Seekic

[Vgkid]

I'm repairing some older gear, and several/ most of the components have gone obsolete, so I'm currently looking at parts alternatives as well. So has anyone used seekic, as they have most parts, E-pay also carries the same parts.
Note I have never had buy parts that were truely obsolete beore.

[duskglow]

I've usually had pretty good luck on ebay when I really need something.  You have to watch out, but for obsolete parts, sometimes it's really the only source.

[ftransform]

I bought stuff by emailing chinese people... who spammed my mail box to shit but delivered the product.

I think it is luck of the draw though, they will try to charge you 30$ dhl SHIPPing and get you to buy 10X of what you want. you need to negotiate alot.

[vk6zgo]

I'm repairing some older gear, and several/ most of the components have gone obsolete, so I'm currently looking at parts alternatives as well. So has anyone used seekic, as they have most parts, E-pay also carries the same parts.
Note I have never had buy parts that were truely obsolete beore.

Analyse what some of these parts are used for.

Sometimes manufacturers will use the same components for non critical & critical jobs,simply because they have a lot of them.
If so,you may be able to steal a good part from  a non critical application & use it where its characteristics are important,replacing it in the other spot with a generic part from your "junkbox".

Another trick is to look at what components other companies use in similar circuitry.
They may well do the job and still be available.

For instance,the Horizontal Output transistors used in 27" Sony Profeel picture monitors could be replaced with a BU208D,as used by Philips in a similar circuit,which were cheaper & more readily available.

OK,it was 10 minutes from our parts store instead of 2 days from Sony---not long,but when Production wanted a monitor,they wanted it now!

[SeanB]

Bu208D's were also a common replacement for those horrid GCS thyristors Sony used in the late 1970's and early 1980's. There were many a bodge board made to both fit them and include extra resistors, diodes and capacitors to make them last longer as well.