Free Electronic Samples

Did you know that some manufactures and suppliers will give away some free samples of their produces to customers and engineers to test them on their projects?

They are some rules you should know before you start getting free samples from the companies:

• You should never ask for more than you need, because you are not going to use the extra parts you are given, that means don't be greedy.
• Taking free samples from the companies and selling them on places like ebay to make your self an profit is an absolute no-no (unless the company says you can do it). Those parts are meant to be used for your projects, NOT for resale.
• Just to be fair to the companies where you got your samples from, buy some of their products.

There is another instructable that is similar to this, check it out! List Of **FREE STUFF** For your projects, it has a lot of useful information about some companies that give away free samples, and tells you how to get free samples.

There is also a helpful site you should check out to! ladyada.net, there is a lot more helpful information about the free sample sites.

Also big thanks to Wesley666 for finding many manufactures and suppliers that will give away free samples!

What Wesley666 has to say:
Will try to update each step into companies that ship to ONLY North America and ones that ship World Wide to help ppl order samples from anywhere ASAP.

If you find any of our links, they don't work or you cant order samples, I will fix them as soon as possible. And I do try to check my comments at least once a day.

Yes, and I will try to update sites as often as possible when I find new places to sample from!

Don't be greedy and try to lie as little as possible

*Also look for the sample buttons because they are hard to spot sometimes but if you can't then you should send an E-mail!*

Step 1 LED's

Light emitting diodes, the most amazing and energy efficient lighting technology yet available.

Marktech | LED's
Bivar | LED's and PCB Packaging
SunLED | LED's and Displays
SunLED USA | LED's
Sensitron | LED's
Marl | LED's -- (This company give samples to engineers only. Sorry students.)
Philip's Lumileds | LED's, High Power LED's

Comments

[80$man]

How 'flexible' are these companies to shipping to South Africa (its very far from USA/UK!) I would love some free samples, any comments would be gr8!

[drake221]

here http://www.dutchforce.com/~eforum/index.php?showtopic=13348

[jbend]

How can you get transformers from Bhel Electronics .

[drake221]

go here http://www.dutchforce.com/~eforum/index.php?showtopic=13348

[davej6694]

just sent a request in for apem... hope they respond!! i need some switches :o

[Ryutso]

How did you actually order a sample? There's no apparent "Sample Form" to fill out.

[HVahead]

click around a bit, it will be on the left hand side "online request" i just ordered some sensory capacitive switches (the kind you just touch, not press!) and led holders

[chrisdavis123]

hey what compainy and email address did you use

[davej6694]

they just emailed me confirming my sample has been sent in the mail :) thanks man

[freefreeelectronics]

you can get free electronics from http://freefreeelectronics.com/

[Alex1M6]

http://www.vishay.com/ are also good for free samples.

[imBobertRobert]

am i the only person who asked a friend if i could send some to their house so i could have multiple accounts, therefore getting more samples?

great instructable BTW!

[imBobertRobert]

now i can finally sample microwaves before i buy :)

[vov35]

How do I get parallax samples? I can't find anything relevant on their site.

[anonymouse197]

The address for Marl is http://www.leds.co.uk/ and if you go to their depo in the UK you can get pretty much any free sample as you wander round with your helpful dude showing you stuff! :)

[Nman120]

did you get any thing completely free?(product & shipping) cause my first try WIMA capacitors does like discounted samples-not free.

[R.A.T.M]

ok i need help no one ill respnd to me no email call nothing do thay just not contact you and sen it or what

[tomass1996]

Do you have to email these people to get the free stuff?

[TheWaddleWaaddle]

I need to order a special transistor from the Fairchild Semiconductors website. It says I need to make an account in order to get free samples. I made an account with my Gmail E-mail address, and it says that I need a corporate E-mail address in order to recieve samples, and that my E-mail does not pass the validating process. Could I get some advice on what to do? Any help is very well appreciated.

-TheWaddleWaaddle

[akram786sk]

i can give you my company email id but i will delete it after a month. If you want your own email address, you can register a domain with our company at www[dot]zoomhostindia[dot]com

[usertwousertwo]

Hi, sometimes it is good to think of yourself as a business. This makes your request more professional. Just think of a company name for yourself and use your ISP's Email account. That is a business Email Address or you can signup for a domain with some of the companies on the web and create a new business identity company Email.

[TheWaddleWaaddle]

Thank you for the help. I only have one concern: what such websites provide the option to create a new business identity E-mail?

-TheWaddleWaaddle

[usertwousertwo]

We have a small engineering business hosted at www.powweb.com. They will give you a domain of your choice and give you a place to host a website with that domain of your choice like www.whateverbusinessyouwantname.com
The cost is 3.88 a month. That is less then 60 dollars a year. The amount of samples you can receive with that business domain is endless and will pay for its self. Also you can set up a shopping cart and sell things that you create. I hope this helps spread light on the subject. The reason the companies do not let you use gmail, hotmail ect are due to the ability for multi-accounts from one person and the abuse that the sample program receives. The more the abuse on the sample program receives the less samples are available for all who really need it. So please do not abuse it, just use what you need and leave the rest for others in need. Thanks.

[TheWaddleWaaddle]

Thank you so much! I just signed up. Now all I have to do is get the samples ordered and I'm good to go! Your kind patronage is very well appreciated.

-TheWaddleWaaddle

[uhsnamih]

Anything for poor canadians, who are always trying to compete with us?

Also Dealextreme is a good site however some LEDs won't work, and their free shipping ship your stuff after a month wait and manuals with the product are always chinese. That's the only this i found annoying about them.

[TigrisLi]

Great Instructables, I was wondering do they really send free breadboards???

[TwistedJack]

This is a great instructable and it will really help.
but what should I put for company name? I was thinking about putting student but I'm not sure. Also what should I use the email, I have heard they somtimes wont accept gmail, yahoo, or hot mail. plz and thx for the help

[hellstudios]

Texas instruments has a new microcontroller kit that comes with everything you need to get started for $4.

[burdockwing]

how exactly do we get the supplyers to hand over stuff? just ask or what?

[KarateLover21]

Visit the website of the company and there should be a link that says samples

[KarateLover21]

OMG this is my favorite instructable ever! I have ordered a few LED's three plastic cases, and two Alphanumeric led displays! Thank you so much!

New Age Enclosures doesn't give out free samples.

[aflacpyro267]

what website did you get them from?

[KarateLover21]

I actually didn't get any of them except a microcontroller from atmel.

[computergeek321]

were did you get the led displays

[R.A.T.M]

fans mortors i need help finding one and will thay contat you if that decide to send a sample or if not

[furrysalamander]

Where did you get the toroid bead?
I need one!

[pudgytaco]

What do you write for "company"?

[madrobot3600]

any good places i can get good free pcb board?

[ccrh2008]

BTW where did you get that outrageously large capacitor on the first image?

[computergeek321]

were can i find a Voltage regulator