Useful bits from old PCs

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Finding things of value before you scrap that old PC

OK, PCs are so "old hat" even if diehards like me still like the flexibility they offer. What they also offer when past their "Best by" date is a prize source of useful stuff. Please feel free to add your ideas but I've two to kick of the topic, resulting from a serious clean-out of old electronics kit under my house.

1) Very fine wire Low Voltage connections

My layout LED wiring has one limitation, each set of LEDs in the buildings is connected to the BUS at a small wire connection strip. Handy if they're staying put permanently but if you need to remove the building you need to undo the fiddly fine wires and reconnect later. Generally a PITA under the layout.

I've been on the lookout for a small 2 wire connector setup but the sorts sold here are typically for model aircraft, light and expensive. Figured I could do something myself and here my old PC helped.

The photo shows a set of low voltage wires each with a plug after I've pulled them apart from a single cable. Typically found in situ as 4 wired leads singly plugged, shielded together in an outer sheath. These are perfect for matching with the male pin connectors found on every motherboard (if you cut them away carefully). The photo shows two units plugged together and one module separated.

It'll be a simple job to solder wires on to the male end and encase with shrink for some more robustness.



Idea #2 - Ultra Cool Drinks Coasters!

Not happy with the idea that someone might try to root thru my old HDDs for sensitive data, I also stripped them down for the discs. This gave me a most impressive set of hi-tech drinks coasters, which to my amazement SWMBO gave an immediate thumbs up to and hence have moved into regular use!

For those who've never done this HDD demolition, you'll need a Torx bit #T8 and occasionally #T6 to get these devices apart. Inside there are the bright shiny magnetic memory discs with a hole of about 25mm in the centre, and the right size.  Cool.

:doublethumb

Colin

 

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Clever ideas Colin.

I have put the old PSU (power supply unit) to good use in the past for extra 12V and 5V supplies.
A momentary switch to connect the green wire to earth is handy to for switching on from your control panel.

Gary
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I am no expert but I do what I can, when I can, with what I can.
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Eileen's Emporium do some very handy 2 and 4 way mini plug and socket, I've used them in a number of places, including 2 way between loco and tender, they easily fit in an N gauge loco cab on the floor; with crew  added almost uinnoticeable.

https://www.eileensemporium.com/index.php?option=com_hikashop&ctrl=product&task=show&cid=4001&name=electrical-connector-miniature-2-way

Cheers MIKE
I'm like my avatar - a local ruin!
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[user=1397]Dorsetmike[/user] wrote:
Eileen's Emporium do some very handy 2 and 4 way mini plug and socket, I've used them in a number of places, including 2 way between loco and tender, they easily fit in an N gauge loco cab on the floor; with crew  added almost uinnoticeable.

https://www.eileensemporium.com/index.php?option=com_hikashop&ctrl=product&task=show&cid=4001&name=electrical-connector-miniature-2-way
 
Thanks, Yes those are good, from the dimensions given much the same thing that I have assembled. Pity I didn't find them before putting in my big order. 13.50 quid postage per order is minor deterrent now.


Edit: I've since found a suitable product here for my LED wiring lighting, a little thicker than the Eileen's  product but one way fiting which is important for polarity with LEDs and easier to handle because of their size.

 

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Will be useful to keep in mind if we ever end up with a junked comp again..
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