Best online sources to purchase Arduino accesories

I am looking for some good sources to purchase Arduino accessories (LEDs, Resistors, Switches) items of this sort. I am familiar with just Sparkfun however I want to know where you get your stuff and why. Thanks in advance!!

http://www.parallax.com/ ...high quality
http://www.adafruit.com/ ...cool stuff
http://www.digikey.com/ ...cheap; fast delivery
http://www.mouser.com/ ...cheap; fast delivery
http://www.avnet.com/ ... http://avnetexpress.avnet.com/ ...sometimes very cheap
http://www.allelectronics.com/ ...cheap

Also FastTech.com Some items are very inexpensive:

DHT11 1-Wire Thermometer/Hygrometer $2.55
HC-SR06 Ultrasonic Distance Sensor $2.26
16x2 LCD Keypad Shield for Arduino $5.85
20x4 Serial LCD Module Display $7.70

The free shipping got a bunch of items to me in 10 days so not bad from Hong Kong to Massachusetts.

johnwasser:
Also FastTech.com Some items are very inexpensive:

Uno R3 for $10.12??!! Knockoff, I assume?

Yup. Blatant violation of the trademark. The truly sad part is that they obviously modified the design. Guess it was too much effort to remove the logo. Either that or they couldn't resist the temptation to purloin someone else's reputation.

Hi, Lots of lowest-cost stuff on Ebay.

Almost as low-cost with tracking of your shipment and lots of How-To on almost all products is what I've tried to do at YourDuino.com

Start with the How-to: http://ArduinoInfo.Info

You can actually ask us questions, too :slight_smile:

Sometimes an Arduino-compatible has extra features you may find helpful, like 3-pin connectors for easy cabling and much more 3.3V power, like this:
http://goo.gl/5T1T6

DISCLAIMER: Mentioned stuff from my own shop...

I've posted some of these links before.

A lot of basic components I tend to source locally rather than deal with mail order, as you can get it immediately. In central Massachusetts, I use:

  • http://www.electronicsplus.com/ -- In Littleton, MA. Sells basic electronics components, but no Arduino specific items
  • http://www.youdoitelectronics.com/ -- In Needham, MA. For me, it is a bit of a trek, so I can't do it on the spur of the moment. In addition to a lot more parts than Electronics Plus, You-do-it has recently discovered Arduino compatibles, and carries various Osepp and Sparkfun kits.
  • RadioShack.com Official Site - America's Technology Store -- They are everywhere, but if you need just a few parts and don't need hand holding by the staff, their prices for one off components, aren't too bad considering typical shipping charges. You typically want to go to the back of the store, and browse through the several filing cabinets that they have of various components. RS does sell actual Arduino products, though the prices can be higher than you find elsewhere.

Now, on to the mail order sites you asked about. In general, I prefer to deal with sites that have USA distributors so that I get the stuff in a few days, rather than a couple weeks.

  • Electronic components - dipmicro electronics -- I found this through another forum member, and the prices are great. While they are primarily Canadian, they do mail from Niagara Falls, NY so you don't get customs. I was impressed that each of the parts I got were labeled in plastic bags, as I bought my original UNO from a vendor that just threw all parts in a single plastic bag.
  • http://www.adafruit.com/ -- I originally avoided Adafruit and Sparkfun since most of their boards needed soldering. While I can solder now, I still prefer for things like shields to buy ones that are pre-soldered. I tend to go here for more unique designs, and also because they have a lot of tutorials that the creator (Limor Fried) or her staff wrote themselves. Adafruit is based in New York city.
  • http://www.sparkfun.com -- You already know about this one. However, at times, I get the sense that they think they are more cool than they are, and it is a slight turn off. They are based in Colorado. While I often look at sparkfun, I tend to prefer Adafruit over Sparkfun, and I haven't ordered from them (I do have a few designs that I might get some day).
  • http://www.robotshop.com/store -- While their focus is robotics, they do carry a lot of stuff for non-robotic microprocessor projects as well if you go to the robot parts sublink. They carry a lot of various shields, sensors, etc. Robotshop is world wide, but their US operations is in Vermont.
  • http://www.pololu.com/ -- This is another robot venture that also deals with basic electronics and shields, kits, etc. They are based in Los Vegas, Nevada.
  • http://yourduino.com/ -- This company is almost entirely Arduino based. One of the owners (Terry King) posts often in these forums, and has good tutorials on his site that he wrote. I value that in a site. Yourduino, ships from China, so you have to factor in the longer delivery times.
  • http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/PageDisplayView?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&content=contact -- Jameco has a huge inventory, including an Arduino section. However, the sites with large inventories also mean it can be harder to narrow down to an individual part. They are a California based company.
  • http://www.newark.com/ -- A large multi-national, with shipping from a lot of different places. Like Jameco, it can be tough to narrow down your selections.

Edit:
Some other sites that I look at, and have seen other people recommend, but I haven't ordered from them:

More targeted sites include:

These places build a lot of shields, sensors, etc. Often times you can find the parts at distributors that are in your country, but for datasheets and tutorials, you need to go back to the company that built the item. They also do mail order directly:

Places that I often times search for unusual things, but not necessarily electronics parts are:

  • http://www.sciplus.com/ -- American Science and Surplus, sells a lot of products, at the end of their life. Their descriptions are funny.
  • http://www.scientificsonline.com/ -- Edmund Scientifics.
  • http://www.thinkgeek.com -- Thinkgeek. Like Sparkfun, a little too impressed with themselves, but still fun items. I do find the markup on their electronic items to be higher, so if you can find the stuff elesewhere, you likely will get better prices.

Edit-2:
Here are some projects that started out on kickstarter that built a specific part. Some are now shipping to general customers and you can order the gadget directly. Some are still trying to satisfy the original kickstarter orders, and you won't be able to get the item, until the original orders are done:

MichaelMeissner:

  • Electronic components - dipmicro electronics -- I found this through another forum member, and the prices are great. While they are primarily Canadian, they do mail from Niagara Falls, NY so you don't get customs. I was impressed that each of the parts I got were labeled in plastic bags, as I bought my original UNO from a vendor that just threw all parts in a single plastic bag.

There should be no duty on electronics parts/sub-assemblies/PCBs/etc... coming into the US from Canada.

You've got a lot of suggestions already, but I'd add www.aztecmcu.com. I've bought quite a bit off them of late. Their selection is not the greatest right now, but it does seem to be growing. What they do carry is very well priced and they have some unique stuff that works really well.

They are in Canada, but as BillO points out, that does not seem to make any difference. Never been charged duty and it does not seem to take any longer for shipments to arrive than from other vendors.

I guess you could say I'm a fan :).

I vote for www.yourduino.com

Thank you

MichaelMeissner
Ayer, Massachusetts, USA

for the very informative post. I am checking out alot of these sites. Lately I have bought some starter kits and am new to the community.

J

rasberry:
Thank you for the very informative post. I am checking out alot of these sites. Lately I have bought some starter kits and am new to the community.

You are welcome.