Radio Shack Resistors

[shiner_man]

I ordered the wrong resistor from PPP (470 ohm instead of 47 ohm) so I ran out to radioshack and grabbed some.  Is this going
to adversely affect anything besides it being huge compared to the other resistors?  It's +/- 5% tolerance.

[CynicalMan]

I ordered the wrong resistor from PPP (470 ohm instead of 47 ohm) so I ran out to radioshack and grabbed some.  Is this going
to adversely affect anything besides it being huge compared to the other resistors?  It's +/- 5% tolerance.

It shouldn't, unless the circuit requires more precise resistance, which is prettty uncommon in effects.

[shiner_man]

I ordered the wrong resistor from PPP (470 ohm instead of 47 ohm) so I ran out to radioshack and grabbed some.  Is this going
to adversely affect anything besides it being huge compared to the other resistors?  It's +/- 5% tolerance.

It shouldn't, unless the circuit requires more precise resistance, which is prettty uncommon in effects.

Thanks.

Any idea why the radioshack ones are enormous compared to the others?

[CynicalMan]

They have a different power rating (maximum power dissipation).


The Radio Shack resistors look like 1/2W or 1W to me.

[shiner_man]

They have a different power rating (maximum power dissipation).


The Radio Shack resistors look like 1/2W or 1W to me.

Oh man, I forgot about that.  I'll learn all this someday.

Yeah, these are 1/2 watt.  I guess that explains the size.

[chi_boy]

You found a Radio Shack that still sells componants?

[twabelljr]

You found a Radio Shack that still sells componants?

Are they really that rare now? I feel lucky to have 2 of them in a 20 mile radius with the complete electronics bins section and a 3rd with components on the wall. Not where I prefer to do all of my shopping but very convenient when you need something asap. They do have 1/4 watt 1% metal film resistors but you have to get a 50 count assortment for $5.99. You will be fine with what you have though. What are you building? Looks good.

[chi_boy]

They still have some, but not like it used to be.  Components don't really sell I guess, so it's all about the cell phones and consumer electronics.

My local RS is down to 3 drawer stackers of parts.  It used to be 3 aisles.

I don't think it will be too long before they go away all together. 

[Paul Marossy]

They still have some, but not like it used to be.  Components don't really sell I guess, so it's all about the cell phones and consumer electronics.

My local RS is down to 3 drawer stackers of parts.  It used to be 3 aisles.

I don't think it will be too long before they go away all together. 

That's about the story here where I live, too. I also remember "the good old days" when they actually had lots of electronic components. Times have changed, though. Now we are the weirdos in the world who want to build something themselves. 

[shiner_man]

You found a Radio Shack that still sells componants?

Are they really that rare now? I feel lucky to have 2 of them in a 20 mile radius with the complete electronics bins section and a 3rd with components on the wall. Not where I prefer to do all of my shopping but very convenient when you need something asap. They do have 1/4 watt 1% metal film resistors but you have to get a 50 count assortment for $5.99. You will be fine with what you have though. What are you building? Looks good.

It's a catalinbread Dirty Little Secret clone.  I just added the transistors.  Still waiting for the caps and DPDT switch to get delivered.  I guess I'll have to wait until Monday to finish it.

[zombiwoof]

The Radio Shack near me has a big cabinet with drawers full of components, I hit them up once in a while when I need something quick.  They also still have components on their website, too.  I even was able to buy a couple of different values of stacked metal film caps there, but their prices are higher then what you'd pay from a place like Mouser or Digikey.  Still have soldering irons and supplies, too.  The people that work there don't know much about them, though, they just point you in the direction of the cabinet in the back.

Last time I went in for some resistors and such, the young guy behind the counter saw what I was buying and said a guy that builds amps comes in once in a while and buys a bag full of components.  The guy told him his name, it was Howard Dumble!.  The kid didn't know who he was, he asked his dad and he told him he was a famous amp builder.  I thought it was hilarious that someone who builds amps that cost thousands of dollars buys parts from Radio Shack!.  I think about that every time I see a discussion of a Dumble amp that sold for $20,000 or so and have to smile.  This is in the San Fernando Valley in CA.

Al

[twabelljr]

The people that work there don't know much about them, though, they just point you in the direction of the cabinet in the back.

That is my favorite part. They leave you alone while you dig through all of the drawers and fill up your bag. Hassle free. Keep an eye out for the clearance boxes on the floor, they are usually unmarked cardboard boxes and could be anywhere on the floor. Lots of quality wallwarts of all voltages and tips, etc for $0.50 to $1.00 each! They look at me like I am crazy when I dig through them, and they leave me alone until I am ready to check-out.

[shiner_man]

Do they have a variety of capacitors that would cover most pedals?

[Paul Marossy]

Do they have a variety of capacitors that would cover most pedals?

No. Even 7 or 8 years ago RadioShack's selection of caps was quite lame. It's even worse now. The only thing that I used to get from them is jacks, pots and knobs, but now I get that stuff from other sources for 30-50% less than they sell it for. I only go to RS if it's something I need RIGHT NOW and I know that they will have it. I avoid them if at all possible.

[ashcat_lt]

The folks at my local RS like to act interested "what kind of project are you working on?". Like you'd have a clue if I told you.  No I'm quite sure you can't help me.  Thanks, though.

I also love the fact that they sell knobs which don't fit any of their pots and pots that don't have knobs to fit.

[jcgss77]

I couldn't believe it when I went into my Radio Snack looking for their IC board that you snap in half, and a couple of 20 pin dual in line IC sockets.  They always ask to help, and I always say I need components, and they leave me alone.  Of course, I couldn't find either.  So I go home, and look online, and it turns out that they are in every RS in my area but the one in my hometown.  Yuck.

[LucifersTrip]

All the Shacks near me do carry a full line of resistors & caps, but you'd be insane to buy em at those prices. They literally sell caps by the piece and resistors [1/2w, 1/4w, 1w] in 2 and 5 packs for $1-2, instead of what you can do online for .01 -.05 each, which is of course a 20x - 100x markup.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103622
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102589
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062350

The one thing I buy there are 2 packs of these 9-volt battery holders for .99:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062220


who else sells these?

[thedefog]

I'm in NJ, and all of the RS stores here still have them. Some more than others.