element14

Files (3)

• SKILL.md
• fetch_datasheet_element14.py · scripts/
• sync_datasheets_element14.py · scripts/

SKILL.md (first lines)

# element14 / Newark / Farnell — Component Search, Datasheets & Ordering

## Related Skills

| Skill | Purpose |
|-------|---------|
| `kicad` | Schematic analysis — extracts MPNs for part lookup |
| `bom` | BOM management — orchestrates sourcing across distributors |
| `spice` | Uses element14 parametric data for behavioral SPICE models |

One API covers three regional storefronts — same catalog, same datasheets, only pricing/stock vary by region:

| Storefront | Region | Store ID |
|------------|--------|----------|
| **Newark** | North America | `www.newark.com` |
| **Farnell** | UK / Europe | `uk.farnell.com` |
| **element14** | Asia-Pacific | `au.element14.com` |

For BOM management and export workflows, see `bom`.

## Key Differences from DigiKey/Mouser

- **Simple auth** — API key as a query parameter, no OAuth flow
- **Free API key** — register at partner.element14.com, courtesy usage allowance
- **Global coverage** — same API covers US (Newark), EU (Farnell), APAC (element14)
- **Unprotected PDFs** — datasheets hosted on farnell.com CDN, download freely with no bot protection
- **Datasheet URL in API response** — `responseGroup=medium` includes `datasheets[].url`

## API Credential Setup

1. **Register** at [partner.element14.com/member/register](https://partner.element14.com/member/register)
   - Free account — just username, email, password. No credit card needed.
   - Provides a "courtesy usage allowance" (2 calls/sec, 1,000 calls/day — sufficient for normal use)
2. **Register an application** — after logging in, go to [My API Keys](https://partner.element14.com/apps/mykeys) and click "Get API Keys"
   - App name: anything (e.g., "kicad-happy")
   - Type: "Desktop application"
   - Users: "1-10"
   - Commercial: No
   - Advertising: No
   - Check "Issue a new key for Product Search API" → select "Basic" tier
   - Agree to Terms of Service and click "Register Application"
3. **Copy your API key** — a 24-character alphanumeric string shown on the My API Keys page
4. **Set the environment variable** `ELEMENT14_API_KEY` before running the scripts:
   ```bash
   export ELEMENT14_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
   ```
   If credentials are stored in a central secrets file (e.g., `~/.config/secrets.env`), load them first:
   ```bash
   export $(grep -v '^#' ~/.config/secrets.env | grep -v '^$' | xargs)
   ```

## Product Search API

**Base URL:** `https://api.element14.com/catalog/products`

All requests use GET with query parameters. Authentication is via `callInfo.apiKey`.

### Search Modes

The `term` parameter supports three search types:

| Mode | Format | Example |
|------|--------|---------|
| **Keyword** | `any:<keywords>` | `term=any:100nF 0402 X7R` |
| **MPN** | `manuPartNum:<mpn>` | `term=manuPartNum:GRM155R71C104KA88D` |
| **Distributor PN** | `id:<sku>` | `term=id:94AK6874` |

### Full Example

```
GET https://api.element14.com/catalog/products
  ?term=manuPartNum:GRM155R71C104KA88D
  &storeInfo.id=www.newark.com
  &resultsSettings.offset=0
  &resultsSettings.numberOfResults=10
  &resultsSettings.responseGroup=medium
  &callInfo.responseDataFormat=JSON
  &callInfo.apiKey=YOUR_KEY
```

### Response Groups

| Group | Fields |
|-------|--------|
| `small` | SKU, displayName, brandName, MPN, attributes |
| `medium` | + datasheets[], prices[], stock |
| `large` | + images, related products, country of origin |
| `prices` | Tiered pricing only |
| `inventory` | Stock levels by warehouse/region |

### Response Format

With `responseGroup=medium`, the response looks like:

```json
{
  "manufacturerPartNumberSearchReturn": {
    "numberOfResults": 5,
    "products": [
      {
        "sku": "94AK6874",
        "displayName": "Murata GRM155R71C104KA88D",
        "translatedManufacturerPartNumber": "GRM155R71C104KA88D",
        "brandName": "Murata Electronics",
        "datasheets": [
          {
            "type": "TechnicalDataSheet",
            "description": "Datasheet",
            "url": "https://www.farnell.com/datasheets/74273.pdf"
          }
        ],
        "prices": [
          {
            "from": 1,
            "to": 9,
            "cost": 0.156
          }
        ],
        "stock": {

From aklofas/kicad-happy, MIT.

More from aklofas/kicad-happy