Recycling Parts is it possible

TomJ · 20th February 2003, 12:26 PM

Is it possible to recycle and re-use compnents from old eqiutment(i.e. television,radios,computers.....). I have a lot of old junk like this that dosn't work and is beond repair yet a lot of the components still work.

Are there any problems with doing.

The resons to me for doing this are fairly simple. firstly it would be a lot cheaper for me just to remove the components + it would be envoiromentally friendly.

Brett · 20th February 2003, 12:35 PM

I can't see any problem with recycling old parts, providing the parts are still OK, ie if the unit was faulty before it was scrapped, make sure the parts you recycle are not the ones that caused the fault, or were damaged by the fault condition. I've done it myself before, and have lots of iron in my system that I took from dead amps, as well as tubes, sockets and some passives. Much old gear is simply thrown away because it was replaced with newer and is still working, had a minor fault that was 'too expensive to repair', junked in estate cleanouts etc. If you have a use for the part and it is still safe, it's better than it going to landfill, and cheaper for you.

Cheers

jackinnj · 20th February 2003, 12:39 PM

how do you think most of us got started anyway -- my first ham transmitter used the 6DQ6 sweep tube -- directly keyed. I used the tuner for VHF reception with a slight mod, and oh those power transformers, particularly from early color TV's -- you could get hundreds and hundreds of watts out of them.

used test equipment also makes for great parts supplies -- and the chasis and cabinets just can't be beat. I have one instrument in which I just gutted the entire thing and used a piece of black formica to replace the front panel.

they are still "giving away" old routers and telco equipment due to the glut in networking and telco -- these are excellent rack panel sources.

Christer · 20th February 2003, 01:34 PM

Some companies even sell industy surplus PCBs for price that
is a fraction of the component value, although this seems less
common nowadays than it used to.

As Jack said, desoldering componentes from old stuff is the way
many of got our first components. Keep in mind, however, that
some components, eg. electrolytics, age and might not be in
good shape. Also take care that some old or odd equipment
might be hazardous to work with. Old residual solder flux might
be more toxic than modern ones. Some equipment may use
transistors or insulators that contain Beryllium oxide etc.

Jeff R · 20th February 2003, 03:12 PM

Ham fests and flea markets are a great way to get parts, though you might have to go through a lot of items to find what you need. Sometimes at these places you can find bags of unused parts that are perfectly fine.

As Christer says, older electrolytic capacitors might not be worth salvaging, but they still might be worth a try due to the cost of new ones.

JBL · 20th February 2003, 04:19 PM

This is also the best way to get cheap transformers for nearly nothing.

TomJ · 20th February 2003, 09:58 PM

With Capacitor you said that some of them might have aged if you test them and there allright can you use them or do they deteriorate in the circuit.

The toxicity isn,t a big problem since i will be doing all the desoldering outside.(it is easer to bring my soldering iron outside to take a few parts and leave the rest than to take it inside and upthe stairs, take the parts of and have to carry it back down the stairs

EchoWars · 20th February 2003, 10:04 PM

Quote:

With Capacitor you said that some of them might have aged if you test them and there allright can you use them or do they deteriorate in the circuit.

With an ESR Tester you may be able to determine the health of older caps, but in general if I have a circuit that I care about, I use new electrolytics. Old ones just shouldn't be trusted.

DIY_Peter · 21st February 2003, 08:40 AM

I'm looking for speaker crossover parts. In which devices I'm I likely to find them? caps, inductors, resistors...

please don't answer "in old speakers"

TomJ · 21st February 2003, 01:32 PM

I think I will stick with what you said about capaitors and buy new one they are Quite cheap so it is probably the best way of doing it since the ESR meter would pay for a hell of a lot of capacitors.

Are ther any makes of resistors, transformers, transistors to be wary of and are ther any to look out for.

Pressumembly if the equitment is fairly new you can use the capacitors if they are electroliytic.

20th February 2003, 12:26 PM	#1
TomJ diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cambridge	Recycling Parts is it possible Is it possible to recycle and re-use compnents from old eqiutment(i.e. television,radios,computers.....). I have a lot of old junk like this that dosn't work and is beond repair yet a lot of the components still work. Are there any problems with doing. The resons to me for doing this are fairly simple. firstly it would be a lot cheaper for me just to remove the components + it would be envoiromentally friendly.

20th February 2003, 04:19 PM	#6
JBL diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Canada, N.-B.	This is also the best way to get cheap transformers for nearly nothing. __________________ Jonathan Blanchard (J.Bl.) ---Nothing is impossible---

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20th February 2003, 12:35 PM	#2
Brett diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2002	I can't see any problem with recycling old parts, providing the parts are still OK, ie if the unit was faulty before it was scrapped, make sure the parts you recycle are not the ones that caused the fault, or were damaged by the fault condition. I've done it myself before, and have lots of iron in my system that I took from dead amps, as well as tubes, sockets and some passives. Much old gear is simply thrown away because it was replaced with newer and is still working, had a minor fault that was 'too expensive to repair', junked in estate cleanouts etc. If you have a use for the part and it is still safe, it's better than it going to landfill, and cheaper for you. Cheers

20th February 2003, 12:39 PM	#3
jackinnj diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Llanddewi Brefi, NJ	how do you think most of us got started anyway -- my first ham transmitter used the 6DQ6 sweep tube -- directly keyed. I used the tuner for VHF reception with a slight mod, and oh those power transformers, particularly from early color TV's -- you could get hundreds and hundreds of watts out of them. used test equipment also makes for great parts supplies -- and the chasis and cabinets just can't be beat. I have one instrument in which I just gutted the entire thing and used a piece of black formica to replace the front panel. they are still "giving away" old routers and telco equipment due to the glut in networking and telco -- these are excellent rack panel sources.

20th February 2003, 01:34 PM	#4
Christer diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Sweden	Some companies even sell industy surplus PCBs for price that is a fraction of the component value, although this seems less common nowadays than it used to. As Jack said, desoldering componentes from old stuff is the way many of got our first components. Keep in mind, however, that some components, eg. electrolytics, age and might not be in good shape. Also take care that some old or odd equipment might be hazardous to work with. Old residual solder flux might be more toxic than modern ones. Some equipment may use transistors or insulators that contain Beryllium oxide etc.

20th February 2003, 03:12 PM	#5
Jeff R diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Florida	Ham fests and flea markets are a great way to get parts, though you might have to go through a lot of items to find what you need. Sometimes at these places you can find bags of unused parts that are perfectly fine. As Christer says, older electrolytic capacitors might not be worth salvaging, but they still might be worth a try due to the cost of new ones.

20th February 2003, 09:58 PM	#7
TomJ diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cambridge	With Capacitor you said that some of them might have aged if you test them and there allright can you use them or do they deteriorate in the circuit. The toxicity isn,t a big problem since i will be doing all the desoldering outside.(it is easer to bring my soldering iron outside to take a few parts and leave the rest than to take it inside and upthe stairs, take the parts of and have to carry it back down the stairs

21st February 2003, 08:40 AM	#9
DIY_Peter diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Leuven	I'm looking for speaker crossover parts. In which devices I'm I likely to find them? caps, inductors, resistors... please don't answer "in old speakers"

21st February 2003, 01:32 PM	#10
TomJ diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cambridge	I think I will stick with what you said about capaitors and buy new one they are Quite cheap so it is probably the best way of doing it since the ESR meter would pay for a hell of a lot of capacitors. Are ther any makes of resistors, transformers, transistors to be wary of and are ther any to look out for. Pressumembly if the equitment is fairly new you can use the capacitors if they are electroliytic.

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