What to do with all this scrap?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around what to do with scrap electronics taken apart by a high school student interested in engineering. Participants explore ideas for repurposing components from various devices, including creating a rechargeable battery station and other projects suitable for a beginner.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests turning the drill motor into a generator with a hand crank and storing energy in its own battery, emphasizing the need for a voltage regulator for consistent output.
  • Another participant proposes using the car charger as a voltage regulator for the projects.
  • A suggestion is made to create a breadboard with power supplies for experimenting, recommending specific voltage outputs and the inclusion of a voltmeter.
  • One participant encourages the original poster to keep collecting parts, noting that unused components may be useful in the future.
  • A participant mentions an article from Make: magazine that discusses salvaging components from old equipment, providing examples of useful parts from a VCR.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the potential for repurposing components from the scrap electronics, but there are multiple suggestions and approaches presented without a consensus on a single project or method.

Contextual Notes

Some suggestions depend on the availability of additional tools, such as a multimeter, and the feasibility of certain projects may vary based on the participant's experience and resources.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for beginners in electronics and engineering, hobbyists interested in repurposing electronic components, and those looking for project ideas involving scrap materials.

Stephenk53
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I have taken apart a few electronics and I am unsure of what to do with them. I have very little engineering experience (I am in high school and only recently became interested) so I do not want to do something too complex. And if the circuit slowly damages any of the electronics I am fine with that as long as I can get practice in by making something. One thing I do want to try is create a rechargeable battery station to power small electronics in the event of losing power. Anyway here is a list of the things I took apart.

VCR
Printer
Flash camera (I have two, one of which has not been taken apart yet)
Computer mouse (not taken apart yet)
A Video player
Two hair dryers
some power supplies
A battery operated drill(mostly intact/ can be remade, has broken charger)

I also have a spare car phone charger that is intact

So if you guys have ideas as to what I could make or how to create the battery station mentioned above please let me know
 
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The drill motor should be able to be turned into a generator, if you have a hand crank. Then some way to store the energy (in it's own battery, maybe?). You'll need some voltage regulator to keep the output constant (5 volts for USB powered phones). That'd be a good start. Do you have a multimeter?
 
The car charger could act as your regulator
 
How about making a breadboard with power supply ?

A couple of these mounted to a surface with power supplies below is handy for experimenting.
2157693.jpg


I put a couple on a plastic office letter tray.

You'll want +5, +and - 12, maybe - 5 volts too. Build in a voltmeter.
 

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Stephenk53 said:
I have taken apart a few electronics and I am unsure of what to do with them.
What you don't use now might come in handy years from now. Keep on collecting parts and you'll be able to do something like I did with my collectables.
See my beauty thread that has evolved over the years.
 
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I just got my Make: magazine in the mail yesterday. There is an article about what to salvage from old equipment. Maybe they will have an online version. So.e examples for the VCR are _ rotary encoder from the head, linear actuators, springs, DC motors, timing circuit.
 

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