Baracuda Build (silverdog kit Rev2)

[Polymer]

@ Michaelo

Get well soon!

I have never ordered parts from China. I don't know if the parts can be trusted from there, because
I'm not sure if they may be reject batches with iffy specs finding their way back to the market instead of landing in the shredder ...

[Michaelo]

Swelling has gone down so perhaps tomorrow...

Re parts and China
I've been ordering from China for many years and have never had a dud part...
I don't order a lot of chips from China and I am aware that there are some counterfeits but to date I have only had one and it was in a product...

For the hobbyist (and small development with my budget) China is the best option...
I certainly can't afford to pay the many middle men when buying from the US or UK, the postage cost alone often make it too expensive and their is still no guarantee you are getting grade one components...

Consider the following...
I required some 4069's for a project and my local suppliers supplied lots of 25 @ €16.40 + postage about $9 = 25.40/25 = €1.01 each...
From the US the cost was €23.53 for 10 (I don't know it that included Vat or Duty)... but unit cost based on the figure was €2.35

I bought 10 CD4069's on eBay from China for ~€2 including postage... need I say any more...

Postage
If I need something in a hurry, I buy local (if they have them in stock) as it only take 1 to 3 days...
From the UK it takes about 3-5 days and from the US about 7-10 days...
Europe varies between 3 - 15 days depending...

I actually got parts from China in under a week but the average is closer to 21 day...

One other thing to be a ware of... many companies and individuals purchase bulk from China and resell on eBay and other sites for a lot more money.
This is certainly true for the UK but also pertinent from the US and Europe...

Postage Charges
Finally, be aware that postage charges are the single biggest means of ripping-off customers (IMHO)...
The number of times I tried to purchase items that were initially priced competitively only to find the price had escalated way beyond reasonable due to inflated postage charges is astonishing...
Many time I refused to pay for items on eBay for this very reason... In every case I had to enter into a dispute and make my case... I shouldn't have ot do this, I should be able to cancel at any time...
A contract is a contract after you pay for an item, not when you enter the shop...

Mike

[Polymer]

Nice to hear you have good experiences with components directly from China.

Yes, I am aware of sellers in Europe selling the same stuff for more $$$.

I usually buy NOS (except certain capacitors) or surplus components, I trust them more.

That may be silly of me, but I feel better ....

Thank You for your input!

Happy Healing, Polymer

[6666]

I'm not sure if they may be reject batches with iffy specs finding their way back to the market instead of landing in the shredder ...

You do have to check what you are buying, but they are so cheap if you dont like them throw them in the bin
I buy most of my parts off ebay from china mostly because I can get 5 for the local cost of 1.

OR the local shops make you buy 5 or 10 of something when I only want 1.

Average postage time from china is about 2-3 weeks, sometimes quicker.

postage charges are the single biggest means of ripping-off customers

You got that right ! you have to be carefull that they dont use that stupid ebay global shipping system, they way over charge.

One other thing to be a ware of... many companies and individuals purchase bulk from China and resell on eBay

They do the same thing here in Oz, same item 3 times the price from china plus postage

[SVEN1]

I have never had problems buying from this China company, think many here buy from them.
http://www.taydaelectronics.com/

[6666]

I have never had problems buying from this China company, think many here buy from them.
http://www.taydaelectronics.com/

I have bought a lot of items from this company via ebay, by useing ebay you can get good postage deals and avoid the minimum $5.00 order if you order direct, BUT, they do not seem to list all their products on ebay, too much work I guess.

[Koala]

I have never had problems buying from this China company, think many here buy from them.
http://www.taydaelectronics.com/

Yep I have used them for all my resistors and capacitors. Far cheaper for 1%. Never had a problem. Think they are in Thailand.

[ripsdevala]

China mainland!!!.... 3 month to get here by post. Dx.com, focalprice.com
I almost forgot that I buy something from china.

[ripsdevala]

Did someone have a pcb print layout for the latest Qiaozi schematic, i would like to test it.

[Qiaozhi]

Did someone have a pcb print layout for the latest Qiaozi schematic, i would like to test it.

PCBs will be available soon from Silverdog -> www.silverdog.co.uk

[ripsdevala]

The last time i try to buy is not supported to send here, I prefer to make it, more cheaper, the barracuda I have build is about $15

[Polymer]

PCBs will be available soon from Silverdog -> www.silverdog.co.uk

Whoops, i hope i am not too late here. Which inverter is being used or specified for the new boards?
You might want to look at the 7662A or TC962 which are pin compatible as far as I have understood.

See my post at:

http://www.geotech1.com/forums/showt...975#post218975

[Qiaozhi]

Whoops, i hope i am not too late here. Which inverter is being used or specified for the new boards?
You might want to look at the 7662A or TC962 which are pin compatible as far as I have understood.

See my post at:

http://www.geotech1.com/forums/showt...975#post218975

The new Geotech Baracuda PCBs have been received by Silverdog. I'm expecting to receive a populated board for final testing in the next couple of weeks. A Build Document is also in progress, and soon after that I expect kits will be made available on the Silverdog website. The new updated version is the same size as the original, and uses an LT1054 for the voltage converter.

[Polymer]

GREAT!

Looking forward to this.

Thank you Qiaozhi & to All working on this

[ripsdevala]

Any good news...