HPR4654: What's in my component Box? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 4, 2026

HPR4654: What's in my component Box?

from Hacker Public Radio · host MrX

This show has been flagged as Explicit by the host. 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 Stereo Jack plug & socket Double pole double throw (2-way) switch 12V dc relay from RS 3 legged semiconductor (voltage regulator?) Compartment 2 Multiple fuses mostly for cars Compartment 3 Small silica jelly pouch Micro Switch 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 Provide feedback on this episode.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 4, 2026

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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 Stereo Jack plug & socket Double pole double throw (2-way) switch 12V dc relay from RS 3 legged semiconductor (voltage regulator?) Compartment 2 Multiple fuses mostly for cars Compartment 3 Small silica jelly pouch Micro Switch 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.w

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