Thursday, April 7, 2022

My Favorite Components and Tools

 

This is a companion piece for my YouTube video: My Favorite and Most Commonly Used Items.


Update: I have since done a follow-up video for 2023 that adds some additional components:  My Favorite Components (2023).  These components are included below and are indicated with a 2023 label indicating that the item is highlighted in this second video.

This isn't intended as a how-to article.  It is simply a consolidated list of those components and tools that I've used in multiple projects.  They are loosely grouped together by function, but are shown in the order that they were presented in the above video.

Some of the following links are Amazon affiliate links.  While it does not affect your pricing, this blog may earn a small commission if you make a purchase via the links.  In situations where a product is discontinued or no longer available, check the related products on the product page for substitute items.

Microprocessors, Controllers and Related

These are at the heart of many of my DIY projects.




























(note: these are currently very hard to find due to chip shortage. Do not overpay and be aware of scammers!)













Note: Cases for the Raspberry Pi 4 are different. 












LED Lighting, Components and Accessories

These are the most common items that I use in my many LED projects.






















































  





















Voltage Regulators and Converters

Projects often require different voltages within the same build.  The most common conversions are between 3.3V, 5V and 12V.... but these aren't the only conversions needed.



























Displays






  0.96" OLED Module SSD1306  2023



2.8" ILI9341 TFT LCD Touch Panel 2023







Other commonly used sensors and components

This is a list of components that I've used in multiple projects.















































































 Force Sensing Resistor Strip  2023






























































 Braided Wire Sleeve (multiple sizes)
















Tools and Other Accessories


A short list of some of my favorite and most commonly used tools.













































(Original model shown in video is discontinued.  This is a close match.)






Favorite Smart Home Devices and Accessories

These are a few of my favorite smart home devices, selected due to their ability to run locally or to be removed from the "cloud" via flashing with custom firmware (e.g. Tasmota or ESPHome).



































































Other Tools and Favorites


These probably belong under the "Tools" section above, but they were shown last in the video, so they are listed here at the end!





































Again, this is by no means a complete list of either components, smart devices or tools that I have used in my various projects.  But per request, I've pulled my most used and favorite items from the overall list.


Supporting this blog and related YouTube channel

If you'd like to support future content on this blog and the related YouTube channel, or just say thanks for something that helped you out, you can use any of my Amazon links to make a purchase at absolutely no cost to you.  Or if you prefer to say thanks directly, you can buy me a one-off cup of coffee at:




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