Harware, where to buy

[coolvince981]

Everyone is talking about the hardware but no one seems to mention where to buy it at. Can someone please help me out with where to purchase the hardware. Thanx

[Mrplow123]

What hardware do you speak of? If you are talking about all of the components to assemble a system for your self, then I can give you a few supplier names. If you are talking about a ready to run system, we don't do that here. Everything you see people chatting about, are home made systems. You make or purchase a PCB, buy all of teh components to populate the PCB, solder all of the components to the PCB, and then you have a system. Well there are a few more steps to it then that, but you get the point.

I hope this answers your question.

[coolvince981]

Yes i would like to build one from scratch but i don't know where to go or what i need.

[scharbon]

What system do you want? Dimming or Non-Dimming? Got to figure that one out first. Once you figure that out, pm WJOHN and get your boards. he stocks Renards, Grinches, SSRs, LEDTRICKs, and maybe a few other PCBs. Once you have done that, go to Mouser.com or some of the other vendors listed in the member approved vendor site and order your parts. Wjohn will send you a message that has parts lists with the bill of materiels listed for several vendors for the PCBs you order. If he doesn't, the wiki has that information on it. While you are waiting for your parts to come in, read the wiki for directions. When you parts come in, start building. Once built, test to see if it works. When it works, your hooked.

Steve

[jimr625]

O.K. here is my two cents. I am very new to this board myself, but have been following a couple of the DIY boards for about a year now and just decided to post and start working on my system myself recently. Because of your initial question, I would assume that you are about as experienced on this as I am (sorry didn't mean to insult you there :) ) My biggest piece of advice is to read, read, read. Find out from the posts throughout this forum which system interests you the most (due to it's abilities) and intimidates you the least. I decided I was going to start with the Grinch and then I may move on to dimming it, and adding on a renard64 when I get the Grinch up and running but that is yet to be decided.
If you read through like I have suggested you will get answers to your initial question as well as a lot of questions you may not have even thought of now, but would have down the road if you hadn't read. I will say there is a wealth of info on this site alone and links throughout the site to even more. Just read, read, read. People here are more than willing to help (and that is a gross understatement) but it is much easier if you are familiar with the conversation that others have been having on the system that you choose in the beginning.