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Thanks, and all great advice.  I specifically need a prototyping breadboard, some pin style connectors, and some alligator clip leads. My son Connor and I are recycling solar panels out of old light fixtures to build larger power panels.  The eventual goal is to take a few old bike frames and wheels, build a tricycle frame, mount a canopy over it with the solar panels on it, and hook it up to batteries and the motor I have from an old electric lawn mower to build a solar powered trike.  I’m sure I’ll have a need to use the tools at the Lansing maker space eventually, but we’re just getting started on the project.  Right now, we’re just recycling and testing solar cells from junked devices to build a larger panel.  So, some basic electronic supplies are all I need right now.

 

When we start adding lights and turn signals, a microcontroller might be just what we need.  I’ll pick your brains then!

 

John Resotko

Michigan State University College of Law

email: [log in to unmask]

phone: 517-432-6836

web: http://www.law.msu.edu/

 

From: Kwiatkowski, Nicholas
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2018 10:42 PM
To: Burns, Sally <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask]; Resotko, John A <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: RE: [MSUNAG] An odd question: electronic supplies

 

Lansing Makers Network doesn’t sell components, but they do teach classes on the Ardunio (and other electronic kits).  I teach the class on occasion, with Mike Flaga teaching others.  They have pretty much all the components you could think of in the shop to play with, but most of them would need to stay in the shop.  LMN has hours open to the public on Wednesdays and Saturdays, if you want to check them out.

 

Fulton’s is local, and they are still open, but honestly, they don’t deal with hobbyist electronics anymore.  You can find resistors there, but much else is a spin of the wheel.  When I was there a few weeks ago, they didn’t have any prototyping boards or breadboards, let alone any of the other things I needed for my project.

 

You make want to check out TinkrLab in the Meridian Mall.  They do carry Ardunos and some kits.  They don’t have much in the way of anything besides kits, but they do also teach classes targeting younger kids (younger than high-school). 

 

If you are going online to buy components, take a look at Sparkfun or Adafruit.  Both sites are dedicated to hobbyists.  The nice thing is on both sites, they include instructions and in most cases, videos on how to use the components.   Adafruit is a huge contributor to the open-source hardware scene, but their selection is a bit more limited.  Make Magazine has an online store called the MakerShed which has a small selection of components, but they have good stock on kits for beginners.  If you know exactly which components you want, Digikey and Mouser are the two more popular places.  I sometimes get my components from Arrow Electronics too.

 

-Nick

 

 

 

From: Burns, Sally [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, May 1, 2018 10:19 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MSUNAG] An odd question: electronic supplies

 

Have you tried the Lansing makers network

@LansingMakersNetwork

Is on Facebook.

They have classes in using Arduino. Which might be interesting for you

Sent from my phone

 


On May 1, 2018, at 5:17 PM, Valenti, John <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Perhaps not local enough, but Radio Shack still has a store in Owosso. Haven't been in there for two+ years, but they did have resisters etc then.

 

And another vote for MicroCenter, they have a good maker section and good prices on Pi (usually even in stock).

-John


From: Resotko, John A <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 1, 2018 3:50:11 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MSUNAG] An odd question: electronic supplies

 

I’ll show my age now…. It’s been decades since I dabbled in electronics, and Radio Shack, my former go-to place for electronic pieces and parts, is a thing of history.

 

I’m considering a few projects to do with my son this summer, but I’m at a loss to consider where I might go locally to get my hands on things like a prototyping breadboard with jumper wires, some alligator clip test leads, multiple probes for my dusty DVM, and a decent beginners soldering iron and supplies.

 

Anyone know of any place local where I could dig up such things?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

John Resotko

Assistant Director, Systems Administration and Support

Michigan State University College of Law

648 N. Shaw Lane, Room 208 Law Building

East Lansing, MI 48842-1300

 

email: [log in to unmask]

phone: 517-432-6836

fax: 517-432-6861

web: http://www.law.msu.edu/

 

MSU IT Council , Law College representative

https://tech.msu.edu/itcouncil/index.php