hpr4654 :: What's in my component Box?
Describing the contents of an old storage box I have.
Hosted by MrX on Thursday, 2026-06-04 is flagged as Explicit and is released under a CC-BY-SA license.
Electronics, hobbies, DIY.
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Duration: 00:27:51
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Hobby Electronics.
Building electronic devices and kits, repairing electronics and learning about components and their uses.
Background
This episode describes the contents of an old fishing tackle box I got as a birthday present very many years ago. I used it over the years to gather a pile of mostly useless electronic components and junk.
I came across it recently when we were doing a clear out. Mrs X wanted to throw it out. I had a lot of sentimental value due to the long time I’ve had it. I am a bit of a hoarder and it took a bit of persuasion on my part to be able to keep it especially since I could not think of a single use for any of the contents!
I’ve not had time to add links against all the items. Hopefully I’ve managed to add links to most of the more unusual items. Apologies if I’ve missed any.
Contents of Box
Top row left to right, back to front
Compartment 1
Double pole double throw (2-way) switch
3 legged semiconductor (voltage regulator?)
Compartment 2
Multiple fuses mostly for cars
Compartment 3
Small silica jelly pouch
Reed switches (Not reed relays as I call them in my show)
Compartment 4
Potentiometers, Rheostat, variable resistors https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potentiometer
Control knobs
Compartment 5
Large selection of miniature panel mounted toggle switches https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switch#Toggle_switch
Compartment 6
Two crocodile clips https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocodile_clip
Half of a Hi Fi speaker plug https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Speaker_din_male_and_female.jpg
Washer
Compartment 7
Mostly chocolate block connectors https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Leuchterklemme_75dpi.jpg
Small selection of glass cartridge Fuses
Single 13 Amp mains fuse for UK plug
Assortment of soldering iron tips
Crocodile clip
Air adapter for foot pump for blowing up an air bed or similar
Spare nozzle for a de-soldering tool. Made from PTFE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desoldering#/media/File:Vacuum_plunge.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytetrafluoroethylene
Ferrite ring https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrite_bead
Compartment 8
Rubber Grommets and a heatsink
Middle row left to right, back to front
Compartment 1
Large selection of glass cartridge fuses
Compartment 2
Another large selection of glass cartridge fuses
Small selection of diodes, some quite Large https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diode
Compartment 3
Two multi turn precision variable resistors https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potentiometer#/media/File:Beckman_Helipot_potentiometer_SA1400A_2007.075.002.jpg
Cheap variable resistor with in built switch
Compartment 4
Bag of multi coloured LED’s (Cheap for Pi add on board)
2 inch 8 ohm speaker
Compartment 5
Panel mounted heavy duty toggle switch, two pole one way
Compartment 6
Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoresistor
Large Tricolour LED
Compartment 7
Variable capacitors PCB (Printed Circuit board) mounted
Spare nozzle for de-soldering tool. Made from PTFE
Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)
Panel mounted heavy duty rotary switch, two pole one way
Bag of various fuses
Halogen 12V car headlight bulb
Variable resistor with long plastic spindle, panel mount
Heatsink possibly for heavy duty transistor
Compartment 8
Variable resistor PCB (Printed circuit board) mounted
Bottom row
This is just a big jumble of stuff, listed in no particular order
DC red and black power lead with inbuilt fuse
Small solder-less breadboard for prototyping
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breadboard
Bag of various plugs & connectors mostly Jack plugs and sockets
Bag of quartz crystals and a components receipt from 1985 I added crystals to an old PMR (Private mobile radio) boot mount radio. Possible a Pye Westminster Radio. I looked but couldn’t find picture of the radio
Several bits of Perfboard or strip board
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfboard
1 Watt audio amplifier kit with instructions not built!
D-type serial port mounted to PCB with screw down connections
Bag of resistors https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistor
Large bag of LED panel mount holders
Electronic Instruction guide XH79L (Maplin) price 25p
Chocolate block connecting block https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Leuchterklemme_75dpi.jpg
Telephone pickup for recording phone calls. (Never worked) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Telephone-Pickup-Sensitive-Microphone/dp/B000L1OZG8
Multi coloured ribbon cable
Plastic trimming tool screwdriver set. https://www.amazon.co.uk/C-K-T4857-Precision-Plastic-Trimmer/dp/B000WKIYTW
Panel mounted BNC socket (Baby Neill Constant)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BNC_connector
