when i design a circuit (mostly just for fun) then i use my top favorites whenever possible(i always have them on stock - and btw.. i'm a hobbyist - but a qualified one)mosfets: IRFZ34N/44N , BS170BJT: 2n3904/06, bc327/337opamps: lm324/358/318, lf353 ,ne5532/4comparators: lm339/393Linreg: 78xx, 79xx, lm317/337smps: mc34063MCUs: atmel avr , 8051 MCUs (yes i'm old school)TTL logic (cmos versions mainly)why those above ? because they're cheap , available and they do the job good enough - therefore i like them

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 01:47:39 am
content: Quote from: SirNick on June 25, 2014, 12:12:26 amAh yes, SN74LVC1G97DCKR, such a catchy part number. Almost as short and memorable as the LM0901A1141090451C

author: SirNick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 02:03:46 am
content: My chief complaint actually. Doesn't quite roll off the tongue, that one. Would also be nice if it came in 2/3/4-per-chip packages.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 02:11:05 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on June 25, 2014, 01:47:39 amAhh manufacturers and their butchering of simple component names.... How about this instead?http://www.ti.com/product/sn74197

author: What_NZ
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 03:21:44 am
content: Solid State Relays - basically switch anything with a simple input. Zero crossing, Isolation, High currents, Reliable - just so easy and relatively inexpensive to use now.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 05:05:16 am
content: Quote from: Stonent on June 25, 2014, 12:10:34 amSame, it's so useful to have a ADC and full UART in a cheap package.Most of the other ATtinys have one or the other.ATTiny2313/4313 are really useful for simple projects.And if you run out of flash on the 2313 just drop in a pin compatable 4313

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 05:38:07 am
content: 2N3904/2N3906

author: theatrus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 05:41:13 am
content: 2n7002. It's a pretty crap FET, but so cheap.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 07:35:25 am
content: CPLDs, they are the duct tape for electronics.

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2014, 11:20:27 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on June 25, 2014, 05:05:16 amCheck out the TINY1634 - it is a newer one that has some cool features like the 2313/4313 do. 16K flash, 1K sram, 256b eeprom, two full duplex usarts, usi, i2c...My newest favorite component is the DS18B20 - this thing is so cool.

author: Riotpack
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2014, 11:35:34 pm
content: XPPOWER TR05S05 A half amp pin compatible 7805 replacement (up to 500mA). 7-28 VIN and 80-92% efficiency.

author: SirNick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2014, 12:01:38 am
content: Quote from: alank2 on November 13, 2014, 11:20:27 pmAre you kidding me? The data output on that thing varies wildly with temperature!

author: rob77
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2014, 07:10:25 am
content: Quote from: SirNick on November 14, 2014, 12:01:38 ama reaaly good oneyou made my day

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2014, 07:31:24 am
content: I like to use anything made with an FIB. I like that hand crafted feel.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2014, 07:40:43 am
content: Quote from: SirNick on November 14, 2014, 12:01:38 amHe says its cool, so maybe the temperature variation won't be a big issue in his application.

author: DG41WV
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2014, 08:24:38 am
content: pic12f675cheap, easy and fun.

author: Vito_R
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2014, 08:50:11 am
content: This thread just reminded me of a crazy nutcase guy in my electronics lab back in the college years where he loved to take electrolytic capacitors and stick them in the mains outlets. The explosions and smell is something I will never forget.

author: Whales
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2014, 09:33:57 am
content: Red LEDs. Superior to all other colours™2n7000. I wish fets were as abundant (and cheap!) in TO-92 as bipolars are.

author: richard.cs
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2014, 09:44:43 am
content: Si2312BDShttp://www.vishay.com/docs/73235/si2312bd.pdfSOT-23 mosfet with a 0.8V threshold voltage and good for 4A. Really useful. :-)

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2014, 01:33:59 pm
content: A Philips 125uF 16v capacitor.As a young boy I received a Philips Electronics Kit for Christmas one year and one of the components was a bright blue 125uF capacitor, I was fascinated by the color. Years ago I purchased a small quantity and every project gets at least one (so I had best not make anything that goes BOOM! in case I get found out).

author: lapm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2014, 02:35:21 pm
content: My all time favorite component: humble led. Diffused, in green or red color, 5 mm.I was 6 or 7 years old when my Godmothers son make me one of those two transistor led blinkers, it had one red and one green one... Tought it was so damn cool how it blinked...Stille get that feeling when wathing humble green/red leds do their magic...

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2014, 10:11:05 pm
content: This is an easy one: Linear Technology opamps.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2014, 12:37:14 am
content: "Deep green" LEDs. The shade of green is particularly good looking, yet they're not (yet) overused to the point of looking plain the way blue LEDs went.Don't have just one favorite microcontroller but I really like the higher end PICs and dsPICs in DIP packages. Very easy to prototype on a breadboard and install on a veroboard, not to mention common availability of sockets to put them in.

author: Whales
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2014, 12:47:40 am
content: Quote from: richard.cs on November 14, 2014, 09:44:43 amOOooh. I might get some of those

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2014, 01:30:45 am
content: Quote from: coppice on November 14, 2014, 07:40:43 amThe really nice thing is that this "variation" seems to correlatein some waywith the temperature so it is at least predictable!

author: N2IXK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2014, 04:58:53 am
content: OP77 opamp2N3904/3906AD7512 analog switchLM3909 LED flasher (long discontinued, but the first IC I ever used as a kid many years ago)

author: hamdi.tn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2014, 08:27:12 am
content: NE555, it's the first IC i used when i start electronic 12 or 13 years ago

author: Circlotron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2014, 06:54:02 am
content: 68HC908JK3ECPEThe instruction set is pure art.mmmm..... orthogonality....On the other hand I really, really don't like 27K resistors.Almost to the point of a phobia.

author: TheBay
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2014, 01:01:08 pm
content: 1N400xMAX 232ALED Segment displaysPIC'sUV EPROMS - Kind of nostalgic about these!

author: SirNick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2014, 07:21:58 pm
content: Quote from: Circlotron on November 17, 2014, 06:54:02 amSounds like an interesting story....

author: rob77
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2014, 08:37:44 pm
content: Quote from: Circlotron on November 17, 2014, 06:54:02 amwould you mind to share the story behind the 27K resistors ?

author: Yansi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2014, 08:49:02 pm
content: Quote from: AlanR on June 24, 2014, 11:20:27 amI smell NXP's PSMN015-60BS. Just buying some for my experimental BLDC controller.I think close enough. Compare prices. These are for about $1.5 at low quantities.