Who remembers RS Components ?

[rustic]

Formally Radio Spares, wow that's a long time ago.
I know Briggie will know them lol, well they used to supply the trade only, you hade to have an account, well yesterday I wanted to buy a mains filter, (IEC)
£10-£15 delivered from elsewhere, this was uner £5 from RS including free next day delivery, I bought it as a guest visitor.


Why did I have to buy this filter?
It's a replacement, it's fitted in line with an automatic outside light, to stop it operating every time a switch is operated in the house, or a spike on the mains.
The original was over 20 years old, plus a few more years in my tool box lol.
Well Monday night whilst relaxing, all sockets went off. I went into the garage, and there was this awfull acrid smell. The filter had failed, smell everywhere, it blew it's own 3A fuse, tripped a 16 A Mcb and tripped the main earth leakage breaker.
I had to find the fault, and cause before going to bed. After locating the fault, the smell lingered on me, in my hair, on my hands for two days.
I seached the internet, these mains filters, particularly those made by schaffner were prone to time failure, as two capacitors absorb moisture and short out big time. So that rules out buying a replacement off ebay, as people state new on many items, when they really mean... never been used, but could already be 10 years old.(tyres are often quoted as new, even though they have been a spare for 10 years or more) Infact RS were cheaper than any "New" ones on ebay, where you know they have a good turnover and kept in sealed bags.

So guys, for electronic components, tools, google RS components and have a look.
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/?cm_mmc=...FYTnGwoduiIImQ
Rustic