Ask HN: How do you organize your electronic components?

I've found a mixed approach works best, given the dev inventory I run:

- a good supply of passive SMT books from the usual suppliers (mainly the "notebook" style ones with cut tape in the pages)

- various larger SMT & PTH parts, connectors, switches, etc in modular parts boxes (Eclipse Tools #900-041 mainly; larger in #900-039). These boxes stack nicely, are adjustable, are pretty cheap, and can be found at Microcenter (though ordering direct from Eclipse Tools is cheaper in quantity). I keep things in them in ESD or small zip bags, with those labeled as they get allocated. I try to keep each box assigned to a type of component then label the front of them ("Toggle Switches", "Motor+Stepper Ctrl", "Gaskets & O-Rings").

- even larger parts end up in plastic boxes from IRIS or IKEA, in 3 standardized sizes.

Key to this plan was buying bins in bulk (qty 10 or 20 pcs minimum) since they store well empty, can be used as replacements when lids/bases break, and inventory always tends to grow. Plus, wire shelving is easy when everything is standardized... "buy once, cry once" and you can't count on the same cheap bin being available in 10 years when current extras are out.

Starting to look into setting up a database tool to keep track of stock - partsbox, inventree, google form+sheet, ??? - but not there yet.

Remember those old-time electronic components shops with a bazillion of small drawers from which they extracted that BC547C you happened to need to repair that garage door opener? I use more or less the same, racks with small drawers where parts of a feather flock together. Some are quite organised - resistors in order of value, one multiplier colour band per drawer - while others are more haphazardly distributed. I have loads of parts which I took from deceased equipment meant to be used to repair other things, some of those parts going back to when I was in high school and scrounged broken television sets from the curb side to repair or raid for parts. I also use a stack of wooden boxes containing tin cans containing larger parts - ESP boards, sensor boards, patch cables etc. All in all this fills a few cubic metres of space, mostly in and around my work area but some of it in the barn. I have a good memory and tend to remember where I put something so I'm not using much of a philosophy when organising things.

I read some reactions in the style of 'toss most of it and buy it when you need it' but those strike me as odd; one of the big advantages of having a comprehensive parts supply is that you can repair most equipment when needed without being dependent on external suppliers. The mere fact that parts are 'cheap' does not make them 'worthless', the cheap transistor in your drawer is worth a lot more than the one in the warehouse when you need it.

ofalkaed · a year ago

Years ago I found myself in your situation, I put most of it in a big box and sold in on craigslist and started over because organizing it all just demoralized me. Bought a bunch of resistor and capacitor kits from mouser or digikey that came with in their own storage, small parts cabinets of drawers. The drawers are all larger than needed and come with dividers so I was able to consolidate a few and have some cabinets for the parts I kept and ICs. The electronics distributors all sell these cabinets as well.

brudgers · a year ago

Declaring bankruptcy is often the best way forward.

cassianoleal · a year ago

Zack Freedman's Gridfinity system has all you need and more!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra_9zU-mnl8

https://gridfinity.xyz/

https://all3dp.com/2/gridfinity-simply-explained/

rcarmo · a year ago

There are resistor and capacitor-tailored versions of these. Searching on Printables, etc. will yield a lot of results.

amelius · a year ago

Looks nice but requires a LOT of printer time.

muthas · a year ago

jpm_sd · a year ago

You don't have to keep everything. Decide which parts are too cheap and easily replaceable to bother with, and throw them out.

Pre made resistor and capacitor kits are a nice way to keep a selection on hand that's pre-organized for you.

Lots of people are suggesting 3D printed bins but I'd recommend something anti-static, for example:

https://www.techni-tool.com/product/429BE9038-554-4ESD?srslt...

Are you subscribed to an organizational philosophy?

My default organizational philosophy for all things is YAGNI. Search is often more efficient than developing, enforcing and maintaining a taxonomy because documentation.

If that doesn't work, I organize a little at a time as I go along and usually a little differently every time. The things I use more often become more organized -- the things I merely hoard not so much.

Caveat, my organization is personal not shared. Shared organization is a different animal...it must be negotiated.

craftit · a year ago

I opted for sorting by project. We live in a world where you can get most things the next day. Then, I keep a few part-sample books for common components like capacitors and resistors for modding. Even if I need a specialist component, I know what projects I have used it in before

sschueller · a year ago

For components I use these cheap storage bins for which I made a printable front plate.

https://www.printables.com/model/49785-allit-varioplus-drawe...

Larger items go into various sized stackable Rako or Euro style boxes.

https://www.utzgroup.ch/stackable-containers-euro-containers...

SMD components I keep in these small trays for which I print small labels.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_EIUgu9b

Deleted Comment

hagbard_c · a year ago