Chinese online shop for electronic components ?

[Martin]

We've ordered batteries, LEDs and flaslights from Hong Kong and China, but what about transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors, ferrites, crystals, .. ?
Are there any English-language online stores in the electronics manufacturing centers of this world, willing to ship internationally ?

 

[billw]

Futurlec http://www.futurlec.com/index.shtml is rumored to drop ship from somewhere in Asia; they seem to do a pretty good idea of hiding the actual warehouse location... They have a reputation for being relatively reliable, but somewhat slow and uncommunicative. I've ordered from them and not had any problems (beyond the slowness (~2-3 weeks? Not awful, just not the "ships within one day" I've gotten used to with US vendors.)) Most of their prices are more-or-less similar to mainland suppliers, but some things are real bargains; notably protoboards like "stripboard" (which is absurdly expensive from US suppliers, IMO.)

 

[Norm]

I just wonder if they are based in Australia, that's an Australian electronics magazine that their selling? Could be totally wrong but I can't imagine a Chinese company importing an Australian magazine.
Norm

Edit
This makes me think their Australian based. They list offices in various parts of the world but direct other places back to the Australian office.
[font=arial,helvetica,verdana]All Other Locations[/font]


Futurlec
2 / 136 Broadmeadow Rd,
Broadmeadow,
NSW 2292
Australia

 

[panic]

I am really a Chinese.But I'm still puzzled by this question.
I can hardly find online shops about electronic components .
I used to buy components from rs-components.com but that's too expensive.
If anyone got ideas,please tell me.Thank you.
You can contact me via [email protected] if I'm not online.
There are many merchants who offer large quantity of components only.
These merchants can be found at Alibaba.com.
They will sell NOTHING to me because my poor need of quantity.

 

[sysadmn]

We've ordered batteries, LEDs and flaslights from Hong Kong and China, but what about transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors, ferrites, crystals, .. ?
Are there any English-language online stores in the electronics manufacturing centers of this world, willing to ship internationally ?

Do they have to be Chinese, or just ship internationally? I haven't found any general purpose mix-n-match electronics components stores in China online. Best I've been able to do is searching eBay. That's fine if you want LCDs, LEDS, protoboards, etc., but shipping will eat you up (typically $5=12 US for small items).

For assorted orders, I like Digikey, except that they have a $5 surcharge for orders < $25. There are also some excellent vendors in the US that sell component kits. I've purchased a couple of resistor, capacitor, and linear ic kits.

To summarize:
100 LEDS --> eBay, Chinese online shops
25 assorted parts -> Digikey or Mouser
5 of every 1/4 W resistor, 25 2N2222, etc -> eBay.
1-5 integrated circuits -> Samples from Manufacturer's website.
2 transistors -> ?

Post here if you want specific names for any of these. You can also cruise the Ham radio sites, and ask there.

 

[Calina]

Hi Martin,


Have you tried Cutter from Australia : http://www.cutter.com.au/index.php
They seem to be well stock prices are fair and shipping cost is not excessive.
I haven't tried them personally though.

Are you working on new bike lights?

 

[koala]

I ordered from Futurlec a couple of times, paid in aussie dollars in Australia. My parts, they ship from Thailand warehouse. Aussie office, Thailand warehouse...

 

[Martin]

I know that in the electronics manufacturing centers in Asia there are large shopping centers selling components only. Primarily thinking of Shenzhen / China but other places sure have these.
I mostly need < 10 pcs of something. Stuff like capacitors that may have to be high temp or miniature, specific transistors or linear ICs, specific inductors and ferrite cores, things that go beyond the BC339, the LM7805 or the TL082.
Checked out Futurelec, they have really little selection but indeed, they ship overseas at a reasonable price.
The Cutter site is a mess. Their search function finds nothing and some parts cost USD 0. It probably needs their printed catalog.
Maybe my currrent local favourite Reichelt is not that bad, while their selection is still far behind RS or Farnell who both won't ship to a hobbyist like me.
Yes, a shop like RS or Farnell that will ship internationally to hobbyists would be great.

 

[Calina]

Try Digikey they have stores in a few countries including Germany: http://dkc1.digikey.com/de/digihome.html

Or Mouser in the USA : http://www.mouser.com/index.cfm?handler=home

In Canada :
Active Tech (I don't know if they ship internationally): http://www.active-tech.ca/b2c/redirect.cfm?pn=2

Addison : https://www.addison-electronique.com/

Some of these stores have minimum order charges.

Here's a great ressource if you read french (even minimally) it is from an electronics school, lots of references : http://osiris.teccart.qc.ca/banquedeliens/acceuil.htm

 

[Martin]

Calina, thanks for the list.
The German Digikey is weird as they add customs fee but don't say what to expect. And they have EUR 13 handling fee for orders < EUR 100 plus EUR 18 shipping, too. So it is a minimum of EUR 31 upfront plus customs.

It looks like Mouser is the one for me. They got by far the widest selection of components, not cheap but yet affordable international shipping, no handling fee or MOC.

Maybe some time has to pass before a HK or Chinese Mouser-equivalent shows up and does the same for a little less.

 

[Martin]

Are you working on new bike lights?

Missed that: New bike light ? Yes, trying to. On to improved dynamo electronics together with ktronik. Just there's the kid and the wife and the house (beyond the job), so last night it was repairing the vacuum cleaner and there's something non-bike-light-ish every day..