Hello all
I am currently planning to buy some ICs and components but I don't know which IC to choose. I want to make some basic circuits without using microcontrollers. Please help.
Thanks in advance.
339 comparators are often useful. Maybe logic chips if you're doing any sort of logic without involving a microcontroller - but it's much easier and you get more complex logic possible with a microcontroller. ULN2003/2803 is a useful driver up to a couple hundred mA whether or not using a micro.
555 timers are useful if you don't have a microcontroller (ex, for generating PWM).
A lot of the cool IC's though are meant to use with a microcontroller, things like shift registers (74HC595 or the high current TPIC versions), I2C sensors, and the like.
The best projects often use a microcontroller with external chips to enhance and complement it's capabilities.
For analog electronics I'd start with a few transistors, rail-to-rail opamps, 555, voltage regulators (say
10V, 5V, -5V), and any more specific chip that takes your interest. Avoiding a microcontroller still
allows some basic logic gates too, so 74HCxx family gates of various sorts.
For digital: 74HC00, myriad uses; 74HC74 dual D flip-flop - latches, shift registers, counters; 74HC107 dual JK flip-flop; 74HC138 1-of-8 decoder; SN74HC4724 addressable latch; 74HC164 8-bit SIPO register; 74HC165 8-bit PISO register; 74HC283 4-bit adder; 74LS47 BCD to 7-segment decoder; 74HC86 quad XOR.
what kind of circuits?
I'd say it depends on what you're interested in. If you were in school you'd learn about op-amps in an analog class, and in a digital class you'd start with basic logic chips like and-gates, or-gates, flip-flops, etc. (such as the 74-series).
Voltage regulator chips are always handy too, but linear regulators are not very "interesting" and switching regulators can be tricky to build.
I started-out a long-long time ago with audio amplifier chips because that was something I was interested in. Then, I made some sound-activated light-sequencing effects with a comparator and flip-flops (or maybe a shift register, I can't remember) and maybe some other analog circuitry, and maybe a 555 timer.
...Now I do lighting effects with a programmable microcontroller, plus a little analog electronics on the input. 
Analog circuits are great for what they are, and have their uses- but don't handicap yourself by trying to hammer an analog solution into a digital problem.
Hi, Here's my list of popular IC's with information on each.
2 ANALOG /INTERFACE IC'S
2.1 LM393 2x comparator
2.2 NE5532 2x low-noise opamp
2.3 NE5532 CIRCUITS:
2.4 LM324 4x opamp single supply
2.5 LM386 Audio amp low-voltage
2.6 NE555 Timer-General purpose
2.7 555 TRIVIA: Input Priorities of the 555
2.8 OPTO-ELECTRONIC IC'S
2.9 PC817 Opto-Isolator
2.10 4N25-35 Opto-Isolator
2.11 MOC3061 Opto-TRIAC (0-crossing)
2.12 OTHER:
2.12.1 MAX485 RS485 Transceiver
2.12.2 ULN2003 7x Darlington Power Driver
2.12.3 1N4148 Fast-Switching Small Silicon Diode
2.12.4 Digital ICs
2.12.4.1 74HC14 6x Inverter
2.12.4.2 74HC595 Serial-In-Parallel-Out Expander
2.12.4.3 74HC165 Parallel-In-Serial-Out Expander
Thanks all for your help to make it easier for me to buy ICs. I am buying 74hxx ICs, OP amps and a 555 timer.
If you are buying op-amps, you will need some resistor and capacitor packs of a range of values.
Paul__B:
If you are buying op-amps, you will need some resistor and capacitor packs of a range of values.
you will need that for the 555 also... maybe a few potentiometers as well.
Hi,
What do you aim to power your circuits with?
Thanks.. Tom... 
Don’t forget 0.1uF ceramics capacitors for supply decoupling all logic chips and op amps need this, along with a large say 100uF capacitor.
Also don’t forget voltage regulators to produce the correct voltage for your circuits and capacitors that go with those.
Do you guys find that you need to stock ICs both in dip and smd format?
Watcher:
Do you guys find that you need to stock ICs both in dip and smd format?
Yes I do with some parts. It depends what I am building and what for.
For example if it is for publication I try and avoid surface mount parts if I can. If it is for other purposes then I use surface mount if there’s pressure on space or if the part comes in no DIL package.
Yes dip are good for breadboarding. And SMD for the pcbs
For example if it is for publication...
Publication?
All my PCBs are now based on SMT . But during prototyping I obviously use DIP.
Lately, and in order to avoid stocking both, I tend to just buy the SMT version and use SMT to DIP adapters when I need DIP.
Publication?
Yes I write books, mainly for the Raspberry Pi but I do have one out for the Arduino:-
Arduino Audio projects
Also I have a regular monthly column in The MagPi magazine which is Raspberry Pi based publication. In all good newsagents and free PDF download. The MagPi magazine
I tend to just buy the SMT version and use SMT to DIP adapters when I need DIP.
Yes I have a stock of surface mount breakout boards I use for finer pitched chips but I can handle 0.05" pitch chips with strip board and a scalpel. I rarely use PCBs for anything less that 10 off these days. In the old days ( 1983 - 2002 ) I used to make PCBs to accompany my articles but then I found I was spending too much time making them and gathering bags of components to make up kits.
Very impressed!
Suggestion : Nick rename of Grumpy_Mike to Electronics_Milke
Suggestion : Nick rename of Grumpy_Mike to Electronics_Milke
Mike is only Grumpy when he's Bored. And Arduino and RaspberryPi have pretty much taken care of THAT.