Crystals, Oscillators & Resonators - why local stock matters
When your design needs a stable clock or timebase, waiting weeks for parts can derail schedules. Communica keeps common quartz crystals, MEMS oscillators and ceramic resonators on local shelves so South African makers, students and procurement teams can move from prototype to test quickly. Stock in Samrand plus branch pickup options reduce lead time risk and simplify VAT invoicing for tertiary projects and small production runs.
Typical applications and who benefits
From AVR/ARM microcontroller projects in labs to timing elements in embedded IoT nodes, crystal and oscillator choices affect accuracy, jitter and power draw. Students and hobbyists gain predictable behaviour for microcontroller UARTs and real-time clocks; technicians and engineers rely on tighter spec selections for RF front-ends and data-acquisition systems.
Quick specification checklist
- Frequency (kHz to hundreds of MHz) and tolerance (ppm)
- Package and mount: through-hole, SMD (3215, 2520 etc.)
- Load capacitance or CMOS/TTL drive compatibility
- Oscillator type: fixed clock, programmable, HC-49, SMD crystal, MEMS
- Supply voltage and power consumption for battery-powered designs
Specification table - common choices at a glance
| Type | Frequency range | Typical tolerance | Use-case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quartz crystal | 32.768 kHz, 4-50 MHz | ±20-50 ppm | RTC, microcontroller clock |
| CMOS/TTL oscillator (SMD) | 1 MHz - 200+ MHz | ±10-100 ppm | Master clocks, logic timing |
| MEMS resonator/oscillator | MHz ranges | ±25-100 ppm | Low-shock, wide-temp applications |
| Ceramic resonator | 1-20 MHz | ±0.5-1.5% (~5000-15000 ppm) | Cost-sensitive microcontroller clock |
Compatibility callouts and accessory bundles
Match package footprints (SMD pads vs through-hole), drive levels and load capacitance. For prototyping we recommend pairing crystals and oscillators with breakout PCBs, oscillator sockets and decoupling capacitor kits - commonly stocked accessories that avoid rework. Use the Shop by Category page to browse breakout boards and accessories on the same order: https://www.communica.co.za/collections?utm_source=straider&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=prebo-digital.
Example wiring and placement
Correct decoupling and PCB placement reduce jitter. For a microcontroller using a parallel crystal, place two load capacitors close to the crystal pins and keep the trace length minimal.
MCU_PIN ---[pin1]===||--- Crystal ---||=== [pin2]--- MCU_PIN
C1 XTAL C2
(to GND) (to GND)
Need brand-specific parts? Browse our brands and see available ranges here: https://www.communica.co.za/pages/shop-by-brand?utm_source=straider&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=prebo-digital.
