electronic component supply in NZ

[pete376403]

Where do people buy components now. I need an LM2490T-5.0 (5 volt regulator) Jaycar dont stock, the big suppliers like RS and Digikey are just front ends for overseas. Digikey are very fast as far as shipping goes, but the last purchase from them was $40 for freight on a $6.80 purchase of half a dozen zener diodes. Things like that tend to raise the accountant/managers eyebrows a bit.

[SaferRides]

It's become a real pain. Most of my purchases are for my business and I pass on the shipping costs to the clients.

But for personal stuff, it's become difficult. AliExpress?

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[BMWST?]

have no idea where they are or who they are but element14 have been advertising as electronic suppliers

[pete376403]

have no idea where they are or who they are but element14 have been advertising as electronic suppliers
Used to be known as Farnells. RS used to be Radio Spares. Once they both had a presence in NZ where stock could be supplied locally, now they are just online and everything seems to come from O/Seas. Great if you are ramping up for mass production, not so great for one-offs. Mouser is another one - their closest is Australia. but even then, $26 freight for a $3.50 item, and a week delivery

There is a place in ChCh - South Island component Centre (sicom.co.nz) who have the item but there are minimum quantities involved. Guess the only option is to end up with a few spares.

[SaferRides]

RS is possibly the best as they seem to have good stock in Oz and usually deliver in 2 days. The US suppliers are cheaper, especially Mouser, but freight is expensive.

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[pete376403]

RS got the order. Still, $13 freight on a $3.30 part a little larger than my thumbnail.

[F5 Dave]

All the usual suspects mentioned. I guess we don't think about freight as business.
Wiseman and David Reid went in the late 90s.

[spanner spinner]

Aliexpress is the best option for one off parts like this LM2490T-5.0 (5 volt regulator), have to be a bit care full with selecting your supplier from Aliexpress but if the parts is not mission critical they are usually fine. And if your are not in a hurry can some times get them freight free.
I am starting to have to get parts for work via aliexpress as my NZ suppliers cant source a lot of parts anymore, work for a Auto electrical firm. It getting scary for your 15-20 year old car when the manufactures don't support any spare parts for them and the NZ aftermarket cant source parts either.

[jellywrestler]

NZ aftermarket cant source parts either.

they can, they are just sick of searching and being told the buyer can get it for less, and they are ripping you off. people are cunts

[SaferRides]

I am starting to have to get parts for work via aliexpress as my NZ suppliers cant source a lot of parts anymore, work for a Auto electrical firm. It getting scary for your 15-20 year old car when the manufactures don't support any spare parts for them and the NZ aftermarket cant source parts either.
My last AliExpress order arrived in under a week and freight was about NZD 4. I continue to be surprised what you can find there.

eBay can also be worth a look, but their shipping service is a joke.


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[neels]

I'd be checking how critical it is to have that exact regulator, and if a common garden variety 7805 would do the job instead.....

I hate obscure components in applications where something less exotic would work just as well.

[pete376403]

I'd be checking how critical it is to have that exact regulator, and if a common garden variety 7805 would do the job instead.....

I hate obscure components in applications where something less exotic would work just as well.

I know enough to be able to install components to someone else's circuit design. I don't know enough to be able to design a circuit or substitute components. Actually I dont even know if I really need the reg or not. Its still working and the 5v output is 5.02 according to the Fluke meter, but the tab is getting really hot (cant keep my finger on it) and the board (NO2C Speeduino) will be in an unvented enclosure so I don't know if that is ok or not.

[pete376403]

Update - I ordered from RS as there was the possibility of it coming from Australia - nope it couldn't be further way - coming from UK! Found the problem though, one of the legs was broken off and only making intermittent contact with the board. I soldered some short wire offcuts to the legs and refitted. Working fine, not getting hot. Will change it for the new one when it arrives.

[F5 Dave]

Update - I ordered from RS as there was the possibility of it coming from Australia - nope it couldn't be further way - coming from UK! Found the problem though, one of the legs was broken off and only making intermittent contact with the board. I soldered some short wire offcuts to the legs and refitted. Working fine, not getting hot. Will change it for the new one when it arrives.
Well done.

[rambaldi]

Used to be known as Farnells. RS used to be Radio Spares. Once they both had a presence in NZ where stock could be supplied locally, now they are just online and everything seems to come from O/Seas. Great if you are ramping up for mass production, not so great for one-offs. Mouser is another one - their closest is Australia. but even then, $26 freight for a $3.50 item, and a week delivery

There is a place in ChCh - South Island component Centre (sicom.co.nz) who have the item but there are minimum quantities involved. Guess the only option is to end up with a few spares.

A few of them (like Mouser) have subsidiery offices here, that effectively run sales and support to their NZ customers - but they aren't holding any stock smaller than a dev kit - that you might get to borrow, if you are looking at spending it up big. Definately not in the market of supporting the small hobby stuff, or similar. My recent experiance was ordering stuff from RS - it was a decent enough experiance with stuff shipped in about the time I expected. But I had priced a bundle of stuff from all the big sites, and they ended up with a dollar of two despite variances in the exact parts I was after.

[neels]

Update - I ordered from RS as there was the possibility of it coming from Australia - nope it couldn't be further way - coming from UK! Found the problem though, one of the legs was broken off and only making intermittent contact with the board. I soldered some short wire offcuts to the legs and refitted. Working fine, not getting hot. Will change it for the new one when it arrives.
Nice work, it's surprising how many faults you can find just by having a look at the thing, and checking which bits are getting hot that shouldn't be.

I'm fortunate that I can just drop into South Island Components if I need stuff, but even through E14 or RS shipping from the UK can be surprisingly quick.