Now that Maplins is gone - I need some capacitors and various other bits, does anyone know of a place on the Wirral?

There isn't a proper retail place but SS Radio, Mill Lane, Wallasey will sell stuff if they have it it stock.

I normally just ebay things.

RS Online www.rs-online.com

I always use EBAY......cheaper (even with postage) and quicker than trailing around looking for stuff.

RS can be pricey, but they offer free next day postage. You can download data sheets, and its worth looking at their 'Designspark' service - a free PCB design package. if you're into that sort of thing.

One of the things that often drives me nuts about them is that sometimes you find a connector which fits what you need, but finding the mating connector for that is a nightmare!

Whilst we're on the subject of free design software, its worth downloading 'LTspice' from Linear technology. This is a free circuit simulator - a cut-down version of Pspice or Spice. Very easy to use and you can see how a circuit is behaving without having to build it up on a breadboard and check it with an oscilloscope.

Thanks, I’m aware you can get this stuff online, just needed to know if there was anywhere local (which it appears there isn’t!)