HPR4654: What's in my component Box?

Hosted by MrX on 2026-06-04 01:00:00

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)