where to get parts and breadboard for cheap

[doctorm]

so im looking for a electronics components kit that has the wide array of parts needed to start out working with electronics and i also need a good breadboard.

so far ive just looked on ebay and found some cheap ones but im not sure they have anythign i need and really dont know what im looking for anyways to start me out.

im reading an electronics hobby book and it said to get a breadboard and electronic parts to practice the stuff it has in it.

so anybody got a suggestion of a good place to get the parts for cheap and a breadboard? thanks

[Excavatoree]

I like these vendors:

http://www.goldmine-elec.com/
mpja.com

I'm not sure about their service to countries other than the US, however.  

EDIT:  I'll add:
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=-1
http://www.futureelectronics.com/en/Pages/index.aspx
(Not to be confused with futurelec)

[LEECH666]

Well you would need the following parts:

Resistors -> I suggest getting every value from the E24 Series, Metalfilm resitors, 0.6 Watts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preferred_number#E_series:_Capacitors_and_resistors

Diodes: Some common typed used are the 1N 4001-4007 typed (for recitfiers), 1N 4148 is one you often encounter, 1N 5817-5821

Zener-Diodes: The whole range from 2,2 volts up to 33 volts would be nice to have

LED: Just get a few 5mm ones for starters.

Capacitors: Depends, again the whole range from 1 pF up to 2200 µF would be nice. I wouldn't buy bigger ones in bulks, as they are expensive (depending on voltage rating).

Some Common Transistors: BC 547, BC328, BC 338

Some ICs like the NE555, OP-Amps: TL 071-074

Well the list keeps going on ...

I am sort of having the same problem as you, but I am not someone who thinks up circuits, as I am too retarded for that unless it's pretty easy, like a NE555 or MC34063 (watch Daves Vid on this one). I am more of a builder (I replicate circuits from others that I find on the net). So my approach is kinda that if can identify common types in a project I want to build I might stock up on those common types a bit, if my budget allows it.

I don't know if this helps you. As for dealers I don't have any suggestions, as I live in Germany. Maybe www.dealextreme.com is sort of OK if you don't mind importing stuff.

Anyway ... good luck,
Florian

[doctorm]

i was wondering what one should consider/know about breadboards before purchasing one.

there are a bunch on ebay but almost none of them have instructions or specs on them to see what they are capable of or what not.

one quesiton i do have off the bat is what is the total amount of voltage, current, and power a breadboard can handle?

[GeoffS]

Take a look at Futurlec.
They sell breadboards and components, check out the value packs on the linked page.

[DJPhil]

Regarding breadboards, I don't think there's a lot of difference in the long run on their quality. There have been a few threads about them and it seems size and external features like power supplies are the primary differences in price. I picked up a pair of 840ish contact boards from ebay when I started up again, and they've served me well aside from the usual wear and tear. The clips inside are easily deformed by larger component leads, notably the flat leads from TO220 packages. On most of them the board can be disassembled and the clips bent back out, but it's quite a hassle. I think most all boards suffer from this regardless of cost. I recommend paying a bit extra for some premade wires,
Typically you'll only want to use breadboards for low current circuitry, the sort of things you could do with a battery (even if you're using something else). You probably won't find specs to use as a guideline, but in my tinkering I tend to draw the line at about an amp or two or more than about thirty volts. There's an awful lot you can get done with a breadboard, but they're best avoided for higher power, RF, and fast logic circuits.

There's no real best place for parts either. Passives like resistors and caps are sold in assortments, and 'jellybean' ICs like 555s and opamps are often available from the same sorts of vendors. In my case I ordered a nice Hakko soldering iron, solder, a solder sucker, and some desoldering wick and went to work on some old stuff I'd set aside and scavenged most of my parts.

Here's some of the vendors I've used:
DigiKey
Mouser
Parts-Express
Newark/Farnell/Element14
Allied
Tayda Electronics
All Electronics
Fair Radio Sales Company Inc.
Surplus Sales of Nebraska
Burden Sales Surplus Center
McMaster-Carr
Stanley Supply & Services
FCB Electronics Home Page
NightFire Electronic Kits
Dan's Small Parts and Kits
Thai Shine EBay
Great Plains Electronics
All-Spec
Small Bear Electronics
HeatsinkUSA

[Psi]

Here are a few i have that noone else has mentioned yet.

For leds
http://www.hebeiltd.com.cn/  (used them, goods arrived fine)
http://www.besthongkong.com/product_info.php?cPath=19_53&products_id=452   (used them, goods arrived fine)

Suplus stock and gear
http://www.oatleyelectronics.com/   (used them, goods arrived fine)

Soldering gear
http://www.smtvip.net/List.aspx?CatID=16   (was recommended to me but ive not used them myself)

Unusual science stuff - magnets, low level radioactive stuff etc..
http://www.unitednuclear.com/


Your best bet for the really cheap components is to find somewhere near you that holds electronic "junk sales"  around here (NZ) they're held by HAM radio groups.
There are all sorts of cheap electronics items and components to bought at these sort of sales for next to nothing.
When i was a kid sellers would just give away huge boxes of unsold components at the end of the day, they really didnt want to take any of the stuff home with them