Are there any quality branded resistor kits? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: starplayer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2017, 03:10:42 pm
content: Hi guys.Does anyone knows of any quality metal film 1% through hole resistor kits in Europe, that have branded resistors? From what I've seen, all resistor kits available are unbranded, so you're never quite sure what chinesium stuff you're getting. I like being sure I get good parts that don't crap out on me when I'm in the middle of a project. USA seems to have Joe Knows Electronics, but again these don't seem to be branded either.Am I the only one who's interested in something like this?

author: mdszy
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 01, 2017, 03:26:11 pm
content: How are you worried about resistors "crapping out" on you in the middle of a project? What are you doing to those poor things?

author: Brutte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2017, 03:47:11 pm
content: I had same problem and bought eBought $15 disappointment set.In my case the solution was to buy some E6 series, 1% 50ppm resistors from RoyalOhm available from TME. Unfortunately they sell only > 100pcs. I bought a selection from 470R to 470k. (about $2 per 100 pcs). Do not buy 0.4W for breadboarding, 0.6W are better.However, 1% metal film 50ppm are only justified for analog electronics (in-amps, filters etc). If you need that for general purpose stuff (blinkig led, LM324 etc), I suggest getting a selection of carbon resistors, E24, 5% are cheap as dirt.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2017, 09:47:37 pm
content: Haven't yet had a problem with resistor kits from China, they aren't great quality but I'm not doing precision stuff and all the ones I've used so far have tested OK on a multimeter, haven't had anything fail in service that I couldn't attribute to my mistakes.However, Rapid Electronics do a 1% resistor kit from Royal Ohm, they do 5% kits from TruOhm, the price difference is significant.Farnell is down for maintenance right now, RS have a few nice sets as do Mouser and Digikey.Expect to *pay* for them.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2017, 04:41:49 am
content: Quote from: starplayer on June 01, 2017, 03:10:42 pmI know for sure that Distrelec and Conrad carry them.The reason you don't see hobbyists buy them is the price. Branded assortments, purchased via legitimate distributors, cost a fortune!! E.g.https://www.distrelec.ch/en/resistor-assortments-wired-e6-e12-nova-cbr-12/p/16015808In all fairness, Conrad's sets (E12:https://www.conrad.de/de/metallschicht-widerstand-sortiment-axial-bedrahtet-025-w-1-set-419125.html— Companion set to bring it to full E24:https://www.conrad.de/de/metallschicht-widerstand-sortiment-axial-bedrahtet-025-w-1-set-420190.html) aren't too badly priced given they come with metal storage units.

author: Brutte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2017, 02:40:00 pm
content: Quote from: CJay on June 01, 2017, 09:47:37 pmYou know, the resistor quality is not a matter of quantity of lipstick on them.It is a matter of matching the parameters desribed in the specification.So a 5% resistor is of high quality w.r.t. tolerance when it is +-4.99% off from nominal value, within specified temperature range. However, whena "1% resistor" is 6% off from the other "1% resistor", of same nominal value, then I think no quantity of lipstick is going to help here.Junk.YMMV.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2017, 04:10:51 pm
content: Quote from: Brutte on June 02, 2017, 02:40:00 pm*sigh* yes, I know. I made no claims that the Chinese kits would meet the OP's needs, just that they met the majority of mine.If I need 1%, 0.1% or even 0.01% tolerance I'd use the 1%, 0.1% or the 0.01% tolerance resistors I have and I'd damn well expect them to meet that spec.If you read past the part of my post which upset you so much you'll see I also offered up the names of suppliers who sell the *branded* resistor kits the OP wanted.Now, perhaps you should save your lipstick for when you need it instead of getting irate about people who post opinions that don't match your own?

author: ZeTeX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2017, 06:44:20 pm
content: The problem with cheap resistors is that the leads are very thin, thus they don't make good contact on the breadboard, on the other hand, a Vishay resistor that I have for example have much thicker legs and makes very good nice and tight contact.

author: nukie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2017, 12:31:43 am
content: Another problem with cheap kits is that the lipstick on them fade as they age. It's bloody annoying when you have red, blue, brown and black looking the same.

author: starplayer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2017, 10:04:22 pm
content: Thanks a lot for your answers guys, you've been most helpful!

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 08, 2017, 10:48:52 pm
content: All the big name resistor companies make them:https://www.digikey.com/products/en/kits/resistor-kits/653