mystery cap(?)

[PB Wilson]

I just spent some time desoldering an old VCR and got a couple dozen film caps, a handful of trim pots, and a ton of wire out of it. I have to do some web searching for the ICs to see if anything is worth taking, but there were a large number of mystery caps, or I think they are caps, all over the boards that puzzled me.

These caps(?) look like large, light blue tantalum caps, but have no numbers or letters on them. The only markings on them are colored dots, some black, some red, some gold. The markings are sometimes found on the top, sometimes on the sides and in different combinations.

The silkscreen on the board labeled them with an L, not a C like the other caps. Anyone have an idea of what they are and if I should use up a few feet of de-soldering braid on them?

[Joe Davisson]

Those are coils, not caps. They look like caps because they are dipped in some gunk to seal them. Really old VCR's are great for parts salvage, since they had so many parts to begin with. How they every worked to begin with is what's amazing to me.

-Joe

[Peter Snowberg]

I just repaired my LED flashlight with a 470uH choke from an old laserdisc player. After collecting boards for over 20 years that's the first real use I've had from one of those inductors. I wouldn't use up any braid on them, just leave them on the board for future picking if required.

Take care,
-Peter

[PB Wilson]

Thanks guys! I guess I'll leave them as they are along with the electrolytic caps. If I ever need one, I'll know where it is. Now, how to hide my ever-growing pile of parts (No honey, is NOT junk! I may need it for som eimportant breadboarding someday!) :wink: