Electronics > Beginners
Good place to search for obsolete or substitute parts.
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paul8f:

--- Quote from: bitseeker on May 31, 2019, 04:52:25 pm ---...even new-old-stock can have risk of failure or dead-on-arrival due to age.
--- End quote ---

...which components are the worst culprits to watch out for? (I'm thinking dried out electrolyte, frayed rubber drive belts, ePROMs after magically erasing or corrupting their memory, stuck relay contacts, RTC/non-volatile mem. batteries leaking)?

I suspect old models advertised as new-in-box carry the same risks!

bitseeker:
Also carbon resistors drifting way out of spec.

Yes, "new" doesn't mean much for aging items. Time still passes.
vk6zgo:
Treat semiconductor substitute lists with suspicion unless they contain abridged specifications for each device.

With the other lists, you often have as much chance of success if you just make a guess.
Many BJTs are the original "jelly bean" devices, & can be fairly freely swapped.

Equipment manufacturers like to minimise inventory, & will use the same discrete device in a critical & non critical position.
If you need one for the former position, just steal it from the latter, & replace the one  removed from that position with a "jellybean" part.

Another good trick, is to look at how another manufacturer does something.

If they use a common device, in a very similar circuit layout, there's a pretty good chance it will just "slot into" your circuit.
bdunham7:

--- Quote from: paul8f on May 30, 2019, 05:36:17 am ---Just wondering where do most people go when searching for discontinued or difficult to find components like old ICs and transistors etc?

I'm hoping there is some sort of master database, that when searched spits out a list of suppliers or recommended substitutes...!   :-DD

--- End quote ---

There's no good single answer.  One thing to do is if you aren't already a specialist or collector of the device you are repairing, seek out those who are.  If it is audio equipment, for example, there's Audiokarma and similar websites.  In general, be prepared to do some work, take some risks and make some mistakes.  And, of course, be aware that any rare or obsolete component with any demand will probably show up as a fake on Aliexpress and eBay.
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