@stan2004 posted:
I did not realize there was much interest in the DIY version but this thread was mentioned today. Anyway, I was looking at your parts list and found it curious the resistors are shown from Mouser while everything else is from DigiKey. Given postage is $5 and up per order, got me wondering...
Mouser shows a minimum order of 200 pieces for the Xicon brand resistors (270-value-RC). Earlier in this thread alternate part numbers for Vishay brand are given; and while those are available quantity 1, I was surprised to see the 3.0M resistor is a rather steep 87 cents each (47K is "only" 31 cents each) with price break at 50 pieces.
Again, from what I can tell the overwhelming majority of guys want an assembled version, but for the sake of posterity and for a DIY'er stumbling upon this in the future, perhaps a comment about the two different parts suppliers?
Until now, to my knowledge no one has tried the DIY version of the PBW that I know of? So I think you are right about there not being a lot of interest in that option. GRJ may have had some DIY inquiries, not sure about that one? They probably would have gone to him first on that one after reading the development thread.
As for parts suppliers, at the time this list was made Digikey did not have the 1% resistors in the values needed, but Mouser had them. Seems like there was something with that cap too, but I can't say for sure there? I believe this is what GRJ ended up with originally as well, as he was also hunting parts for the revised 555 timer version at the time. Pretty sure he also came up short at Digikey. I don't recall exactly but it seems that Mouser did not have all of the required parts either. Anyway, that's the reason for two suppliers at the time the BOM posted. Also seems like some substitutions were considered, but that didn't work out either? GRJ would probably remember that part, he has a much better memory for this stuff than I do.
It would definitely be preferable all coming from one supplier. It's an extra $4.99 for shipping at Mouser, at least it was at the time of the posting. Digikey shipping isn't like it used to be either, I think they now have a minimum similar to Mouser's. I haven't checked on these parts since the BOM was posted, but from the above it looks like GRJ may have and it sounds like he still had to get some from other suppliers. Also, I think many things seem to be in short supply these days as GRJ said above.
