Assorted Resistor Kit - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: DW1961
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2021, 07:37:06 pm
content: I've been ask when testing things "use a resistor" a few times, but I don't have any and I wouldn't know which to buy for a "general assortment." I have the chance to get free a couple different assortments of resistors, but not all of them. Which one looks like the better choice? I'm assuming the 1-4W option would be better than the others that are all 1/4W?(1)https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NY3XR96(2)https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08PF3HNMD(3)https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VGQ6LBH(4)https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YWYBZ3P(1-4W option)These are also available:Diode:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VDH8H35Transistors:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088FTKCGK

author: RichC
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2021, 09:49:37 pm
content: Those are all 1/4W kits, they have just added spaces for some reason in one of the listings.I don't think it will make much difference which you buy from a quality perspective.

author: Renate
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2021, 10:27:26 pm
content: Consider 1/8 W resistors. I mostly use them nowadays for through-hole.Consider a typical highest power use on a µC.5V supply, 2.5V LED, 470Ω, 5mA = 13 mWI'd trust an 1/8 W to that.

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2021, 11:25:38 pm
content: Get carbon film resistors because they have that classic resistor look!Ok, they are only 5%, but that shouldn't matter too much. And 4-band resistors are easier to read.

author: DW1961
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 12:22:48 am
content: Quote from: RichC on May 24, 2021, 09:49:37 pmI must be losing it. i thought I saw 1 - 4 W not 1 / 4 W on the one I marked. Sheesh.

author: DW1961
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 12:25:19 am
content: Quote from: edavid on May 24, 2021, 11:42:23 pmHey edavid,I would never use them if I were building something of value. I'm just going to use them to add resistance to things I need to test, via requests here. I just don't have any at all.

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 01:48:56 am
content: Another thing about the 1% resistors you find on aliexpress/ebay/Banggood ...Too good to be true: Banggood's 3000pcs 30 kinds 1% 1/4W resistor dealhttps://youtu.be/oL71C68AVEMEverything is summarized in the description if you don't want to watch the entire video.

author: SmallCog
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 02:20:28 am
content: As well as an assortment of resistors, grab a couple of pots and solder some wires with either dupont pins or aligator clips to themHandy for when you don't have the value you need or want the convenience of turning a knob til it "works"

author: SpecialK
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 02:31:58 am
content: Quote from: ledtester on May 24, 2021, 11:25:38 pmI was thinking the same thing myself. As I approach 50 years old, I really don't enjoy looking at the five colour bands on 1/4W metal film resistors. Plus the leads are too thin for reliable breadboard connections. I tend to use the 1W carbon film resistors for breadboarding.

author: rfclown
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 02:45:49 am
content: My 2 cents.*IF* you are using solderless breadboards, some of those resistor kits have parts with really thin leads which don't make good contact in the sockets. For solderless breadboards, I want to use the older style 5% 1/4 watt with thicker leads.Secondly, the 1% color ring coding is not easy to read. Again, I like the older 5% style. I can have the resistors in a pile on my bench and easily spot the 1k, 10k, 3.3k, 22k etc. With the 1% type, I have no idea and have to measure them.For most stuff, 1% isn't needed. I do have 1% and 5% kits, but for the reasons I mentioned, I only use the 1% when there is a need (which isn't often). For SMT resistors, neither of my complaints with the 1% leaded kits apply, and I get 1% kits.For the common 10x values: 10, 100, 1k, 10k (and similarly capacitors 10uF, 1uF, 0.1uf, 0.01uF, 0.001uF) I just buy 100 of each from Digikey or Mouser. (for SMT I might buy 250 of each)

author: DW1961
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 03:11:04 am
content: Quote from: SpecialK on May 25, 2021, 02:31:58 amSo skip the 1/4 watt and go for 1W?

author: SpecialK
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 03:47:06 am
content: Quote from: DW1961 on May 25, 2021, 03:11:04 amI have 1W carbon film assortment that I use for restoring old radios. The body is kind of large which easy to read but maybe a little clumsy/cluttered if your circuits are a little more complex.https://www.justradios.com/reskits.html#kit9BSo they serve double duty.

author: bobbydazzler
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 04:14:18 am
content: Depends if you want to use them on a solderless breadboard, if you are I would try to get at least 1/2w metal film resistors or maybe 1/4w carbon(the 1/4w carbon resistors I have have thick enough leads). If you're going to use for soldering to perfboard etc I would also consider 1/8w resistors for their smaller footprint.I think metal film are in general better than carbon for a few reasons - they're smaller for equal power ratings, they're cheaper for me, they have higher temperature tolerance. Though I do like the old timey appearance of carbon film resistors which is why I have them as well.

author: Anthocyanina
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 04:20:42 am
content: I've gotten a few of the bojack resistors and inductor kits and like them because each value is packed in a marked ziplock bag and they have all been correctly marked. i like this one cause it comes with 25 resistors for most values and 50 resistors for the most commonly used ones.https://www.amazon.com/BOJACK-Resistor-Ohm-5-6M-Resistors-Assortment/dp/B07P3MFG5D/but the quality of the resistors i'm sure is the same as that of any other kits you can find, they do come with thin leads, but i haven't had much trouble using them in breadboards or the ocasional not super important project. If you can only get one of the kits you linked, i would go with one with the most values and amount of resistors per value, the loreso branded one you linked would be the one i get from those you linked, it has each value in bags, has 25 of each, and it's 38 values, it sounds convenient enough.

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 12:56:52 pm
content: Recently I needed some 1% resistors for a project, and was surprised to see that Amazon had them in lots of 100 for the same price as Mouser. With my Prime membership there was no shipping cost and they would be here the next day. So I took a chance. Everything turned out to be true, except the 1% part, not even close. I only needed 4 at that tolerance so I just measured a bunch of them and got 4 within the first 30 or so I tested. Many were between 5 & 10%. So in the end, no big deal, but certainly not as advertised. When it comes to actives, or passives that I cannot accurately measure, I always go with brand names from a reliable source like Mouser or DigiKey.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 01:13:36 pm
content: I personally won't touch 5% tolerance resistors. Even though they're find for most applications, 1% isn't more expensive and genrally has lower noise. If you find the colour code difficult, 1% resistors are available with the old four band code.

author: HB9EVI
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 01:32:25 pm
content: go for metal film 1% tolerance; sooner or later you want the lower tolerance for a certain circuitso far I had no negative experience with the metal film Rs from China; a while ago I bought some to complete my E24 repositories; E12 was already completemaybe consider an assorted box with 0805 SMD resistors too; basically I use nothing but SMD Rs and Cs on my through-hole solder boards; it's just comes in handier

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 02:02:23 pm
content: I have the resistor kit from Jameco and I have been using it for probably 20 years. I replenish the values I use by purchasing multiples of 100 from DigiKey. It's just handy having resistors around. I can't imagine not begin able to just grab some out of the cabinet.https://www.jameco.com/z/00081832-Jameco-Valuepro-540-Piece-1-4-Watt-5-Carbon-Film-Resistor-Component-Kit_81832.htmlI also have the Capacitor kit and the Electrolytic Capacitor kit. Most of the costs for these kits are for the cabinet but so be it. I'll depreciate the cost over the last 20 years.https://www.jameco.com/z/81867-Jameco-Valuepro-240-Piece-Radial-Capacitor-Component-Kit_81867.htmlhttps://www.jameco.com/z/81859-Jameco-Valuepro-520-PIECE-CERAMIC-DISC-CAPACITOR-COMPONENT-KIT_81859.htmlThe capacitor kits seem expensive, I might not do that today but they sure are handy to have around.OTOH, maybe I should add the transistor kit at some point:https://www.jameco.com/z/TRANSISTOR-KIT-Jameco-Valuepro-560-Piece-Transistor-Component-Kit_82595.htmlI don't even bother trying to read the color bands on small resistors. I have a DMM for that.Sooner or later, it becomes imperative to have some kind of storage cabinet. There are many around and the Jameco cabinets are at the upper end of construction and price but I like them.

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 02:03:47 pm
content: The Jameco cabinet boxing looks good.Joe Knows Resistors on Amazon is a little more expensive than some of the low cost alternatives but the way the nice quality bags with labels are stacked (vertically instead of horizontally) for easy storage/retrieval filing in the box like index cards plus the reasonable quality of the resistors makes them worth consideration.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 02:04:21 pm
content: Dave sells a very nice envelope scheme for storing SMDs on strips:https://www.eevblog.com/product/usleeve/

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 04:34:12 pm
content: MP Jones is an electronics dealer in south Florida that sell mostly off-brand import type components. They have a variety of resistor, capacitor, inductor, transistor/ic type assortments that go on sale on a regular basis. I have used them over the years to build a stock of jellybean type components at good prices. Every Thursday they have an email sale flyer with prices good for a week. I am learning hobby level electronics at the University of YouTube, All About Circuits etc, and not having the generic components to put together an instructional circuit is very frustrating. It took a while, but after a couple years I can now build almost any basic instructional circuit I come across from parts I have on hand. Amazon is becoming a surprising well stocked electronics supplier as well, if you have Prime, but you have to watch their prices on some things.https://mpja.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2b09559a01d02ecc913387081&id=56e8771a8f&e=018c95bb51

author: DW1961
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 05:56:41 pm
content: Thanks for all of the input.Two of the options were already unavailable. I went with the LORESO option that Anthocyanina recommended.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NY3XR96These were also more expensive, but a reviewer said he spot tested many of the resistors and they were well within tolerance.

author: MathWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2021, 07:09:57 pm
content: Where do people actually buy resistor kits, besides ebay/amazon ? Do Mouser/etc sell kit's or is it all choose yourself ?The last batch of resistor I bought fro ebay ages ago, was marked 1% , but were only 5%....I should have reported it.Last time I was looking for SMD resistor booklets, they were insanely expensive. I couldn't believe it.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2021, 07:25:45 pm
content: Quote from: DW1961 on May 25, 2021, 05:56:41 pmI got an assortment off eBay a few years back. No problems whatsoever with tolerance, but the thin leads are maddening as fuck.Now that I live a 5 min walk from the only electronics parts shop in the city (heck, it’s probably the last mom-and-pop electronics shop in the country…), I just buy real ones as needed. Standard values I stock up from Digi-Key, etc.

author: Grandchuck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2021, 09:21:56 pm
content: Quote from: MathWizard on May 26, 2021, 07:09:57 pmhttps://www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/resistor-kits/653?s=N4IgTCBcDaIE4FMDOBLJAXA9nABAQySW3QFsEA7dEAXQF8g

author: Planobilly
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2021, 11:34:43 am
content: I think after a while you just wind up with many different types and values of resistors depending on what you are using them for. I am 73 and don't see as well as I use too. So color codes on smaller resistors become a problem in general even under a digital microscope. Just less problem to test them.I would get one of those large assortments from Amazon if I was not too concerned about tolerance. You would be surprised how little difference 5% makes in many circuits. If quality is important buy from Mouser or DigiKey.I repair vintage guitar amps using NOS components when I can get it. Not because it is better but because that is what clients want. I have aquired pounds of old carbon resistors that I have had to sort out. I got most of that stuff in the past from radio and TV shops going out of business.You will very quickly find that you will have to buy or build cabinets to hold well labeled resistors or you will go crazy looking for the value you need. Better to do that from the beginning even if you make the cabinets out of cardboard. I have a whole wall of plastic cabinets with resistors.Assortment of transistors from Amazon/ebay is a real hit and miss sort of thing. You never know what you will get. I got JFETs from Amazon that were marked correctly but turned out to be NPN transistors.Buy yourself one of the little transistor testors and save yourself a lot of grief.When I build a new tube amp I test every component I put in the amp. More work but much less trouble shooting when things don't work.IF WHAT YOU ARE MAKING HAS ANY IMPORTANCE TO YOU GET YOUR COMPONENTS FROM MOUSER OR DIGIKEY OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SUPPLIER.Cheers,Billy

author: wizard69
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2021, 06:01:11 am
content: One thing to look out for when it comes to resistor kits is what the kits contain. Often you will run into kits that have resistors that you might not have a reasonable need for. At least not starting out.So my first suggestion is to avoid kits that don't itemize what they contain.My second suggestion is to make sure you know where you interest lie. For example if you are about to implement a bunch of different LED projects some of which might be using biasing resistors make sure you are covered in the lower ohm regions.As for kits is see two ways in which they might be useful. One is to buy a kit covering a standard EIA range {E3, E6, E12, E24, E48 & E96} with the idea to cover yourself for every possible need. Often these kits come in their own storage container too. However that can be a bit expensive up front especially if you go for 1% values. Here is one place to study up on EIA ranges:https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/electronic_components/resistors/standard-resistor-values-e-series-e3-e6-e12-e24-e48-e96.phpThe other approach is to DIY your own kit. Depending upon how cheap you want to be you can buy them in tape reels, a pain if you ask me, or in boxes or bags of 100. Build up your inventory by buying these bulk packages for each project you take on and a couple of more sizes around the projects specified values. With a little effort you can create a decent stock in short order spreading out your costs. Resistors are so cheap that this is one of the few places where bulk purchases make sense. You will need to come up with a storage solution and frankly I'd suggest the little plastic sets of drawers, with a drawer per value. An example here would be an "Akro-Mils" 64 Drawer unit, model 10164.Note that I said nothing here about the type, tolerance nor power rating of the resistors. The reality is you will end up needing an assortment of types and power ratings. Resistors have to be correctly sized for the operating conditions. Starting out you probably can do fine with 1/4 watt or 1/2 watt axial lead, metal film, resistors. These are what is sensible to buy in bulk. You may find yourself needing other resistors with different parameters farther down the road, those likely would not be bulk buys.Apparently you are just getting into this. If that is the case I'd suggest taking some of that money and buying a good electronics text to help with the studying process. I'm way to old to suggest a title so look towards Daves video here or maybe somebody can make a suggestion. You could also download NEETS. The idea is to have a popular text that one can reference when asking questions (it gets everybody on the same page). Well at least the people that have the same copy as you do.One of the first things you will want to do with those resistors is study DC series and parallel circuits. A good book and a multimeter will do wonders for understanding what a resistor does in circuit. It is a long road but in the end it can lead to lots of fun, maybe even a good job. In any event you need to get the basics down first. That will go a long ways to helping you understand why there are so many power rating levels and why even if you buy a kit it is just a beginning.As for tolerances for any kit you buy or DIY, I always made use of 5% resistors but many here have suggested 1%. I'm not going to argue the point here but one truth here is that you need to learn how parts vary from unit to unit and run to run. It is you lucky day if you get a part that is exactly what is implied by the marking thus the tolerance strip. The sooner you understand that circuits have to work with non perfect components the better off you will be. I'd go so far as to suggest using 20% tolerance or even out of tolerance resistors to build some of the text book study circuits. There is the ideal world and the reality of the world we live in.Quote from: DW1961 on May 25, 2021, 05:56:41 pm

author: wizard69
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2021, 06:12:16 am
content: Quote from: Planobilly on May 27, 2021, 11:34:43 amHope you don't mind Billy but I just needed to highlight this. A person is far better off getting their storage system right from the beginning instead of trying to fix it later down the road. There is no one good way to do this, but from a hobby perspective it is probably best to keep the storage compact. So for the newbies out there before you even buy the resistor kit figure out how you will store those resistors.

author: Renate
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2021, 11:45:16 am
content: I used to have Akro-Mils cases with little drawers for all my parts.It's a fine system if you have the space.Now, with a lack of space (and not that much use for random through hole parts) I keep all my 1/4 W in a Flambeau single plastic box.https://www.flambeaucases.com/t3011-one-compartment-box.aspxI have a dozen of these cases for modules, IC's, semis, passives, 1/8 W and they all pack into:https://akro-mils.com/Products/Types/Plastic-Storage-Containers/ALC/ALC-39175Ok, it's not all that convenient but you can't beat the density.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2021, 02:27:18 pm
content: The only resistor storage I have.(probably can click for bigger)

author: wizard69
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2021, 01:01:24 am
content: Quote from: rdl on May 28, 2021, 02:27:18 pmWhere did you get those little plastic vials? They would be ideal for SMD resistors that are not on tape.

author: SpecialK
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2021, 01:18:01 am
content: I believe he said they are tubes for beads on eBay in another similar thread. 6ml looks about right.

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2021, 04:31:59 am
content: My resistor storage solution... main ideas are:- add cardboard dividers to a low profile literature shipping box- use 2" x 3" resealable polybags for the resistors- I've inserted a piece cut out of a white index card into the polybags to provide rigidity and a surface for a label- if you have a lot of one component just use multiple polybags- if you have really a lot of one component I put them in a small cardboard box -- (you see examples of this in the 3rd and 4th lanes)and most importantly...- keep your resistor values in order!

author: bobbydazzler
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2021, 05:15:04 am
content: like another poster said an assortment of potentiometer values is really handy too.https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/353479313390?hash=item524d0247ee:g:hHkAAOSwFY9ge55~

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2021, 01:23:03 pm
content: Yep, they're bead storage tubes from some random seller on ebay. I bought one of those resistor assortments from Jameco years ago - but they were just cut tape, no storage cabinet. I only used them for breadboarding and every time I disassembled a circuit I'd toss the resistors in a empty plastic butter tub. After about 10 years the tub was overflowing so I had to come up with a better idea.

author: rfclown
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2021, 01:08:22 am
content: Quote from: wizard69 on May 28, 2021, 06:12:16 amI've been using the little manilla envelopes for MANY years (I"m almost 60). I keep powers of 10 (1,10,100,...) in one group, and all others in another. I'll say again, I only like 5% (or whatever) that have the standard color codes that I can easily see with leads thick enough not to be a problem in solderless breadboards. When I'm doing solderless breadboard stuff (the main reason I use leaded), I end up with a pile on my bench. With standard easy-to-see colors, it's easy to put them back in the envelopes.The cardboard box is from a Velveeta box that my Mom was throwing away when I was a kid. That's how long I've used this system. It's the perfect width for the little manilla envelopes. I don't buy Velveeta (Don't know if they still make it. It isn't food).