Open Source Ecology Forums

saxin

Where is it a good idea to scavenge for electrical components? What components can be reused, and which ones wear down? Do you have a source of this type of information (US DoD must have a manual?)?

mjn

Parts are available everywhere - often for little or no money. Passive components (resisters, capacitors, inductors, etc.) can be de-soldered from circuit boards, though their re-use is often difficult. Integrated circuits can also be removed from boards, though de-soldering them is tricky. Larger components - motors, solenoids, activators, sensors, etc. can be found and re-used from washing machines and other appliances, etc. Salvage is often the very basis of the Maker mythos. Take things apart and see what you find.

- Mark

Allen15

Things that can be measured and/or tested to be functional would likely be near the top of the list, like discreet components, but as the world moves more toward SMT, those parts will become much harder to recycle too.

Simple semi-conductors are in that group too, whereas more complicated IC chips probably won't easily be tested good to be able to recycle/reuse, unless they happen to be socketed, & you happened to have another system board that used that same socket, but was in known-good working condition.

Lots of good silicon will go to the landfills because of some small component failure that was simply not practical to isolate or test... It has been happening for years now.

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