Peter Lynch wrote:
I've just been on their website, looking for a transformer to power
my latest and greatest piece of futility (that's the DIY angle).

Looked up the mains transformer section and got a real surprise.
All their toriodal transformer range is listed as "discontinued" :-(
Just out of interest I looked up variants:
Their total stock holding of PCB mounted mains transformers come to 7
(5 of one type, 2 of the other)
So far as traditional mains transformers goes, most of the voltage
ranges only have single-figure stock levels. the only range that
has what I'd've thought of as practical stocks is the sub-miniature
range.

OK, putting aside any views of "they're not a serious vendor anymore,
they're only interested in selling toys" that people may have. Does
this paltry offering reflect lack of demand or is it just another
symptom of their decline?

Another possible cause might be the disruptions caused by the
Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) regulations which have been
in force since 1 July. The re-engineering of production processes to
eliminate the use of lead in solders, along with other banned
substances, has caused major disruptions to the availability of
electronic components in general.

Some manufacturers and distributors have handled the changeover
efficiently and smoothly, while others are still catching up. The
regulations don't actually apply to components, only to finished
products "placed on the market in the EU", so maybe Maplin are simply
running down their old stocks by flogging them to home constructors.



--
Ian White