Author Topic: Components you love. (Read 5066 times)

Circlotron · « **on:** August 21, 2017, 07:40:35 am »

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?

capt bullshot · « **Reply #1 on:** August 21, 2017, 07:46:32 am »

'595 and '597 type shift registers.
Simple way to expand ports on a microcontroller

IanMacdonald · « **Reply #2 on:** August 21, 2017, 08:42:33 am »

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.

Wirehead · « **Reply #3 on:** August 21, 2017, 10:11:23 am »

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 regulator

Oh, and the lm78xx lm79 and lm3x7.. for just about any quick supply voltage you need..

bd139 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 21, 2017, 10:34:14 am »

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.

Kjelt · « **Reply #5 on:** August 21, 2017, 10:42:01 am »

ln2803a for everything that needs more current (500mA), directly controllable by a microcontroller.

PointyOintment · « **Reply #6 on:** August 23, 2017, 10:25:47 pm »

SX1509. It's an I/O expander with built-in keypad matrix reading and PWM LED driver.

ZeTeX · « **Reply #7 on:** August 24, 2017, 12:14:00 am »

LM358, TL074/2
1N4007, 1N4148, 1N5819
10K Resistor, 1k resistor
2N3904, BC547, 2N2222
most common used components ^^

hamdi.tn · « **Reply #8 on:** August 24, 2017, 12:34:28 am »

NE555.

Ampera · « **Reply #9 on:** August 24, 2017, 01:59:27 am »

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.

Whales · « **Reply #10 on:** August 24, 2017, 02:26:45 am »

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.

buck converter · « **Reply #11 on:** August 24, 2017, 02:53:01 am »

How could we forget the lowly lm324

Ampera · « **Reply #12 on:** August 24, 2017, 04:20:46 am »

Quote from: Whales on August 24, 2017, 02:26:45 am

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.

It's a diode butcher shop!

CatalinaWOW · « **Reply #13 on:** August 24, 2017, 04:24:59 am »

CD4046 PLL chip. Lots of neat applications.

TiN · « **Reply #14 on:** August 24, 2017, 04:29:49 am »

LTZ1000.

BradC · « **Reply #15 on:** August 24, 2017, 06:08:05 am »

2n7000 & BC548

I *loved* the LM3909, but they knew that and discontinued it just to spite me.

Mr.B · « **Reply #16 on:** August 24, 2017, 06:35:19 am »

Quote from: PointyOintment on August 23, 2017, 10:25:47 pm

SX1509. It's an I/O expander with built-in keypad matrix reading and PWM LED driver.

I 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.

Rbastler · « **Reply #17 on:** August 24, 2017, 09:00:22 am »

EL84, E/PY500A, EZ80/81, ECC88/83/85, EF80, EM83/81/34/35
Now for semiconductors: LM358/324, TL082/84, AD584, TL431, MC3468A, ICL7660, BC546/556, BD139/40, 2N3055, IRF540, IRFP250N, 1N4147, RGP10M

Edit: Corrections

VK3DRB · « **Reply #18 on:** August 24, 2017, 12:48:08 pm »

IRFML8244.

A trusty component if there ever was one. Used it on many designs.

gamalot · « **Reply #19 on:** August 24, 2017, 12:54:24 pm »

DTC143 digital transistor

Groucho2005 · « **Reply #20 on:** August 24, 2017, 04:02:36 pm »

IRF540 to switch (big) relays
IRFBC20 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:

vinicius.jlantunes · « **Reply #21 on:** August 24, 2017, 06:47:58 pm »

The 78xx regulators.

bjcuizon · « **Reply #22 on:** August 24, 2017, 08:11:41 pm »

*LM317 for just about anythin' needing oddball voltages.

*LM386 for general purpose audio amps (like for radio circuits)
*2N3904/BC547 for small current switching.

tautech · « **Reply #23 on:** August 24, 2017, 08:27:06 pm »

GP CRO final stage plate amp BF259
SOT23/6 dual MOSFET IRF5851

ju1ce · « **Reply #24 on:** August 24, 2017, 08:38:09 pm »

MCP1700T-3302E/TT, a 5V to 3.3V regulator in SOT-23 package that is small but still easy to solder.


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Author Topic: Components you love. (Read 5066 times)

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