Power Supply Breakdown

Aloha Everyone!



I own and operate a computer repair business on the Big Island of Hawaii. Of course, with this, I have access to tons of scrap. Fortunately, there's a large market here as there only one recycling business here (on the east side). Because of this, I decided to dabble in the escrap business side of things, and I now come to you with questions.

And now for my question:

Power supply breakdown

I took apart 10 power supplies and averaged the amount of metals/wiring I removed. It took me roughly 13 minutes (we'll round up to 15) to take apart each, remove all the copper, etc.

So at 4 PSUs an hour, here's what I'm coming:

1. 1lb Fan Scrap (does this go towards copper bearing? If so, what's the price/lb?)
2. 2.2lb Wire (Do I cut off the motherboard/Hard Drive plugs to count this as wire? What's the price/lb?)
3. 13.6oz Copper Bearing - I'll upload pictures later, but I'm counting these as the yellowish looking caps that contain copper, and are terribly difficult to extract without proper tools. What's the price/lb of this?
4. 5.6oz copper
5. 14.4oz aluminum

I'd curious simply because I'd like to document my $ / hr like anyone else. I've got tons of scrap and I'd like to generate as much income as possible.

Thanks in advance!

No yards on that Island of yours? Cause that's who is going to decide what it's worth. Good call on being the king pin of ewaste over there.

The copper you refer to (#3)...is that from a heat sink? An please do post a pic, cause I break down power supplies to, and would like to put a picture to what your referring to.

I hate to give you the prices my yard gives me, cause well..your in HI an that could mean a big difference. Sure someone else will chime in with better estimates.

One last thing, pop over to the intro section an say hello an tell us a little more about yourself. Good way to get your self out there an known to the community. An hope you got a comfy chair, there is much reading in your future if you truly wish to capitalize on your scrap. Plenty of info in our ewaste section to help you succeed in this venture.

Good luck an welcome to the forums from a sandbar off the coast of NC.

Sirscrapalot - Keeper of the traveling cooler, an all around trouble maker.

Far as pictures...Try using a hosting site like imageshack, etc. You can put your photos there, an then link them to over here.

An ahh ok on the yard, I had a feeling you'd say that, being as where you located. Yea, sounds like either selling via ebay/amazon/whatever, will work best for you. Being as your a computer shop owner, you should do a search on various parts on here, or on ebay. Hard drive boards, ram, cpu's, etc will sell on ebay/amazon/whathaveyou. With no yard near by, not sure what ya can do with your copper, wire, etc.

Wire here for me on my sandbar is tween .60lb to 1.00lb. Alum is at .50lb can't help on the copper, as I store it all up till I get a decent amount, then off it goes!

Either way..good luck to ya!

Sirscrapalot - Changing a diaper is a lot like getting a present from your grandmother - you're not sure what you've got but you're pretty sure you're not going to like it. - Jeff Foxworthy

imgur: the simple image sharer
Cut the ends off these?

imgur: the simple image sharer
Copper bearing scrap?

I leave the ends on those when I cut'm off. My yard doesn't mind tho, can't speak for others tho.

An yep, second image is that copper you were referring to. Underneath the tape is some copper. I usually toss those in my CBM bucket (Copper bearing motors) is what my yard takes them as. .35lb if I recall. I do break them down now an then tho. An not to bad to break open. Smack it with a hammer, or you can do the slow way an peel the tape off an unwind it that way. The metal you find when breaking those things down is ferrite.

On the fans from your first post...I throw all mine in a box, an then take them to the yard. Can't remember last price I got for'm tho.

I'd offer the same deal as Olddude, I'd pay the airfare you'd pay my bartab...I'm thinking airfare would be cheaper....

Good luck with getting it going!

Sirscrapalot - You are the luckiest, the canniest, and the most reckless man I ever knew. Bless you, laddie.” - Gimli from Lord of the Rings.

Awesome, thanks for the info. I'm sure I'll have more questions down the road!