Component salvage question

[Samuel]

Given all the talk I've heard about electrolytic caps "drying out", is it worth the remainder of my evening to desolder 40-50 electrolytics out of a 20 year old boombox?

[MartyB]

I've built about a 15 effects using recycled parts unless I can't find what I need.  Scrounging is part of the fun for me. javascript:emoticon('8)') YMMV
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[rog951]

Hey Samuel, if it were only 5 or 10 years old, I'd definitely say "go for it." But, at 20 years old, there starts becoming a chance that the life of those caps will be reduced. Realistically, electros will probably have a good 30 year life, but it depends on how much the boombox was used and how much power-up and temperature cycling the box has been subjected to over the years. Also, boomboxes are portable by definition, and would have been subject to more shock than something that would usually be just sitting on a shelf or a table. So, ultimately, it's kind of a crap shoot and comes down to how much value you place on your own time. Personally, I don't think I'd bother but that's just me! Good luck whatever you decide!

Rog

[jimbob]

Im  always recycling parts including electros but never that old. I read a post somewhere here that the electros can have a memory type effect and can be reduced to a lower value based on usage ect..and stay at that lower value. Or atleast that was my take on it. Makes since though. Find new junk to take apart and salvage.

[petemoore]

In Monitors is best IMO.
 But I've been usin em for sometime now [even some 'older' ones] and had no probs.
 I got nervous about it though, [besides I like playing with values] and socket most of them [not voltage dividers though]
 My voltage dividers sometimes[say two 10k's] get on the board so I just put the electrolytics on top of them...like straddling...spose not the sturdiy-est, but again not a problem. there's usually not to hard to change these even when they're in the board [I use alot of perf]

[ErikMiller]

I don't think I'd be inclined to desolder a whole bunch of random caps just to have a supply, but I do hang on to the carcasses of old CD players and cassette decks in case I run out of a value.

I've been able to finish projects that I'd otherwise have had to set aside (torture when I'm in the zone) by taking a component from an old cassette deck.

I do my best work late at night, when no electronics stores are open....

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Electros are about the only thing I don't salvage. Oh, and volume pots from roadside stereos, no point putting a worn out pot in anything!

[Samuel]

Paul: Yeah that was the policy I was angling towards...

[humbuck]

I regularly salvage electrolithic caps - even 20 year old ones. You'd be supprised how tough they are. If these caps have come from a stereo, I'd suggest there would not be much tempreature fluctuation. Also the low voltage in a stereo is another factor - the caps will probably be in good shape. I have salvaged 25 year old caps, put them in my capacitance meeter and they are fine. If you run them for a few minutes, they will "heal" themselves. If said stereo was running relatavely recently, I'd say go for it, if it's been dead for 15 years the caps will probably have dried out.

Age is not an indication of good condition - Iv'e known caps only two years old die on me, and 30 year old ones run perfectly.

H.

[Mark Hammer]

A cap that was new 20 years ago is not the same cap technology as one that was 20 years old in 1980.  Different plastics, yadda, yadda.

More importantly, don't waste your time on anything that:
a) will end up having leads that are too short to be much use on anything other than a custom board made for those lead lengths
b) will end up suffering so much heat damage during desoldering and removal that it will be way off spec.