Popular and useful products for electronics hobbyists and beyond: a big roundup, updated 12.11
A while ago—or, to be more precise, 5 years ago—I posted a big roundup of various interesting products. Time went by, and I updated the roundup a little, but now it’s time for a complete refresh, so I decided to start a new thread “on the same subject.”
As always, I won’t write the tired old “top 100 products” or “how did I ever live without this,” but I’ll say that you might find something useful here after all :)
A reminder: to keep up with new posts on the blog, I recommend following me on Instagram, where I’ll post notifications about all new posts and maybe write about something interesting too — link to my account
You can also subscribe to updates and new articles on the Telegram channel — https://t.me/KirichBlog
One quick request: I’d be very glad if you added links in the comments to useful, interesting, or, in your opinion, good-value products from AliExpress or other marketplaces. It’ll help a lot of readers.
I’ll most likely update this thread too, so keep an eye out!
There have already been 15 similar threads, though much shorter, and some of the products that are still relevant may make their way here too, although I’m not sure.
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
As last time, everything will be divided into sections to make it easier to find things.
Sections:
1. Power supplies
2. Voltage converters
3. Adjustable voltage converters
4. Radio kits
5. DIY products and ready-made boards for integration
6. Ready-made devices.
7. Electronic components
8. Test equipment
9. Batteries
10. A little bit of everything
And don’t forget the roundup articles where I shared recommendations on choosing various devices:
DC-DC converters: differences and how to choose the right one
How to choose an infrared soldering station
LCR meter: what it is and what it’s for
How to choose an adjustable converter
UPSs and inverters
power banks
1. Power supplies
To start with, here’s a rather old but very interesting model. I used it in a soldering station, and I can say it works great — link.
There’s also a review of a similar board, more like this one, but it costs more.
An interesting power supply for audio amplifiers, with an LLC topology. It might be useful to someone — link
Meanwell EPP-500-xx, which I think is even cheaper than it is here in local stores — link. I reviewed it here—a great power supply.
A very inexpensive power supply, around two dollars, rated at 20+18 W. I’m curious to try it — link
A charger. There are actually lots of different ones at the link, but for some reason this is the one I like best — link and another one from a different store. And one more from a popular little shop.
1200 W and 1500 W power supplies for RD60xx-series converters. They look pretty good to me, and I see people buying them quite often — link.
I found similar power supplies for a little less - link and another at the same store.
Various nice little power supplies - link, another link, and one more link.
A great little store with a huge selection and reasonable prices - link
DIN-rail power supplies: the first link is for Mean Well units; the second is also for relatively popular units, but from another manufacturer.
And one more link to tiny units, some of which are designed to be mounted directly on the target device's circuit board.
2. Voltage converters
A couple of options with output current up to 25 A. I reviewed the first one, and it has a problem: the shunt overheats at currents above 20 A. The second converter, however, lets you adjust both voltage and current, so it can be used as a battery charger.
Here's a more interesting option that doesn't cost much more than the first two. The specs are the same, but it looks clearly better, and they've added current and voltage indicators. Nice.
A small converter rated for up to 20 A. I've already reviewed one like this; it's a decent option with adjustable current and voltage - link and another one.
I'm often asked how to get 12 V when powering a device from a low-voltage UPS whose output ranges from 10 to 14 V. One solution is a universal voltage converter, for example this one.
Or the classic option. I reviewed a similar board; in my personal opinion, it's one of the best options - link.
A more powerful universal converter - link
Small isolated converters, with a huge selection available. I use these very often - link.
This converter needs a transformer. I bought one of these boards; it's assembled quite well. You can buy a transformer, wind one yourself, or salvage one from an old UPS - link.
You'll also need a toroidal core for the inductor, but it's better to look for one locally.
Tiny, very inexpensive converters with QC output. I bought some and really liked their very low no-load current; remove the LED and the current drops even further - link. There are similar ones with a Type-C output, too.
A very interesting board for building a high-power power bank. I use these myself. To get it working better, you have to make a few modifications, but it works perfectly well out of the box, so I recommend it - link.
By the way, a version with a different combination of ports is now available - link
Another very useful converter: PoE to 12 V. I used a similar one to power a router, running the power over the same pairs as the signal.
A very powerful step-down voltage converter with CC/CV modes - link
3. Programmable voltage converters
A small, neat adjustable voltage converter, even with a little display. Though I never did get to see it working. Step-up converter; the lower end of the output voltage range is 10 V, so keep that in mind - link.
How could I pass up a new product from Ruideng, the RK6006 converter, both in the version with a case and without one? As far as I remember, when you buy the finished unit, it comes with some decent cables - link.
A rather unusual adjustable converter, somewhat like a set of bathroom scales. All in all, a pretty interesting little thing - link.
A ready-made adjustable power supply, available in three versions with different voltage and current ratings. There are 300 W and 360 W versions, depending on the output voltage - link.
A simple adjustable power supply with no frills, for those who only need CC/CV modes. The claimed power is 600 W, and the price is relatively low - link
A 60 V, 20 A adjustable converter, also relatively simple and inexpensive, for those who find Ruideng overkill - link.
A relatively simple but popular bench power supply - link
A very unusual solution: a power supply combined with a multimeter. As far as I understand, the sections are galvanically isolated - link
You never know what the Chinese will come up with. They look like ordinary adjustable converters; there's a 60 V, 8 A version and a 20 A version, but this one even shows the weather... - link
Another bench power supply. Nothing unusual, and it's actually quite expensive, but for some reason I liked the way it looks - link
4. Radio kits
A decent kit for a beginner electronics hobbyist. You can prototype simple circuits, and it comes with a wide selection of components - link
Surprisingly, even after all these years, one of the popular kits is still a board for an adjustable regulator for a simple bench power supply - link
An interesting kit to build, somewhat like a very basic oscilloscope, but here you control everything with a couple of knobs. It's probably easier to understand if you watch the video on the product page - link
A DIY clock. I think this is a classic for a beginner electronics hobbyist - link
A simple Bluetooth speaker—or rather, a kit to build one. Maybe someone will buy it for their "younger generation" - link
A little power bank case for three 18650 cells. Basic, nice-looking, and cheap - link
This case is a bit more serious, although something tells me it doesn't actually deliver 100 W, and whatever power it does have is split across several ports. Worth testing - link
Still, the fact that it uses a 4S configuration is interesting.
And here's a big power bank for your own batteries—big and fancy - link.
I also have an article on choosing power banks; I recommend checking it out.
I bought one of these battery capacity testers last summer, but haven't even had time to unpack it. The idea itself is interesting, and judging by the reviews, so is the execution - link.
A kit for building an electromagnetic cannon. Pretty cool - link
And a kit for building an audio amplifier. This company sells a huge number of different kits; I recommend them - link.
5. Products for DIY and ready-made boards for integration
I have to mention this wireless charging module: link.
If you buy the matching receiver as well, you can use it to charge devices that need to be sealed (such as trackers) or electrically safe (multimeters). Very convenient.
A fan speed controller that adjusts the speed according to temperature. A very handy and useful thing. They come in versions for three-wire and four-wire connections: the first regulates the output voltage, while the second sends a PWM signal to the control pin.
I bought both, but so far I've only used one of them. I highly recommend the three-wire version, and here's the four-wire version.
It's best to buy one with a screw-mounted temperature sensor; it's easier to attach.
A bidirectional 100 W Power Delivery board, essentially a power bank designed to work with a 4S lithium battery. All it needs is a protection board: link.
I've actually bought boards like this before, but have only used one so far. I should put together a review.
There's also a 120 W version of this board, but I haven't tried it; it costs quite a bit more: link.
A low-voltage UPS board for lithium batteries. It's useful, but first, the price seems to have gone up, and second, I still want to try one myself, since so far I'm going by other people's reviews: link.
Some time ago, boards that combined a charger for a single lithium cell, protection, and a step-up converter were popular. This is a new version of that board: link
A store with a really wide selection of PD triggers (emulators): link
A pretty good power bank board, rated for up to 12 V at 1.5 A: link
Another power bank, simpler than the previous one but much more compact, and it costs only about 75 cents: link.
Nice, compact protection boards for 6–7S battery packs. Available in 30 A and 50 A versions, with or without a temperature sensor: link.
Useful little boards for electronic bistable (on/off) switches, rated for up to 2 A and up to 10 A
6. Ready-made devices.
I've bought converters like these several times. The circuit design itself is sound, but once it arrives, I strongly recommend checking the soldering quality and the clamping of the power components - link.
The seller has raised the price now; I recently saw this model for $31–32.
Some kind of charging station. I wouldn't have paid attention to it if it weren't for the large number of orders - link.
I ordered one of these little machines for myself. I'm tired of drilling holes in heatsinks with a cordless drill, and in general I'd like to expand my workshop capabilities a bit - link.
I spent a long time choosing. I know it has its drawbacks, but I picked it based on the features-to-price ratio and couldn't find a better option for the money. I actually ordered it on Taobao, so it came out a little cheaper. Now I'm waiting for it.
Another inverter. I haven't bought one, but I've read lots of positive reviews - link.
An interesting piece of gear from the pricey-and-fancy range by the well-known Miniware brand. You can buy just the load, just the power supply, or the complete set - link
Here's another device from the same company: a preheater for circuit boards - link
They also have more budget-friendly options.
In my opinion, this option is a better fit: a model from Mechanic - link.
For those on a tighter budget, it's easier to buy just the heater plate, especially since these regulate their own temperature - link.
I'd really like a little machine like this, though it's expensive, and the shipping is absolutely brutal - link.
If anyone knows of better or cheaper options, I'd be glad to hear your suggestions.
Another inverter, this one from DATOUBOSS. I've also seen lots of positive reviews, but unfortunately it's not cheap - link.
7. Radio components
A few options for connector kits: plain white ones and colored ones - link, another link, and another
This one has connectors of the same size in different colors, which is handy - link
Thermostats: a wide selection, reasonable prices, and easy installation - link
A set of assorted buttons, useful if all your neighbors are constantly bringing you things to repair :) - link
This kind of kit is probably more suitable for a beginner electronics hobbyist. Of course, you can desolder most of these parts from old boards, but sometimes it's more convenient to have them new and already sorted into compartments - link. Or here's another set, but shipping is rather expensive - link
Enterprising Chinese sellers even sell components by weight, though sometimes you can find something interesting - link.
Handy tweezers. I use a similar pair from Taobao and I'm as happy as a clam - link.
A decent store with decent-quality products. If you put more than $100 worth of goods in your cart, they send you a coupon. I shop there often - link.
Another pretty decent store, mostly small stuff. I sometimes buy low-resistance shunt resistors there - link You can also take a look at this page
Storage boxes for components. I can't comment on the quality, but I noticed that I once bought the largest one from Banggood, then bought several more offline. So I can say for sure that the ones I bought offline were worse - link.
Another storage box, but more for repair technicians. You can put a disassembled device in it while waiting for parts - link.
Displays, but not just any displays—specific ones. The first is for the UT-181A multimeter and is supposedly genuine; the second costs three times less and, as far as I can tell, is a perfectly good replacement; and the third I've already bought. It's used in Atorch electronic loads.
Cables I can confidently recommend. The alligator clips are a bit stiff, but I've run them at currents up to 24 A. They do get hot, of course, but they hold up - link
Fuses. Yes, they're very expensive, but there are two key points: they're rated for 500 V DC, and the current can be as high as 50 A, which is critical for electronic loads and similar equipment - link.
I looked for similar ones rated for 200 V, which might be cheaper, but couldn't find any. I also bought fuses for Uni-T multimeters; I even have a review of them somewhere - link.
8. Measuring equipment
Here I'll show you what I use myself, as well as things I find interesting.
First, my main multimeter, the UT-181A. I'm still happy with it. There's a review, of course; it does have its drawbacks, but I can see they're gradually fixing them. I've also noticed this model showing up more and more often on other electronics enthusiasts' benches - link.
A signal generator from the same company. I use it much less often. There's also a review with an upgrade to the more expensive version - link.
A decent multimeter with an oscilloscope; lots of people have good things to say about it - link.
A very interesting LCR meter, though it's a shame it's expensive - link
I still use the well-known XJW01, and it works well for me so far - link
A while ago I reviewed a clamp meter. I've used it several times in real-world situations since then, and I'm happy with it - link
The same goes for the thermal camera. I use the new one alongside my main HT-A2 about 50/50 - link.
You need to watch for coupons to get it at a good price. Here's another interesting model - link
Rigol oscilloscope. Here's a link to the store I bought it from. If I remember correctly, they even offered shipping from Ukraine, though I don't know if that's still the case - link.
I upgraded it to the higher-end version, which is handy.
9. Batteries
Since direct shipping from AliExpress is a problem, this list will be short. I recommend buying batteries from Nkon, but still, here are a few options.
Chinese sellers have started offering shipping options for batteries to Ukraine. And if you're looking for battery packs, Nkon won't help you there - link.
Also, a reminder that there are some genuinely decent batteries for Makita tools and compatible ones - link.
They also have batteries with 18650 cells. I've tested those and have no concerns about their quality - link.
Holders for prismatic batteries. I think these only started appearing fairly recently: link one, link two.
I'm skeptical about batteries from AliExpress, but I couldn't pass up these listings - link, another one, another oneand another
10. A little bit of everything
A proper charger for lithium batteries - link, and another link, a little cheaper
Screwdriver with a bit set - link
Power connector set - link
Sine wave generator board for an inverter. They also sell a display there, but in my opinion it's completely pointless, while the board is useful. I've bought one before - link
Engraving tool, a rotary tool. You can get just the motor with a cable, just the attachment with a chuck, or both. Not cheap, but it might be useful - link.
Connectors with a protective resistor to prevent sparking when connecting - link
A fixture for mounting a small router in a table - link
Holder for a battery tester. I know it's expensive (if you've seen one cheaper, let me know), but I haven't found anything better yet - link.
I have a review of it somewhere. I use the holder all the time and I'm happy with it.
I also liked these connectors. They're for when you need to install a USB socket in an enclosure and want to do it neatly, without having to file the hole to fit - link and another one.
Here's an even more interesting connector option. Yes, just drill a 12 mm hole, insert the connector, and that's it—looks great :) - link
A pretty good store for silicone-insulated cables. There may be other interesting stuff there, but I haven't looked; I have bought cables, though - link.
Speaking of cables, I did a review of a cable with a trigger (emulator) for a soldering iron. It's great; I liked it. People wrote that some of those “triggers” burn out if you switch them off or remove the load in the wrong order, but this one definitely doesn't have that problem. My only complaint was the plug: it eventually broke inside, so I replaced it with a proper one and kept using the cable. Anyway, I recommend the cable itself - link.
A very useful thing—I’d even say mega-useful. This isn't just a UART-to-USB converter; it comes with a Type-C connector, a mounting frame for an enclosure, fasteners, and a cable. Best of all, it has galvanic isolation! Shipping is free when you buy 1 piece, and it costs next to nothing - link.
I browsed around this little store and found some other interesting products. Here are a few:
1. Various protection boards for lithium batteries - link
2. Arduino starter kit (there are several different ones in the store) - link
3. Small power supplies - link
4. A connector kit, and the price is even lower than in the $1.99 section — link.
Potting compound for electronic devices and more. I haven't bought it, but judging by the number of orders, it seems like a good deal. Available in various colors as well as clear — link
Encoders and knobs for them. I was looking for some myself, and I think this is the best deal — link.
This display is compatible with Atorch devices. It's a little cheaper than in the Atorch store, but if you order a couple, it works out noticeably cheaper — link.
The thing is, shipping is charged separately, but the cost barely changes with the quantity.
A brushless motor driver board. It's not very powerful, but I'd buy one to play around with — link
Plugs with a built-in PD trigger. I bought a few — link
Don't be surprised that there's a 5 V trigger: a proper power supply won't output even 5 V until you send it a command.
Contactless 125 kHz RFID key fobs. I first bought them from this store in 2014, and the store is still operating and the listing is still there. Shipping is fast (I buy them from time to time). Definitely recommended — link.
That seems to be everything, although it's hard to say “everything” when it comes to products on AliExpress—there are just so many. That's exactly why I'd be very glad if you added links in the comments to useful, interesting, or, in your opinion, good-value products from AliExpress or other marketplaces. It will help a lot of readers.
Thanks for reading. I may add more later.
As always, I won’t write the tired old “top 100 products” or “how did I ever live without this,” but I’ll say that you might find something useful here after all :)
A reminder: to keep up with new posts on the blog, I recommend following me on Instagram, where I’ll post notifications about all new posts and maybe write about something interesting too — link to my account
You can also subscribe to updates and new articles on the Telegram channel — https://t.me/KirichBlog
One quick request: I’d be very glad if you added links in the comments to useful, interesting, or, in your opinion, good-value products from AliExpress or other marketplaces. It’ll help a lot of readers.
I’ll most likely update this thread too, so keep an eye out!
There have already been 15 similar threads, though much shorter, and some of the products that are still relevant may make their way here too, although I’m not sure.
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
As last time, everything will be divided into sections to make it easier to find things.
Sections:
1. Power supplies
2. Voltage converters
3. Adjustable voltage converters
4. Radio kits
5. DIY products and ready-made boards for integration
6. Ready-made devices.
7. Electronic components
8. Test equipment
9. Batteries
10. A little bit of everything
And don’t forget the roundup articles where I shared recommendations on choosing various devices:
DC-DC converters: differences and how to choose the right one
How to choose an infrared soldering station
LCR meter: what it is and what it’s for
How to choose an adjustable converter
UPSs and inverters
power banks
1. Power supplies
To start with, here’s a rather old but very interesting model. I used it in a soldering station, and I can say it works great — link.
There’s also a review of a similar board, more like this one, but it costs more.
An interesting power supply for audio amplifiers, with an LLC topology. It might be useful to someone — link
Meanwell EPP-500-xx, which I think is even cheaper than it is here in local stores — link. I reviewed it here—a great power supply.
A very inexpensive power supply, around two dollars, rated at 20+18 W. I’m curious to try it — link
A charger. There are actually lots of different ones at the link, but for some reason this is the one I like best — link and another one from a different store. And one more from a popular little shop.
1200 W and 1500 W power supplies for RD60xx-series converters. They look pretty good to me, and I see people buying them quite often — link.
I found similar power supplies for a little less - link and another at the same store.
Various nice little power supplies - link, another link, and one more link.
A great little store with a huge selection and reasonable prices - link
DIN-rail power supplies: the first link is for Mean Well units; the second is also for relatively popular units, but from another manufacturer.
And one more link to tiny units, some of which are designed to be mounted directly on the target device's circuit board.
2. Voltage converters
A couple of options with output current up to 25 A. I reviewed the first one, and it has a problem: the shunt overheats at currents above 20 A. The second converter, however, lets you adjust both voltage and current, so it can be used as a battery charger.
Here's a more interesting option that doesn't cost much more than the first two. The specs are the same, but it looks clearly better, and they've added current and voltage indicators. Nice.
A small converter rated for up to 20 A. I've already reviewed one like this; it's a decent option with adjustable current and voltage - link and another one.
I'm often asked how to get 12 V when powering a device from a low-voltage UPS whose output ranges from 10 to 14 V. One solution is a universal voltage converter, for example this one.
Or the classic option. I reviewed a similar board; in my personal opinion, it's one of the best options - link.
A more powerful universal converter - link
Small isolated converters, with a huge selection available. I use these very often - link.
This converter needs a transformer. I bought one of these boards; it's assembled quite well. You can buy a transformer, wind one yourself, or salvage one from an old UPS - link.
You'll also need a toroidal core for the inductor, but it's better to look for one locally.
Tiny, very inexpensive converters with QC output. I bought some and really liked their very low no-load current; remove the LED and the current drops even further - link. There are similar ones with a Type-C output, too.
A very interesting board for building a high-power power bank. I use these myself. To get it working better, you have to make a few modifications, but it works perfectly well out of the box, so I recommend it - link.
By the way, a version with a different combination of ports is now available - link
Another very useful converter: PoE to 12 V. I used a similar one to power a router, running the power over the same pairs as the signal.
A very powerful step-down voltage converter with CC/CV modes - link
3. Programmable voltage converters
A small, neat adjustable voltage converter, even with a little display. Though I never did get to see it working. Step-up converter; the lower end of the output voltage range is 10 V, so keep that in mind - link.
How could I pass up a new product from Ruideng, the RK6006 converter, both in the version with a case and without one? As far as I remember, when you buy the finished unit, it comes with some decent cables - link.
A rather unusual adjustable converter, somewhat like a set of bathroom scales. All in all, a pretty interesting little thing - link.
A ready-made adjustable power supply, available in three versions with different voltage and current ratings. There are 300 W and 360 W versions, depending on the output voltage - link.
A simple adjustable power supply with no frills, for those who only need CC/CV modes. The claimed power is 600 W, and the price is relatively low - link
A 60 V, 20 A adjustable converter, also relatively simple and inexpensive, for those who find Ruideng overkill - link.
A relatively simple but popular bench power supply - link
A very unusual solution: a power supply combined with a multimeter. As far as I understand, the sections are galvanically isolated - link
You never know what the Chinese will come up with. They look like ordinary adjustable converters; there's a 60 V, 8 A version and a 20 A version, but this one even shows the weather... - link
Another bench power supply. Nothing unusual, and it's actually quite expensive, but for some reason I liked the way it looks - link
4. Radio kits
A decent kit for a beginner electronics hobbyist. You can prototype simple circuits, and it comes with a wide selection of components - link
Surprisingly, even after all these years, one of the popular kits is still a board for an adjustable regulator for a simple bench power supply - link
An interesting kit to build, somewhat like a very basic oscilloscope, but here you control everything with a couple of knobs. It's probably easier to understand if you watch the video on the product page - link
A DIY clock. I think this is a classic for a beginner electronics hobbyist - link
A simple Bluetooth speaker—or rather, a kit to build one. Maybe someone will buy it for their "younger generation" - link
A little power bank case for three 18650 cells. Basic, nice-looking, and cheap - link
This case is a bit more serious, although something tells me it doesn't actually deliver 100 W, and whatever power it does have is split across several ports. Worth testing - link
Still, the fact that it uses a 4S configuration is interesting.
And here's a big power bank for your own batteries—big and fancy - link.
I also have an article on choosing power banks; I recommend checking it out.
I bought one of these battery capacity testers last summer, but haven't even had time to unpack it. The idea itself is interesting, and judging by the reviews, so is the execution - link.
A kit for building an electromagnetic cannon. Pretty cool - link
And a kit for building an audio amplifier. This company sells a huge number of different kits; I recommend them - link.
5. Products for DIY and ready-made boards for integration
I have to mention this wireless charging module: link.
If you buy the matching receiver as well, you can use it to charge devices that need to be sealed (such as trackers) or electrically safe (multimeters). Very convenient.
A fan speed controller that adjusts the speed according to temperature. A very handy and useful thing. They come in versions for three-wire and four-wire connections: the first regulates the output voltage, while the second sends a PWM signal to the control pin.
I bought both, but so far I've only used one of them. I highly recommend the three-wire version, and here's the four-wire version.
It's best to buy one with a screw-mounted temperature sensor; it's easier to attach.
A bidirectional 100 W Power Delivery board, essentially a power bank designed to work with a 4S lithium battery. All it needs is a protection board: link.
I've actually bought boards like this before, but have only used one so far. I should put together a review.
There's also a 120 W version of this board, but I haven't tried it; it costs quite a bit more: link.
A low-voltage UPS board for lithium batteries. It's useful, but first, the price seems to have gone up, and second, I still want to try one myself, since so far I'm going by other people's reviews: link.
Some time ago, boards that combined a charger for a single lithium cell, protection, and a step-up converter were popular. This is a new version of that board: link
A store with a really wide selection of PD triggers (emulators): link
A pretty good power bank board, rated for up to 12 V at 1.5 A: link
Another power bank, simpler than the previous one but much more compact, and it costs only about 75 cents: link.
Nice, compact protection boards for 6–7S battery packs. Available in 30 A and 50 A versions, with or without a temperature sensor: link.
Useful little boards for electronic bistable (on/off) switches, rated for up to 2 A and up to 10 A
6. Ready-made devices.
I've bought converters like these several times. The circuit design itself is sound, but once it arrives, I strongly recommend checking the soldering quality and the clamping of the power components - link.
The seller has raised the price now; I recently saw this model for $31–32.
Some kind of charging station. I wouldn't have paid attention to it if it weren't for the large number of orders - link.
I ordered one of these little machines for myself. I'm tired of drilling holes in heatsinks with a cordless drill, and in general I'd like to expand my workshop capabilities a bit - link.
I spent a long time choosing. I know it has its drawbacks, but I picked it based on the features-to-price ratio and couldn't find a better option for the money. I actually ordered it on Taobao, so it came out a little cheaper. Now I'm waiting for it.
Another inverter. I haven't bought one, but I've read lots of positive reviews - link.
An interesting piece of gear from the pricey-and-fancy range by the well-known Miniware brand. You can buy just the load, just the power supply, or the complete set - link
Here's another device from the same company: a preheater for circuit boards - link
They also have more budget-friendly options.
In my opinion, this option is a better fit: a model from Mechanic - link.
For those on a tighter budget, it's easier to buy just the heater plate, especially since these regulate their own temperature - link.
I'd really like a little machine like this, though it's expensive, and the shipping is absolutely brutal - link.
If anyone knows of better or cheaper options, I'd be glad to hear your suggestions.
Another inverter, this one from DATOUBOSS. I've also seen lots of positive reviews, but unfortunately it's not cheap - link.
7. Radio components
A few options for connector kits: plain white ones and colored ones - link, another link, and another
This one has connectors of the same size in different colors, which is handy - link
Thermostats: a wide selection, reasonable prices, and easy installation - link
A set of assorted buttons, useful if all your neighbors are constantly bringing you things to repair :) - link
This kind of kit is probably more suitable for a beginner electronics hobbyist. Of course, you can desolder most of these parts from old boards, but sometimes it's more convenient to have them new and already sorted into compartments - link. Or here's another set, but shipping is rather expensive - link
Enterprising Chinese sellers even sell components by weight, though sometimes you can find something interesting - link.
Handy tweezers. I use a similar pair from Taobao and I'm as happy as a clam - link.
A decent store with decent-quality products. If you put more than $100 worth of goods in your cart, they send you a coupon. I shop there often - link.
Another pretty decent store, mostly small stuff. I sometimes buy low-resistance shunt resistors there - link You can also take a look at this page
Storage boxes for components. I can't comment on the quality, but I noticed that I once bought the largest one from Banggood, then bought several more offline. So I can say for sure that the ones I bought offline were worse - link.
Another storage box, but more for repair technicians. You can put a disassembled device in it while waiting for parts - link.
Displays, but not just any displays—specific ones. The first is for the UT-181A multimeter and is supposedly genuine; the second costs three times less and, as far as I can tell, is a perfectly good replacement; and the third I've already bought. It's used in Atorch electronic loads.
Cables I can confidently recommend. The alligator clips are a bit stiff, but I've run them at currents up to 24 A. They do get hot, of course, but they hold up - link
Fuses. Yes, they're very expensive, but there are two key points: they're rated for 500 V DC, and the current can be as high as 50 A, which is critical for electronic loads and similar equipment - link.
I looked for similar ones rated for 200 V, which might be cheaper, but couldn't find any. I also bought fuses for Uni-T multimeters; I even have a review of them somewhere - link.
8. Measuring equipment
Here I'll show you what I use myself, as well as things I find interesting.
First, my main multimeter, the UT-181A. I'm still happy with it. There's a review, of course; it does have its drawbacks, but I can see they're gradually fixing them. I've also noticed this model showing up more and more often on other electronics enthusiasts' benches - link.
A signal generator from the same company. I use it much less often. There's also a review with an upgrade to the more expensive version - link.
A decent multimeter with an oscilloscope; lots of people have good things to say about it - link.
A very interesting LCR meter, though it's a shame it's expensive - link
I still use the well-known XJW01, and it works well for me so far - link
A while ago I reviewed a clamp meter. I've used it several times in real-world situations since then, and I'm happy with it - link
The same goes for the thermal camera. I use the new one alongside my main HT-A2 about 50/50 - link.
You need to watch for coupons to get it at a good price. Here's another interesting model - link
Rigol oscilloscope. Here's a link to the store I bought it from. If I remember correctly, they even offered shipping from Ukraine, though I don't know if that's still the case - link.
I upgraded it to the higher-end version, which is handy.
9. Batteries
Since direct shipping from AliExpress is a problem, this list will be short. I recommend buying batteries from Nkon, but still, here are a few options.
Chinese sellers have started offering shipping options for batteries to Ukraine. And if you're looking for battery packs, Nkon won't help you there - link.
Also, a reminder that there are some genuinely decent batteries for Makita tools and compatible ones - link.
They also have batteries with 18650 cells. I've tested those and have no concerns about their quality - link.
Holders for prismatic batteries. I think these only started appearing fairly recently: link one, link two.
I'm skeptical about batteries from AliExpress, but I couldn't pass up these listings - link, another one, another oneand another
10. A little bit of everything
A proper charger for lithium batteries - link, and another link, a little cheaper
Screwdriver with a bit set - link
Power connector set - link
Sine wave generator board for an inverter. They also sell a display there, but in my opinion it's completely pointless, while the board is useful. I've bought one before - link
Engraving tool, a rotary tool. You can get just the motor with a cable, just the attachment with a chuck, or both. Not cheap, but it might be useful - link.
Connectors with a protective resistor to prevent sparking when connecting - link
A fixture for mounting a small router in a table - link
Holder for a battery tester. I know it's expensive (if you've seen one cheaper, let me know), but I haven't found anything better yet - link.
I have a review of it somewhere. I use the holder all the time and I'm happy with it.
I also liked these connectors. They're for when you need to install a USB socket in an enclosure and want to do it neatly, without having to file the hole to fit - link and another one.
Here's an even more interesting connector option. Yes, just drill a 12 mm hole, insert the connector, and that's it—looks great :) - link
A pretty good store for silicone-insulated cables. There may be other interesting stuff there, but I haven't looked; I have bought cables, though - link.
Speaking of cables, I did a review of a cable with a trigger (emulator) for a soldering iron. It's great; I liked it. People wrote that some of those “triggers” burn out if you switch them off or remove the load in the wrong order, but this one definitely doesn't have that problem. My only complaint was the plug: it eventually broke inside, so I replaced it with a proper one and kept using the cable. Anyway, I recommend the cable itself - link.
A very useful thing—I’d even say mega-useful. This isn't just a UART-to-USB converter; it comes with a Type-C connector, a mounting frame for an enclosure, fasteners, and a cable. Best of all, it has galvanic isolation! Shipping is free when you buy 1 piece, and it costs next to nothing - link.
I browsed around this little store and found some other interesting products. Here are a few:
1. Various protection boards for lithium batteries - link
2. Arduino starter kit (there are several different ones in the store) - link
3. Small power supplies - link
4. A connector kit, and the price is even lower than in the $1.99 section — link.
Potting compound for electronic devices and more. I haven't bought it, but judging by the number of orders, it seems like a good deal. Available in various colors as well as clear — link
Encoders and knobs for them. I was looking for some myself, and I think this is the best deal — link.
This display is compatible with Atorch devices. It's a little cheaper than in the Atorch store, but if you order a couple, it works out noticeably cheaper — link.
The thing is, shipping is charged separately, but the cost barely changes with the quantity.
A brushless motor driver board. It's not very powerful, but I'd buy one to play around with — link
Plugs with a built-in PD trigger. I bought a few — link
Don't be surprised that there's a 5 V trigger: a proper power supply won't output even 5 V until you send it a command.
Contactless 125 kHz RFID key fobs. I first bought them from this store in 2014, and the store is still operating and the listing is still there. Shipping is fast (I buy them from time to time). Definitely recommended — link.
That seems to be everything, although it's hard to say “everything” when it comes to products on AliExpress—there are just so many. That's exactly why I'd be very glad if you added links in the comments to useful, interesting, or, in your opinion, good-value products from AliExpress or other marketplaces. It will help a lot of readers.
Thanks for reading. I may add more later.
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1, народный блок питания усилителя kitich, алиэкспресс электроника для радиолюбителей, современные тестовые приборы для радиолюбителей, купить товары для радиолюбителей на валдберизз
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