coolest looking components - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: sarepairman2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2016, 06:38:11 pm
content: ferrite beads.

author: alsetalokin4017
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2016, 06:55:55 pm
content: Mercury rectifier.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2016, 07:16:08 pm
content: Those old British film capacitors with the dipped color codes/bands.Lots of vacuum tubes (see above). RK707 is a neat one:Tim

author: veedub565
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2016, 07:45:24 pm
content: Nixie Tubes

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2016, 09:13:31 pm
content: RF power tubes:http://www.w8ji.com/images/Amplifier/Stability/TankZ1.jpg

author: Stanley Linus
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 22, 2016, 09:44:59 pm
content: Tubes.

author: Alexei.Polkhanov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2016, 10:01:40 pm
content: Old Soviet RAM ICs.

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2016, 11:25:08 pm
content: Quote from: veedub565 on February 22, 2016, 07:45:24 pm+1

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2016, 11:28:27 pm
content: Late 70s Burr Brown thick film hybrids were sufficiently pretty they made a calendar out of them. Pirelli for geekshttps://entertaininghacks.wordpress.com/2015/07/07/images-of-late-70s-burr-brown-thick-film-hybrid-ics/

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 12:22:45 am
content: Old core memory, which reminds me of - weaving or macrame.. people collect it now..http://www.cs.ubc.ca/~hilpert/e/coremem/https://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/8007180700

author: AlxDroidDev
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 12:39:40 am
content: Those "Radiation tolerant" ICs are usually quite good (and odd) looking:and

author: brillopad
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 12:51:54 am
content: Quote from: veedub565 on February 22, 2016, 07:45:24 pmSTC used to make those in Devon in the UK (Torbay) - I built the test gear for them in @ 1967.

author: Cerebus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 01:20:31 am
content: Liquorice Allsort polyester capacitors. I used to have loads of these, made by Mullard (later Philips).

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 05:29:28 am
content: I can't believe no one has posted the most obvious...

author: rich
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 05:48:18 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on February 23, 2016, 05:29:28 amDepends on the judging criteria - Cool component, yes. Coolest looking component, no.

author: Armxnian
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 07:09:21 am
content: Silicon wafer

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 07:40:11 am
content: Microscopic led's, both visual, and convert surrounding heat into light, cooling down the surroundings

author: ivaylo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 07:42:49 am
content: This is easy... They are all beautiful, this is why we are here. You dont have to go fancy:Or anything high voltage or high frequency:

author: nali
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 07:58:53 am
content: Capacitors. Big ones.http://1010.co.uk/images/condenser-clifden.jpg

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 08:07:08 am
content: This is technically a vacuum tube, for a cyclotron. Does it count?

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 08:15:08 am
content: Quote from: T3sl4co1l on February 22, 2016, 07:16:08 pm

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 08:16:44 am
content: These aren't particular outstanding components, I just like the way the guy did the images.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 10:06:20 am
content: Forgot to add one picture, which seemsde rigueurhereMore calendar pics athttps://entertaininghacks.wordpress.com/2015/07/07/images-of-late-70s-burr-brown-thick-film-hybrid-ics/

author: Alexei.Polkhanov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 06:32:50 pm
content: Porn

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 06:45:58 pm
content: Quote from: Alexei.Polkhanov on February 23, 2016, 06:32:50 pmMy earlier postingdidmention the Pirelli calendar!

author: BurnedResistor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 08:06:39 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on February 22, 2016, 11:28:27 pmThese look really interesting. Do you know what they did/what kind of circuits they where?Sent from my SM-N7500Q using Tapatalk

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 08:14:42 pm
content: Quote from: BurnedResistor on February 23, 2016, 08:06:39 pmTheir function can be guessed, to some extent, by looking at the sub-components. But the details are lost in time.If someone compared the BB databooks with the photos, a more informed guess could be made - but I've neither time nor inclanation. There were reasonable speculations the last time I referred to them in a thread on this site.

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 08:36:16 pm
content: Quote from: JoeN on February 23, 2016, 08:15:08 amHey, I took that photo. Fame at last

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 09:03:46 pm
content: Quote from: Armxnian on February 23, 2016, 07:09:21 amare there any like this with full 1920x1080 resolution? I just found me a new wallpaper.

author: MudMan
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 09:19:48 pm
content: The picture in the post has 3373*2285 pixel. Croped and resized for you.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 09:47:47 pm
content: Derp, when I saw the more square aspect ratio of the original I just assumed small resolution. Thanks. Now I just need to clean my desktop off so I can see it past all the icons lol

author: Seekonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 10:39:49 pm
content: This is what I thought a FLUX CAPACITOR should look like. Recognize this?

author: Maxlor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 11:05:00 pm
content: .

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 11:32:06 pm
content: Quote from: MudMan on February 23, 2016, 09:19:48 pmI just found myself a new wallpaper, thanks!

author: Jay_Diddy_B
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 11:35:06 pm
content: Hi,I have a couple of items to share.PV2 TriodeThe is PV2 triode is about as close as it gets Fleming's triode. There is a seal at the top of the envelope. The filament, grid and anode are clearly visible. It is a very simple structure and you can see it is very closely related to light bulb.What makes this extra special, to me, is that it was my Grandfather's. He was interested in radio receivers.This component is so cool that it has a heaterAnalog Device CMOS DACsNot actually a component, but a cool part of analog history. This can is a promotional item made for analog devices. It was to promote CMOS DACs. You can not say it is part of Silicon Valley history, because Analog devices is in Massachusetts.Cans like this one, were mentioned in these two stories:Sheingold wasn't the only ADI employee subject to practical jokes. Pease noted how Analog Devices was touting Paul Brokaw's new CMOS circuits with a custom soup can. So Pease took the can of "CMOS DACs", drilled a small hole in the bottom and back-filled it with sea moss. He managed to solder up the hole in the can and sent it to Brokaw.They hoped Brokaw would enjoy his "sea moss soup". Apparently he Post Office did not cooperate. When recently told this story, Brokaw says that, "I never got the SeaMoss. I never even knew about it until now."Dan Sheingold was with George A. Phibrick and then Analog Devices.Paul Brokaw was instrumental in the development of band-gap references, among other things.Pease is Bob Pease of Philbrick and National Semiconductor.Pease was not the only competitor to respond to the ADI CMOS DAC soup cans. Jim Williams and Jim Cecil bought a Big Mac, stuffed a bunch of National Semi CMOS DACs into the meat patty put the burger back in its original box and sent it to ADI's Dan Sheingold with a note, "Enjoy your Big DAC attack".Sheingold told Williams that the burger "was a bit green around the edges" by the time he got it.Jim Williams, Philbrick, National Semiconductor and Linear Technology.Source:http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/anablog/4311370/Pranking-bosses-friends-and-competitors-The can is empty.The parts listed on the can are:AD7533 - Still in production from Analog DevicesAD7542 - Still available from Analog DevicesAD7541 - Analog DevicesAD7524 - Analog devices and TI?AD7523 - ObsoleteAD7522 - ObsoleteRegards,Jay_Diddy_B

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2016, 11:38:01 pm
content: Quote from: rolycat on February 23, 2016, 08:36:16 pmHeh. I forgot where I got it. Must have been here.

author: Jay_Diddy_B
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2016, 12:02:21 am
content: Hi,I have some of those film capacitors. I can still read the colour code on sight 45 years later. They were sold in England branded as Mullard (part of Philips)250V and 400V ones were common.I used to buy a bag of factory rejects, from N.R. Bardwells, 288 Abbeydale Road, Sheffield U.k. The rejects worked for the most part, but had cosmetic issues.Forum members in the South Yorkshire or Derbyshire area will probably know Bardwells.The c280 series has become BC components MKT 366, but they lost the stripes.Regards,Jay_Diddy_B

author: AlxDroidDev
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2016, 12:56:03 am
content: Quote from: JoeN on February 23, 2016, 08:07:08 amI am waiting for someone to say "real components have curves"!

author: timb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2016, 12:58:37 am
content: I've always loved the PCB etched inductors found in old Tek gear:(That's the 5-2-1ns output board from a TG501 Time Mark Generator.)

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2016, 11:59:24 am
content: I love EPROMs

author: Artlav
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2016, 12:27:14 pm
content: Huge soviet vintage military tubes.With visible plasma inside.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2016, 07:19:36 pm
content: Radar modulators: for when you need an IGBT, but they haven't been invented yet...Tim

author: Kilrah
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 24, 2016, 07:55:45 pm
content: Quote from: Artlav on February 24, 2016, 12:27:14 pmBeautiful!

author: Len
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2016, 11:02:42 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on February 24, 2016, 11:59:24 amI hate 'em. Not because of the way they look but because of the hours they added to the code-test-debug cycle when I was working on that one firmware project.

author: cloudscapes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2016, 12:04:43 am
content: Always a fan of nixie tubes, and space-ready electronics!

author: lowimpedance
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2016, 01:37:17 am
content: Quote from: JoeN on February 23, 2016, 08:07:08 amRelaxing to just sit and look at.

author: lowimpedance
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2016, 01:45:37 am
content: And just to add some not to common POTs to the collection.first up is a SINE/COSINE POT or probably more correct to say SLIDE WIRE ? (continuously variable with no end stops), with a garden variety 10 turn sitting on top for size comp.next is some 'little' power wire wounds and two more somewhat smaller slide wire precision pots.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2016, 11:53:58 am
content: Quote from: Len on February 24, 2016, 11:02:42 pmAnd how that has anything to do with the subject of the thread?!?

author: AlxDroidDev
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2016, 12:22:30 pm
content: Quote from: lowimpedance on February 25, 2016, 01:45:37 amSo, basically, it is a TANGENT POT!

author: Artlav
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2016, 04:12:29 pm
content: Quote from: T3sl4co1l on February 24, 2016, 07:19:36 pm33kV, 40 Amps pulse rating, a megawatt and a half in MHz range of modulated frequency.I'm not sure there are IGBTs for that kind of scale even today.But yeah, the thing took 300W just to heat up...

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2016, 04:18:19 am
content: AFAIK, radar modulators were usually just for switching PFNs, so didn't have to handle pulsed CW; an IGBT would do just as well (and indeed, does to this day, as pulsed klystrons are used in particle accelerator applications; I don't know anything about modern radar, but they probably still use pulsed magnetrons in the simpler (commercial) ones?).If you needed to do pulsed CW at a few MHz (probably not much over 30MHz, given the size of the thing), you'd be able to get off more than a few cycles of something pretty mean, though.It would be pretty expensive to do the same (or at much higher frequencies) with SS.Tim

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2016, 04:54:19 am
content: I meant with the tube shown, sorry for using ambiguous pronouns

author: SimonWasAnEngineer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 07:54:02 pm
content: I dont know why but vacuum tubes are really fascinating to me@Artlav do you have a few more photos? And maybe the name?I just checkt ebay, only the tube costs about 200€, a little bit to much for something that just sits on my desk and looks goodQuote from: lowimpedance on February 25, 2016, 01:37:17 am

author: Artlav
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 08:22:12 pm
content: Quote from: SimonWasAnEngineer on March 01, 2016, 07:54:02 pmGMI-90, here is the full set of pictures:http://lavart.livejournal.com/3340.htmlThe text is in Russian, but there isn't much to say.And on the opposite side of the gas tube spectrum, here is a 2.5KW Xenon light in a box:http://orbides.org/page.php?id=1003

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 08:36:23 pm
content: Quote from: Artlav on March 01, 2016, 08:22:12 pmHey, I got one of those! (though not in a box, and it's half a kilowatt lower than that one.)I thought it was an x-ray tube of some kind, then found out what it was, and then found out (through here I think) that it's apparently under quite high pressure. Still haven't found a proper way to contain it.

author: wkb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 08:47:13 pm
content: Digital Equipment VAX9000 MCM (Multi Chip Module)

author: ToeJam
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 11:00:32 pm
content: I bet you get a great tan from that mercury rectifier!

author: veedub565
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2016, 02:01:16 pm
content: Quote from: JoeN on February 23, 2016, 08:15:08 amI like them

author: PointyOintment
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2016, 04:43:35 pm
content: Quote from: Seekonk on February 23, 2016, 10:39:49 pmSome kind of wobbulator capacitor?

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 02, 2016, 06:28:39 pm
content: i think most would agree that the coolest components are anything made from glass, you can actually see or imagine the physics in actionhybrids on ceramic substrates come a close second though, this 8 pin hybrid i thought was quite cutehttp://dexterslab2013.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/teardown-lecroy-hvl100-discriminator.html

author: Electric flower
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2016, 08:12:42 pm
content: I think that Kiel probes deserve place in this thread, especially when seen in action.

author: Electric flower
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2016, 08:28:04 pm
content: And this is pretty mental

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2016, 02:14:48 am
content: Quote from: dexters_lab on March 02, 2016, 06:28:39 pmThat's interesting, the caps on the hybrid have what I have been led to believe is a piss-poor solder joint - there is no fillet at all. Anyone know why that may be?

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2016, 10:59:42 am
content: Quote from: JoeN on March 03, 2016, 02:14:48 amNot really, you just can't see it from this angle. They may also use conductive epoxy versus solder (which if they did, might need to be pure lead solder so parts don't shift around during lid soldering (with solder or glass frit), and later board soldering steps).I don't know if chip caps need to be tighter tolerance to fit on a hybrid, but most things are higher tolerance. (The metal and glaze enamels are probably good examples of especially poor tolerances, as hybrids go. This one looks to be screen printed for all layers.) The semiconductors of course are a prime example, where nothing can be printed or etched nearly precisely enough to work directly, hence wire bonding is needed to make connections.Tim

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2016, 04:19:52 am
content: Quote from: JoeN on February 23, 2016, 08:07:08 amThat is an E/M tube for schools to demonstrate how to calculate the mass of an electron. They used to build a different style one at M.U. there are several of them around down there to look at.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2016, 03:02:37 am
content: Quote from: Seekonk on February 23, 2016, 10:39:49 pmIt's a "solid state motor start relay". Which turns out to add enough series resistance with the start cap to greatly reduce its effectiveness...

author: radar_macgyver
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2016, 06:34:33 am
content: Hydrogen thyratrons, the old-timey glass envelope kind. Specifically, the giant 1257.Link to more info:http://home.earthlink.net/~webdisk1/oddtubes/oddtubes.htmI tried to take a picture of one while it was running - it was with my crappy Nokia phone camera. They produce this weird purple glow. Luckily, we don't use them any more, replaced by slightly more modern ceramic envelope thyratronsEdit: fixed link

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 05, 2016, 10:32:21 am
content: Quote from: T3sl4co1l on March 03, 2016, 10:59:42 amdoesn't look like solder in the traditional sense so maybe some conductive glue/epoxy, probably the same stuff that's glued down the other bits?tighter crop attached

author: mikron
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2016, 11:43:46 am
content: Looks like conductive silver adhesive.

author: profany
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2016, 06:58:20 pm
content: resistance

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2016, 11:59:40 am
content: Glass passivated diodes. I have a few from way back.