What kind of stuff do you cannibalize?  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: signal
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 07:36:25 am
content: What types of parts do you all cannibalize? (caps, transistors, etc)Do you try to desolder everything you can from scrap stuff, or just cherry pick like premium caps, IC's, etc?

author: daqq
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 07:46:18 am
content: Very little if I can avoid it - for developement and personal use I occasionally salvage some stuff - precission stuff mostly, the occasional exotic connector, special stuff mostly.Desoldering everything might not be time efficient and it can lead to damaged/thermal shifted parts - when I was younger I had a salvaged tantalum cap catch fire on my board, which left quite an impression.

author: hneve
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 07:55:42 am
content: I love to get my hands on old printers, step motors and such expensive stuff, have "rescued" lots of parts so I'm starting to get picky.Mostly everything I think I can get use for or learn something from is of interest.I usually use a hot air gun (no not a precision smd hot air solder station) to remove things, goes were fast.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 07:58:28 am
content: I've previously thought about it but have never really needed parts like that. I collect old computers and components and often end up with machines which are surplus to my needs or just unwanted. I just throw them out. If I need to replace caps or components on a motherboard (like the Apple Mac. Classic I have), I just buy new components of equal spec.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 11:07:32 am
content: Generally speaking, salvaging parts is a big hassle that's not worth the effort IME. As mentioned however, the exotic & expensive stuff can be worth removing if you've a need for it.I guess in a pinch, you can salvage to make an emergency repair if you don't have the part on hand. But if it's not critical to get it back in service ASAP, then it's best to order a new one and install when it arrives IMHO (fix it once and be done with it approach).If you need basic parts on the cheap, check outTayda Electronics(slow shipping; order only what they have in stock, and you will make it easier on yourself). BTW,Findchipsis rather useful for price checking.

author: SteveyG
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 11:14:55 am
content: LCDs/VFDs if they're standard parts, SMPSUs, heatsinks and that's about it.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 11:22:21 am
content: Rude people...

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 11:28:12 am
content: Varies depending on what's in my used inventory, but:- Heatsinks- Inductors- Modular power supplies- Connectors if I don't have that one, or popular types-Stand-offs- Larger Caps if from newer equipment, only respected brands- Analog meters- Shunts

author: Deathwish
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 11:28:53 am
content: I only build a small number of things and the price plus postage costs in wales are ridiculous so i keep anything i can get, which at present is nil. if it works I wont tear it down though.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 11:29:56 am
content: Time spent salvaging parts is time you'll never get back. Its only worth it if you know you are likely to use the part and its got a high enough value AS A USED PART. Indiscriminate salvaging leads to madness likehttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/ebay-fa-sydney-worlds-largest-collection-of-vintage-components/.Otherwise, if you reuse parts at all, keep a limited number of whole boards, leave the board intact till you need a part off it and chuck it when the good stuff on it is getting sparse.

author: daqq
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 11:32:44 am
content: Quote

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 11:50:26 am
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on June 02, 2015, 11:22:21 amSo long pork is on the menu then?Note to self; politely decline a dinner invitation fromMechanical Menace.

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 12:01:34 pm
content: Power resistors (with lots of leads visible), Nichicon and Rubycons, MOS FETs and big BJT's.I've had hundreds of PC's to repair over the years and a lot of low ESR output caps (16v) are pooched but everything else is fine. So everything gets sent to the recyclers including over 200lbs of aluminum per year.I've found it quickest to use huge end-cutters to v-notch the sides of the PCB directly inline with the transistors/schottky diodes and then push down on the ends of the PCB with the bench edge placed under it (PCB's narrow fracture point lines-up with the transistor leads). I became quite good at it and can usually fetch 2 transistors and the aluminum in under a minute.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 12:04:31 pm
content: Quote from: nanofrog on June 02, 2015, 11:50:26 amhey, everything is good with hoisin sauce!

author: retrolefty
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 12:14:36 pm
content: Back in my young Ham radio days, it was the transformers that we would first seek out. Still today transformers prices have no way followed the inflation adjusted price decreases of most of the other electronic components we spend money on. Their raw material cost most dictates their end user price so they haven't really seen much technical advancement, at least for most AC powered supplies.

author: richard.cs
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 12:25:10 pm
content: I tend to de-case PCBs and throw them into a box, they're then there if I'm short of some component and want it without buying one with the associated postage costs and delays.Things I remove to keep before binning:TransformersModular power suppliesNice heatsinksCooling fansUnusual/rare semiconductorsThings I routinely salvage *when needed* from my stash of scrap PCBs:Power resistorsRelays, particularly if a specific footprint is neededGood quality potsHigh current MOSFETs, often from old UPS'sHigh voltage electrolyticsRandom components in specific values, e.g.: if I need just one 3.0k 0603 and don't want to buy a whole reel.The stash of PCBs gets pruned every so often and the less useful loooking ones get thrown out.

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 12:37:21 pm
content: I have a tendency to pick the brains from older electronics enthusiasts and occasionally I desolder some stuff, but more often than not the first part.Muttley

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 12:47:40 pm
content: Where are you guys finding useful stuff such as standoffs, decent heatsinks, large caps, and transformers these days?I ask, as I've not seen stuff like that in years.All that seems to turn up in my location are newer CRT TV's people want rid of and busted DVD player type of stuff (el-cheapo specials w/ little to no parts worth the effort).On the very rare instance I do find something that looks good/interesting for salvage parts, I keep the entire board and salvage as needed.Quote from: GreyWoolfe on June 02, 2015, 12:04:31 pmThat stuff can hide damn near anything.Should cover mystery meat very well.

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 03:43:32 pm
content: You're not trying hard enough. My workshop lighting is powered from a DVD player PSU board and the same DVD player gave me three useful motors, two power op-amps and half a dozen of those thin white connection cables that always break. There was also a four-digit LED display and an IR receiver with matching remote control.TV sets have lots of heatsinks, power transistors and power resistors. Sometimes the chips are useful but check them before you desolder them. There's also lots of connectors that always come in useful.Computers have low ESR capacitors on the motherboard and in the power supply plus memory chips if you want to desolder them. The ATX power connector might find another home especially if someone has broken one on an otherwise good board.However, it's easy for this to get out of control (as we saw in a recent EEVBlog episode) Once my heatsink and power capacitor boxes are full I don't pull apart any more TVs or computers and this Autumn I will be at a local Ham Radio event selling off bags of recovered but tested components for five Euro each.P.S. I just damaged the power lead on my Dremel, the replacement is from either a TV or DVD player, I can't remember which, but it's been sitting there waiting for a home for six months or so.

author: SArepairman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 03:49:40 pm
content: power and precision passives, switches, inductance elements that are interesting/unique, high voltage stuff, transducers, motors, useful looking mechanical elements like rods, plates, etc

author: jolshefsky
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 04:53:54 pm
content: I built up a (thankfully modest) stash of stuff from salvaging and find I most frequently use the cheapest things (resistors, capacitors, transistors) but am most pleased when I can reuse something more expensive (relays, switches, potentiometers, transformers, connectors). In general, having such a stash is great for tinkering and trying proof-of-concept, but once I start designing, I'm more frequently looking for particular specs and end up buying a lot of stuff new.So oddly, the things that seem stupid but are useful are the jellybean parts like resistors and small capacitors. It's nice to have nearly any value resistor and nearly any value capacitor (more so small ceramics than large electrolytics, although banging in any old >20µF cap for filtering is handy.)Things that seem valuable but are seldom used by me include LEDs and inductors. Having a few indicator LEDs around is nice, but having dozens of mishmashed colors and brightnesses isn't too useful (I even made a LED blinky project just to dump LEDs and the numerous unknown bipolar transistors). I have tried using inductors but since I'm generally looking to use them in switching supplies, I need specific values and characteristics, just like with transistors.I don't need to salvage ICs any more. Once you buy a bag of op amps for one project, you've got enough for all the experimentation you'll ever need. And I very rarely need a logic chip anymore since I do so much with microcontrollers.I do find switches and pots handy even though I have way more than I ever need. Almost every project I do has some kind of user interface and quality switches and pots aren't too hard to find.Diodes seem like a good idea, but if you get a bag of low-voltage Schottkys (for especially low Vf) and a bag of 1N4009s, you're set for life. Crystals seem like a good idea too, but I have yet to make use of any that I haven't bought.I guess if you're just starting out and experimenting, get whatever you can off the boards before you send the chaff to the recycler.

author: eas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2015, 06:20:19 pm
content: I take apart old CFL ballasts mostly for the practice of desoldering stuff. I'll probably move up to practicing SMD rework soon. Other than that, I scavenge for useful bits of wire.I have recently been thinking about buying old busted test gear to get some low tempco parts.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 03, 2015, 07:14:26 pm
content: Socketed ICs, and "big stuff" like transformers. Anything else just doesn't seem worth the bother unless I know I'm definitely going to play with it, and given my design skills are not all that they could be, I like to start with known-good parts so I can focus on human error!

author: TorqueRanger
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2015, 12:22:28 pm
content: I use a mixing tray for cement and a propane blow torch to melt the solder and bang gently the boards the sides to get the parts to come loose and I have been doing this for years .. It is the fastest way to get parts for me and then you just pick though what you want and trash the rest...Here is my scrap listPower transformerhigh end diodesprecision resistorsnot really caps but sometimes times ceramic or Tant..Wires and power cordsRelaysSocket for PC power cords

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2015, 09:26:58 pm
content: I have two plastic boxes with old PCBs. Every now and then (say 2 times per year) they provide a component which I really need instantly to continue with a project. There is all kinds of boards in there. Some I scavenged from former employers, old motherboards, old hard drive boards, my own projects, etc. I try not to hoard too much stuff though and a lot of gear already got 'donated' to the recyclers.