[?] Donating electronic components to a good cause

Over the years I've amassed a large amount of electronic bits and pieces which I would now like to donate to someone (or a group of people) who is short of funds but interested in learning about electronics such that they might make good use of them.

Among the items I'm clearing out are AC-DC power supplies (mainly wall-wart types), PCBs full of SM and other components, TTL/CMOS logic and memory IC's, cable and connectors, telephone bits and pieces, various retired satellite receivers and accessories, and lots of discrete components.

In the past I've tried offering such items on Freecycle but the hassle of dealing with incoming e-mails, people arranging to come and collect and then not coming, and similar time-wasters are a real nuisance and make this the least favoured option for me. Particularly annoying are those people who are obviously bidding for an item not because they have any need for it other than to re-sell it and try to make some extra cash. I can't be bothered to use E-Bay for similar reasons.

I did offer some items to a local radio club a while ago for their 'Junk Sale' but rather than take everything being offered they were somewhat 'picky' and only wanted to take what interested them.

I sent several boxes containing resistors, capacitors and transistors and other electronic devices to the science teacher at a local secondary school and never even received a 'thank you' from him.

Before I just give up and send all of these bits to the local tip I thought I'd invite any other suggestions from members of this NG about who might make use of them. I'm located in S.E. London if that's significant.

Suggestions please!

TIA - Dave.

Reply to
Dave Chapman
Loading thread data ...

It's an interesting one which I've also given some thought to as I'm in the same position. Have many thousands worth of new discrete components and connectors etc mainly associated with audio and automotive. (I never pass by a bargain on Ebay ;-)

And when I go - or have to move out of here - would like it to go to a worthy cause. In my 'time' most schools had an electronics club that would have been delighted to have such things, but inquiries say none of my local schools do now.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

One of my friends has the same issue, more so, since he's just inherited his father's lifetime accumulation of similar junk.

The conclusion? Throw it away. No-one's interested.

Reply to
Huge

Well the classic ways of getting rid of electronic scrap was to produce a 'revolutionary design' sell it as a kit, (that didn't work even when assembled properly) and use the money to buy yourself a knighthood and then take over MENSA.

Have you thought of that?

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

How about a local hackspace?

Reply to
Bob Eager

It's tricky. Sometimes I'll need an ABC123, but not just any ABC123 it needs to be an ABC123Z-80P and nothing else will do. Other times anything that's roughly right will do, and be better than two days waiting for an order.

Part of the issue is knowing what you have. We have piles and piles of SMD passives lying around (any time you order one you have to buy 50) but it's less time consuming and simpler just to order another 50 (price 0.1p each) than to poke around and see what's already there. Then you know exactly what you're getting and have a part number for re-order.

Once upon a time I'd keep a stock of scrap PCBs for raiding for components. Occasionally happens now for the odd connector or similar, but SMD has mostly killed that.

So the, err, 'junk' collection sometimes comes in handy, but not as much as it once did. And the 'antique junk' collection (1970s components) almost never. Plus many people don't have anywhere to store this stuff (houses are getting smaller, etc).

Theo

Reply to
Theo Markettos

+1 on that,

There's a hackspace in london, not sure exactly where, but they have members all over so one could pop by and collect the stuff off you, you may even be interested in joining your local space....

For those that don't know, a hackspace is a space (floor of a building, industrial unit, few rooms etc) where there is a collection of machine and hand tools, woodworking, metal working, lathes, laser cutters, cnc machines, welders, sewing machines, knitting machines, soldering irons, pcb etching kit, diagnostic kit and all manner of arts, crafts, electronics and so on,

(each space has different levels of kit, most have a myford type lathe, and most are preferring industrial tools over home hobby tools for things like lathes, milling machines etc, as the hobby tools wear out fast and are not that accurate, my local space (nottinghack) recently got a Bridgeport mill and have restored it, they still have a sieg X1 mini mill, and the plan is to cnc it)

tons of old bits of kit, bikes etc, there to be taken apart and made into something new... hence the 'hack' part of the name, nothing to do with computer hacking at all, but hacking hardware.

Anyone can join, you pay small amount each month, which goes towards the upkeep of the building, rent, insurance and to cover your use of consumables, and you basically have 24/7 access to a well equipped workshop, most have cooking facilities so people can experiment with foods, plus a chill out area to just sit back and relax, watch a movie on the projector or whatever you feel like doing (no sleeping there tho, much as some people would like to move in :)

And of course, members are from a diverse range of backgrounds, you'll almost always find at least one person with knowlage of something you are interested in, They also hold workshops, pcb etching, arduino programming, silk screen printing and things like that.

Most tools are donated to the spaces, and they have pledge drives for purchasing large specialist tools, the monthly payments by members covers consumables (from bog rolls and soap, to electronic components, neodymium magnets, paints, glues, blades for bandsaws and the like... and yes, they have angle grinders :)

Any donated components are usually greatly appreciated,

About the only things hackspaces don't want are CRT monitors/TV's, and old computer kit.... sometimes computer cables are welcome, and the odd add in card, memory and cd/dvd drives, but mother boards, cases, mice, keyboards etc are hardly ever of any use, not much can be salvaged for other uses, so the spaces end up having to arrange disposal.

Reply to
Gazz

Brilliant suggestion. I'll just invent a low-level bike that's a danger to the rider and cycle down to, oh I dunno, say... Cambridge and see if any of those clever knobs are interested.

Reply to
dave

Junk! JUNK!!!!!! I'm still collecting these priceless articfacts. Somedays I even build something - or other.

Reply to
dave

It takes hardly more space to organise things so they can be found, than just to have them lying around. If you're always going to buy new - why keep the bits over from a previous project? And then even with fast delivery, I can find any component I'm likely to need before tomorrow lunchtime. ;-)

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

there are cars that low. You probably haven't noticed them if you don't have your seat high enough to see properly.

Reply to
dennis

Those days are gone unfortunately. also the health and safety culture means that letting young people near soldering irons is frowned upon, or so it seems. Brian

Reply to
Brian Gaff

Not true at all.

If all else fails, ebaying by the boxful with good hi-res pics should see them end up with someone that wants them.

NT

Reply to
meow2222

Nope. Already tried. And after the first couple of boxes went for 99p, it simply isn't worth the time and effort.

Reply to
Huge

On Friday 21 June 2013 12:28 Gazz wrote in uk.d-i-y:

Oh my word...

formatting link

formatting link

Reply to
Tim Watts

On Friday 21 June 2013 12:28 Gazz wrote in uk.d-i-y:

Brighton has 2 whereas the whole of Kent and East Sussex have none. Figures... Still Brighton is not a million miles away!

Thansk - I have never heard of these before...

Reply to
Tim Watts

On Friday 21 June 2013 17:39 Tim Watts wrote in uk.d-i-y:

OK - Ignore one Brighton one - it's not quite the same.

But the other:

formatting link

"Our members have 24 hour access to a 1300 square foot workshop and full use of its equipment ? including laser cutters, a Myford lathe, a 3D printer and tools for electronics, crafts, wood and metalworking."

£20 a month (average).
Reply to
Tim Watts

Likewise here .. but some gear we have had around surplus was recently modified to meet a new requirement and was pressed back into service and I'll expect it will be fine in 10 years time rather than going to the tip or re cycling centre..

Reply to
tony sayer

Probably nothing to do with Elfin safety.

It's no longer practical for the kids to build an Ipad, games consul, dab radio, mp3 player or even basic computer from discrete components these days.

The reason that some people have a large store of electronic junk is that they couldn't think of a project on which to use it. How then do they think a third party is going to use the same?

If you want to teach kids saleable electronics skills the design is entered on a computer and run on an evaluation board from the component manufacturer.

Reply to
alan

There are things worth making, but the number of them has shrunk enormously. Kids project books from the 70s etc don't do the subject any favours in terms of appeal.

NT

Reply to
meow2222

HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.