Why is the RS-200 Resistance Decade Box so damn expensive? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: con-f-use
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 29, 2013, 12:02:56 pm
content: Dave is selling the RS-200 Resistance Decade Box in his Amazon shop at pretty much the lowest price I found for it. It's still 175,- AUD about 120,- €.See here:http://www.amazon.com/RS-200-Resistance-Decade-Box/dp/B001M22940What the heck is so great about the RS-200 to justify the price? I see resistance decade boxes for 15 $ or less all the time. This might be a noob-question but amazon is not exactly informative.

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2013, 12:11:34 pm
content: the sexy sexy switches. high precision resistance values and extremely high quality switch mechanism.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 29, 2013, 12:27:24 pm
content: Quote from: Fsck on August 29, 2013, 12:11:34 pmYes. IET get the switches custom made for them. IET are a standards company, they know how to do these boxes and charge accordingly.

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2013, 12:31:57 pm
content: I believe it's a similar type to the Bourns 3680 series:http://www.bourns.com/data/global/pdfs/3680.pdf

author: con-f-use
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 30, 2013, 09:51:53 am
content: So your average tinkerer wouldn't use those except for the fact that they are build to last? Other 1% boxes sell for a quarter of the price and are build well, too. Are they really that good? What do you guys use them for?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 30, 2013, 09:58:29 am
content: Quote from: con-f-use on August 30, 2013, 09:51:53 amCorrect. These are not designed nor priced for the hobbyist.

author: con-f-use
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 30, 2013, 03:15:46 pm
content: Well then, thanks Dave. Your help and your Vblog are very much appreciated.

author: MrAureliusR
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 30, 2013, 06:55:28 pm
content: I've been thinking about building my own decade resistance box for a while, and if I do I'll post photos and steps here on the forum. I'm good at writing beginner-friendly tutorials.The most expensive part of any decade box is the switches -- depending on the tolerance of the resistor, they can get pricey too but nowhere near as expensive as those big beautiful decade switches. The ones I'm looking at on Digikey were like $11CDN each, and those are CHEAP. The high end ones are over $40 a pop.C&K Components Decade Rotary -- $11CDNSimilar, but with different mounts, looks like brass?Here's the beauty ones, $63.25CDN each (if you buy 500, they drop down to $27.03!):Grayhill Decade RotaryI was also considering these ones, and then attaching a spare Phillips tip with a string or something. These ones are only $4 and they are rated for a much higher current (5A vs 250mA):C&K Components Flush Slotted Decade Rotary SwitchOr possibly

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2013, 07:07:01 pm
content: Look around on eBay. Every once in a while a bunch of old-fashioned panel mount rotary switches shows up cheap, and they're usually not too shitty.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2013, 07:25:42 pm
content: in case you was not aware, you can make yourself a cheap decade boxdetails here :http://kripton2035.free.fr/LabTools/lbt-resistordeca.htmlbut it is not the same quality as the IET one !!!! but it is cheap for low level hobby use.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2013, 07:28:56 pm
content: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/low-cost-programmable-decade-resistor-for-prototyping-convenience/The jumper idea Sweeney uses improves reducing the milliohm resistance and inconsistency caused by cheap switches.