Packrat genome project questions

From: Tothwolf <tothwolf_at_concentric.net>
Date: Wed Jan 30 18:17:52 2002

On Wed, 30 Jan 2002, Tony Duell wrote:

> > > For that reason, never throw out an old HP battery pack (even though HP
> > > never considered them to be repairable). It's _always_ possible to
> > > rebuild them. and you need some parts from the old pack
> >
> > It's getting that way with old laptops and portable computers these days
> > too. Replacement "packs" are either not available or are way to expensive.
> > More often than not, the batteries inside those things are standard
> > (usually still have to be ordered) NiCad or Nimh type cells.
>
> Speaking as somebody who's rewond DECwriter motors, rebuilt HP battery
> packs, swapped surface mount chips on HP flexible PCBs, rewound
> horizontal driver transformers in MDA monitors, replaced 3.5" floppy
> drive heads, and generally repaired stuff to a much lower level than
> the manufacturers intend, I guess what it comes down to is :
>
> Never throw away a subassembly. If it looks like it was made from
> separate parts, then it probably was, and it can be taken apart again
> and individual parts replaced. Even if you can't get the parts, you
> might be able to make one good unit from 2 dead ones.

I've done a considerable amount of this myself, and have some very
"unusual" stuff in my junkboxes. (If I can ever find them again.) Lots of
folks think I waste my time on stuff, but repair is often the only option
when it's a one of a kind part, or would cost way too much for a
replacement.

And as a last resort, if I can't repair something with my current tools
and skills, it goes into a box for later repair by myself or someone else.

One good example of this kind of item is the floppy drive used in PS/2
systems. I found just recently that they commonly often fail due to bad
surface mount electrolytic capacitors. Once I have a hot-air soldering
station, I have at least 5-7 of these drives that will be repaired.

-Toth
Received on Wed Jan 30 2002 - 18:17:52 GMT