Electronics Question

Morning/Afternoon all!
It's been a while since I've posted here. Got a question concerning capacitors. I've taken apart several microwaves and have a good pile of capacitors from them puppies. I've looked and my local yard won't buy em. So, where would I take these, or should I treat them like batteries? Also, I have tons (not literally) of boards, both high grade and low grade, from TVs, computers and sattelite dishes I've taken apart. Again, I can't find a yard that takes them here. Any ideas would be helpful! And thanks!

hek yeah! What Mech said! Be thankful your yard wouldn't take them! They would have likely screwed ya over on it anyway. Look at the MoBo prices in the buyers section, I haven't looked there lately, but I think they all pretty much keep their prices updated, excepting ARCOA, theirs didn't used to be kept up(but as i said i don't visit there very often lately), but they would put you on a mailing list if you ask them to, and get a new rates list each week by email

If my yard sees a capaitor in the load they will refuse the whole load. Good luck finding someone to buy them.

Originally Posted by happyscraper

If my yard sees a capaitor in the load they will refuse the whole load. Good luck finding someone to buy them.

Ha. I wonder if they'll take an old transformer. The problem with capacitors is (in most cases) a situation of "better safe than sorry". Up until 1979 capacitors commonly used chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) which may be cancerous. Well let's just say there was sufficient evidence to ban further use, but not enough evidence for the government to recall them or forbid use of existing stock. They fell out of use completely by mid 1980s. At that point many big caps were made with a "NO PCBs" statement on the label. (and keep in mind we're talking big caps in cans)

Anyway, if a yard gets a pre 1980s cap with PCBs it is hazardous waste, and even though old caps are few and far between, that's why they don't want them. If you have electricicals built prior to 1980 chances are the caps (the big ones in cans) have to be removed and saved up for hazmat day at your local waste/recycling center.

Other than the possibility of a stored charge, most of the big caps you will get don't pose much threat. Just don't drink water from the Hudson river north of Troy NY. And you might want to investigate any big old transformers before you take them.

Wow, right on. Thanks. I think I'm going to try to sell them as a lot. I guess I can understand the hesitation of them not wanting to buy em. So, my next question here is CATV Cable that I've gotten from the Satellite dishes I've found laying around. I've got lots of CATV Cable and no idea what the best thing to do with it is. The longest piece is about 120 ft. The smallest piece is just over 5 feet. Should I attempt to sell this at an online auction site, or just scrap it?

There are different verities of coax, you can get more out of it if you sell it online, but if you give more details, like size and the shielding, you will have better luck. First thing I'd do is check the center conductor with a magnet, most smaller coax has a copper clad steel center conductor, but some they use for satellites have solid copper, if you try to sell it online, be sure to mention if it has a solid copper center conductor, you can get more out of it. If you decide to scrap it, cut the connectors off, they are usually brass coated with some sort of weather proofing material.