Mouser search engine sucks

Yup, Mouser's search engine can't compare to Digi-Key's. Nobody else's is much better than Mouser's. But, some of the other distributors have better prices. Newark and sometimes Allied have better prices on big IR MOSFETs. Mouser has a much better selection of big electrolytic caps.

Jon

I usually start searching with 3 or 4 windows open. The search starts with Digikey. Then I plug the parts into Mouser, Avnet, TTI, etc and check price, availability, stock levels and the rest. Mouser has serious data qaulity issues in their search engine.

I don't buy big quantities, so I usually just use DK. Octopart has improved its parametric searches too.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

On Sat, 26 Sep 2015 22:29:30 -0500, Jon Elson Gave us:

Use findchips.com You can find practically anything electronic. It doesn't have to be chips.

Yeah, the database was cobbled together from different datasheet formats, by folk who hadn't any way to redesign the engine.

I've seen it done better, in pre-computer days. You get a bunch of cards, with perforations around the edges, and a notcher tool. Notching from the card edge to the perforation sets a bit, which can represent transistor type (notch #1: Ge; notch #2: SI) or maximum voltage (0-20 notch #21; 20.1-80 notch #22; 80.1-120, notch #23 and so on).

Set the cards in a holder tray and slide a wire probe into the "Si"" notch, then lift. All the cards that come up on the wire, are NOT the transistors you want, because Si transistors had that notch cut (and their cards stayed in the tray); set the unsuitables aside. Then on to the next requirement; any combination of include-this or exclude-this on any of the bits, was achievable with a modicum of thought.

But, someone had to really THINK about the criteria; a 470 uF capacitor and 500 uF capacitor aren't really different (20% tolerance, you know) but if the manufacturer data is to be presented in the catalog, it'll LOOK different when the database is built. Loose ranges work better than numeric entry. And 2048 kHz quartz crystals are entered into the database distinct from 2.048 MHz, and distinct too from 2.0480 MHz... unless someone really thinks.

Type-of-gizmo labels are always an issue; why does DigiKey insist that you only search after you determine that you want an aluminum electrolytic capacitor? Aluminum polymer or tantalum require separate searches.

The card-based thing suffers, too; my lonely old stack (kept for nostalgia, not use) hasn't been updated with new cards since 2N1702 was a common part. Mouser's search engine is better.

Somehow they are also connected with . There you can find many schematic symbols and footprints for many different EDA packages. One must register but it seems to be worth it.

Octopart has now been bought by Altium...

I wrote them a long time ago to complain that their search engine sorted pF, nF, and uF, amps, etc., by the numerical value, such that 1000nF and 1000uF were adjacent hits.

They fixed it, and pretty quickly. I was surprised. They might fix this other stuff too, if we told 'em.

Cheers, James Arthur

Biggest remaining problem for me is ranges, for things like regulators or opamps. Every distinct combination has a unique selection, like "1.8V-15V, +/-0.9V-8V". So there is no way to say "at least 12V". You have to spend 5 minutes going through the list and selecting all the ones that fit.

Still beats using multiple manufacturers websites though.

I spend too much time searching for parts. Someone could run a parts-search-for-a-fee business.

On Sun, 27 Sep 2015 07:44:02 -0700, John Larkin Gave us:

I've noticed that Mouser's search function has greatly improved. John just likes to whine about whatever the gripe of the day is. I don't recall the feature, but I have noticed on occasion that Mouser's search is better than Digikey's. Maybe it's those times when Mouser has something that Digikey doesn't... that can be important too. It might even be more important than the search function.

It often beats individual manufacturer's sites. TI has so much bell and whistle content that I find it hard to use. They also insist on keeping the sector in view all the time which leaves little room for results.

I'll step up to the plate. What do you need exactly?

Nope, we are talking about searching based on particular sets of parameters - not a basic part number search.

That makes Altium 'OctoMom.' :) (GIYF)

Cheers, James Arthur

On Sun, 27 Sep 2015 09:57:51 -0700 (PDT), snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com Gave us:

That would be mum. mum's the word. Octomum.

Well, that's why I use DigiKey unless I'm desperate.

They've been trying, and they've gotten better, but they're still not there.

You listening, Mouser?

Well, that's why I use DigiKey unless I'm desperate.

They've been trying, and they've gotten better, but they're still not there.

You listening, Mouser?