Finding that part you know you have - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: RayJones
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2011, 01:50:58 am
content: Arrghhh, this is getting frustrating.I've been pulling out every box of bits I have trying to locate a part I *know* I have, somewhere....It is a simple female to female PAL adapter so I can hook up the FM tuner in the shed to a reasonable antenna.It's about 30mm long, 12mm diameter with a white centre plastic body.I can see it in my head, do you think I can find it?No doubt others go through this with their years of accumulated "goodies".....The surest way to find it is to buy another one, at which point in time the lost item instantly appears

author: Jon Chandler
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2011, 02:05:03 am
content: Quote from: RayJones on January 18, 2011, 01:50:58 amKind of like "junk"....as soon as you throw it away, you'll need it!

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2011, 02:06:36 am
content: I believe you , now search your toolbox , it must be in there ..

author: RayJones
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2011, 02:17:11 am
content: LOL, yes both possibilities are certainties in the laws of hoarding.Believe me, the toolbox has been gone over several times. Mind you the toolbox looks a lot like a lot of the other component boxes too, but has tools in there also.Perhaps there is a message there, I need to spend more time in the shed and sort to whole damn lot out!

author: DJPhil
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2011, 02:50:21 am
content: I just went through this looking for a serial DB9 extension cable. I think for me this is a once a week thing, as my memory isn't so great. I gave in and started hacking one together from CAT5.If you find your adapter, let me know if you see my small plastic ziplock bag of salvaged computer power/reset/LED pin header connectors.I guess normal folks just lose socks.

author: RayJones
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2011, 03:16:48 am
content: Socks?I'm convinced the birds have a *very* nice nest somewhere...

author: RayJones
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2011, 03:19:35 am
content: Oh yeah, I now have the car keys in my hand to source another one.This is certain to trigger the induced "find when I'm not looking for it" event.

author: tyblu
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2011, 03:28:20 am
content: I go through this every few days, too. Packrat is the term!

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2011, 04:14:05 am
content: get some rest... sleep, and the next morning make your target to tidy up your room/place with no intention to find the item... you'll find it. with condition you never brought the item outside and forget to bring back home. and your kids never mess around in your lab.

author: RayJones
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2011, 04:23:52 am
content: LOL Shafri, all conditions have been well and truly worked over.Kids - yep,Taken somewhere - yep.Sleep on it - yep - search started yesterday.Anyway, a 5min trip to the local hardware store gave me a pack of 3 adapters for $5.The 3 adapters being:Female to FemaleMale to MaleMale to FemaleNow the part that has me intrigued is why would anybody - in the domestic environment - would use a PAL Male to Female adapterWe are talking cheap Chinese junk here, not the quality silver plated stuff you'd use to protect your sig gen's N type output.Only use I can see was if your lead was too short, but it would only get about 25mm longer!Weird.

author: DJPhil
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2011, 04:40:15 am
content: Update -I cut up some cable to make a new one and sure enough, I found the one I was looking for. I guess I broke just enough stuff to have it turn up. Victory!I did keep an eye out for a PAL adapter for you, though I guess all the old stuff we collected while we lived in England got tossed except for some blade to pin plug adapters. Lots of old 75? and 200? adapters, splitters, and converters.Glad to hear you got it all sorted out.