Component collection  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: shane_95
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2012, 03:30:01 pm
content: What's a good way I get a good size component collection on minimal wage?Iv been collecting for a about 2 or so day now and I have a handfull of components now

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2012, 03:41:58 pm
content: eBay? Amazon?

author: _Sin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2012, 03:48:37 pm
content: Scavange. Take stuff apart. You can pick up a lot of stuff which is broken or unwanted at almost no cost. You can try to fix it for a bit of practice, and/or strip it for parts.It takes time, obviously, and maybe not everything will be as good as new, but it might well be good enough.

author: shane_95
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2012, 04:07:07 pm
content: Quote from: _Sin on July 03, 2012, 03:48:37 pmWhere would I get things like this from. At home I don't have to many things to take apart, what one way to get these broken things?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2012, 04:19:10 pm
content: Nip out ahead of the garbage truck in your neighbourhood and have some method to carry old tossed out waste electronics. Or go to the recycling centred near you and do some shopping in a dumpster.

author: _Sin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2012, 04:27:40 pm
content: Also, might want to just try asking around friends and family if they have any electrical stuff that's dead and they're planning on dumping. People quite often throw stuff out, or else just shove it in a cupboard and forget about it.People also sell junk for next to nothing on ebay. Look for stuff that's non-working. Don't get carried away, and check shipping costs, but you might get some interesting stuff.There are also often more local recycling schemes. Quite often these are entirely free, so long as you're collecting.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2012, 04:33:31 pm
content: Hi!There are some shops selling parts left over from production lines. Just a few bucks per kg.Best regards,madires

author: shane_95
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2012, 04:41:18 pm
content: Is a bit a shame, but here in Australia, well at least teapot of Australia I'm in we can't go through other people's rubbish with out there permission and we can't do the whole dumpster diving thing eitherIl have to ask around the family

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2012, 09:30:21 pm
content: Quote from: shane_95 on July 03, 2012, 04:41:18 pmSame here in Canada, and before when I was living in the USA. Once the trash reaches the curb, it belongs to the contractor hired by the city to pick it up. And if you're caught diving through someone else's trash bin at the street, then there's a huge fine to pay.I've used craigslist before, asked for anyone throwing away VCRs or 80's boomboxes... I was looking for VFD displays and several people gave me their old VCR for free. Also visit weekend flea-markets. You can search for and buy broken stuff on eBay. Don't try to find things to stock up LEDs, caps, or resistors, those things are so cheap, you can just buy those new for a few bucks. But look for stuff with expensive switches, knobs, dials, or 10-turn pots, or VFD displays, big LCD displays, or big transformers, etc. Those things can cost an arm and a leg for hobbyist hacking fun.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2012, 09:49:22 pm
content: Also talk to any local repair shops, they often have equipment brought in fo repair and when the customer is given a quote for the repair the get asked to bin it. Also many shops selling new will often take away the old as a customer service (something they are now obliged to in Europe by law) so they also have get rid of it and may be glad to have it taken off their hands as it will lighten the load to the dump for them.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2012, 02:42:23 am
content: Not sure exactly where you live, but you could try freecycle as well as what's already been mentioned above.http://www.freecycle.org/group/AU/

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2012, 03:14:36 am
content: We often throw away broken or obsolete electronics. There's only so much we can easily salvage for scrap - wire and steel mainly.It's a pity you're not closer (we're just outside of Brisbane) otherwise I could help you out with some useful stuff.Maybe check Gumtree as there's often used / broken electronics going cheap there - sometimes free.

author: shane_95
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2012, 04:01:58 am
content: Quote from: David_AVD on July 04, 2012, 03:14:36 amok I will, would you know any places down here in vic?

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2012, 04:07:45 am
content: Quote from: shane_95 on July 04, 2012, 04:01:58 amVictoria is a large area - lol ! (you might want to update your location to be more specific)Maybe try a local radio / TV repair shop or a computer repairer?

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 04, 2012, 04:09:58 am
content: Are you in Melbourne? EastWest? I can put ya together a free starters "sample bag" :-)Email me if you like.Added: Parts drawers will be your biggest problem, there's 100s values in resistors, caps, semis.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2012, 04:44:41 am
content: Of course broken electronics = well broken electronicsHardly anything you can salvage there in terms on semiconductorsFor transformers there's a high chance of getting a okay transformer

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2012, 04:58:25 am
content: The reason for a lot of consumer electronics being discarded is often quite minor.Parts like transformers, heatsinks, screws, fans, relays, high power resistors, etc are good candidates, especially if the labour if free (student / hobbyist).Would I try to reuse a soldered-in micro or signal transistor? No, but there are lots of other perfectly salvageable parts to be had.