Common/interesting ICs/opamps/etc

[AnyNameWillDo]

Previous thread: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/purchasing-parts-and-basic-components-for-a-new-lab/

Making a new thread dedicated to this topic since it's sufficiently vast topic unto itself and more focused.

Would appreciate some feedback if the following list would be a good cover of common/interesting op-amps and ICs to learn from / get acquainted with:

Current list of opamps/ICs/microcontroller -- thoughts?

74HC595   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/SN74HC595N/296-1600-5-ND/277246
ATTINY85   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/microchip-technology/ATTINY85-20PU/ATTINY85-20PU-ND/735469
CA3130   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/intersil/CA3130EZ/CA3130EZ-ND/1060748
CA3140   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/intersil/CA3140AEZ/CA3140AEZ-ND/821386
CA3240   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/intersil/CA3240EZ/CA3240EZ-ND/821389
CD4017   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/CD4017BE/296-2037-5-ND/67253
CD4066   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/CD4066BE/296-2061-5-ND/67313
LM234   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/LM234Z-6-NOPB/LM234Z-6-NOPB-ND/149003
LM317T   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/stmicroelectronics/LM317T/497-1575-5-ND/591677
LM318   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/LM318N-NOPB/LM318N-NOPB-ND/6180
LM324   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/LM324N/296-1391-5-ND/277627
LM339   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/LM339N/296-1393-5-ND/277628
LM340   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/LM340T-12-NOPB/LM340T-12-NOPB-ND/6233
LM350   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/on-semiconductor/LM350T/LM350TFS-ND/458688
LM358   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/LM358PE4/296-36107-5-ND/1510269
LM386   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/LM386N-4-NOPB/296-43960-5-ND/148192
LM431   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/on-semiconductor/LM431ACZX/LM431ACZXCT-ND/3504464
LM7805   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/LM7805CT-NOPB/296-47192-ND/3901929
SE555P   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/SE555P/296-9684-5-ND/380221
TL071   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/TL071CP/296-7186-5-ND/378372
TL072   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/TL072IP/296-14997-5-ND/563039
TL074   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/TL074CN/296-1777-5-ND/277423
TL081   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/TL081CP/296-7203-5-ND/383030
TL082   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/TL082CP/296-1780-5-ND/277630
TL084   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/TL084IN/296-7213-5-ND/378408
TLC2272   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/TLC2272CP/296-1812-5-ND/277457
TLC2274   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/TLC2274CN/296-7129-5-ND/378527
UA741CP   https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/UA741CP/296-11107-5-ND/382197

[JS]

A short description at the side of each component might help to look at the list... like quad opamp jfet input for the TL074 and TL084, which are both exactly the same and not much point into having both stored while one would do. Originally they where low power (TL06X) low noise (TL07X) and low cost (TL08X) but low noise and low cost doesn't keep the difference anymore, compare datasheets and they have the same noise specs and likely every other as well. TL06X are lower power indeed.

Also, I wouldn't store many 741s (I do have a bunch but only use them when I need an opamp with no restrictive specs, not having them wouldn't hurt) but I do like to have some OP27 for really low noise, low offset and low drift (without getting into choppers) and NE5534 and NE5532 are nice opamps, great for audio, low noise and high GBW product, useful in many things. I'd also like right now to have some faster opamps at hand but those are more dedicated for a particular project so sometime you need to go to a store. You always do because you always miss the right connector or something but it's really nice to run prototypes from what you have in the bin... I do that many times but I've been doing this for over a decade and my bin is quite deep by now. I build it slowly buying a lot of the values I needed for a project, if I need one 1 buy 10 and so on, doing so in a blind way without knowing what are you going to do it's much harder, useful parts depends a lot on the application, from ICs to the range of resistors you most often use or the type of capacitors you will be wanting to have.

JS

[Kleinstein]

The TL431 is the more common version of the LM431 - otherwise essentially the same, especially now that Ti bought NS.

The LM234 is just another voltage regulator. Why the extended temperature range version instead of the simple LM334 ?

Similar there is little need for the higher grade SE555 instead if the more normal NE555.

Similar the TLC227x are upgraded versions of the more common TLC27x.

Unless one needs the higher voltage, they can also replace the CA3140/CA3240.

The NE5534/NE5532 are kind of an alternative to the the LM318.

I am kind of missing a 5 V RR OP like MCP6001/6002 or similar, which is very handy in combination with the µC.

[rstofer]

I wouldn't buy any of them if I didn't have an immediate application.  When I did have a project, I would buy what I needed plus a few extras and they will be here in 3 days.

I have a bunch of microcontrollers and various interface chips that I will never use.  The technology changed out from under my inventory.  For example, I used to like the PIC 16F877A but I'll never use one again.  Times change; the Arduino, and the ATmega328P, are a lot easier to use.

I don't have a favorite op amp but I used a bunch of TL081 on a small analog computer so I think they're pretty handy.  For single supply, I like the TLV247x family.  Figure 4.7 (see link below) shows the difference in output near the rails versus other devices.

If you haven't read this, you might want to start.  No hurry.  It is an excellent reference for op amp circuits and circuit analysis:

http://web.mit.edu/6.101/www/reference/op_amps_everyone.pdf

Everybody is going to have their favorite chips.  Some with good reason, some just because it's what they have on hand (my reason).  Most of the hobby work is based on 'copy and paste' and the projects work better if the entire BOM is copied.

I would buy for the application.  Plus a few extras.

[Benta]

Concerning your list of op amps, it's an extreme overkill. You've probably collected the part numbers from articles and application notes, which is an OK approach to start with.

But basically you only need two parts in your arsenal:
1: a low power rail-rail input and output amp that will run at 3...15 V single supply.
2: a high speed unity-gain stable amp that will run at 5...+/15 V.

With these two parts you can do almost everything and they will replace all of the parts you have on your list. If you want to do cost reductions later, you can try to optimize. But for prototypes and experimenting, nothing more is necessary.

I'd suggest buying dual amp parts. Yes, you'll need two to replace a quad, and you'll waste one amp if you just need a single. Who cares, the cost of a dual is only marginally higher than a single.

My personal favorites are LMC6482 and LM6172, but there are others, of course. Take those two as a starting point.

[AnyNameWillDo]

The problem is that it's a bit of a catch-22.

Don't buy any until you have a need for them... but without playing around with them or becoming acquainted, I don't know when I'd really need them.

But basically you only need two parts in your arsenal:
1: a low power rail-rail input and output amp that will run at 3...15 V single supply.
2: a high speed unity-gain stable amp that will run at 5...+/15 V.

Are you saying that LMC6482 satisfies (1) and LM6172 satisfies (2)?

[Benta]

Are you saying that LMC6482 satisfies (1) and LM6172 satisfies (2)?

Yes. But I'm sure others will chime in with their favorites.

[KL27x]

I would warn that w/e you first use, don't get carried away.

1. Some of those things you stock up on, you'll run out of and buy more. Most of them will collect dust.

2. The reason there are 20 trillion different variants of all those things is because there are significant differences which matter.

3. Once you figure out what you do want to have, for general purpose, you might find there's a much cheaper option on any given day than the more well-known thing, with specs that are virtually identical or maybe better. Some things, I literally just search at Mouser at the time of purchase, sorted by price, and just glance at the specs that matter. And bingo, that's the one.

4. You may gravitate towards CAD PCB stuff and SMD parts. If you do end up there, you will find out that through hole is a abomination for pcb design and population.

[AnyNameWillDo]

I guess it's just tricky to know where to begin and which pieces might be more worthwhile to stock than others. I'm trying to see which things come up more often and go from that.