You mean you try to get your parts at Rat Shack? I'd try to find a REAL electronics parts store if I were you. In Houston I go to EPO (Electronics Parts Outlet) which has everything my little heart goes pitty pat over from your standard electronic parts to neon, and leds, to electric motors and solar panels (anyone set up a solar battery charger for their bike yet?). If you can find a place like EPO where you live that would make your geek endevors so much easier (not to mention the folks at EPO know electrinics and when I come to them with a question have set up breadboards to experiment with circuits to test compatability).