Ewaste /HD recievers

[CBentre]

Well all I can say at this point is that I am really going to injoy this forum. There has been a lot of input over one small item, most people would not waste there time to comment on this but it seems like this forum stands out from the rest. Thanks for the input! The more I learn the less questions I will have to ask, the less questions I ask means more time on helping others. Thanks again

 

[CBentre]

I agree with Smack that training the eye is key, though also just using some common sense pays off a lot as well.

The HARDEST thing is to train the BRAIN to get past the LIES the eye wants to tell you! One way I've tried to do is to look at something and say "You think that's gold? HA! PROVE IT!" Well, sometimes that works....... :roll:

In this case (and in MANY), though, one of the things to consider is the military application of a similar thing MIGHT be gold, but OT2BINLA said it was an HD receiver (an off the shelf consumer product...) - and fairly new (look at that shine!). I took an older one (more likely to be gold, or more gold) and it was more obvious from the pictures that it was metal.

Learn to DIStrust your eyes, and believe in the facts. Very few consumer products nowadays have much gold in them at all (other than cell phones). It is best to collect and sell the boards and not waste time on searching for what is not there.

Of course, a drop of solution from a $20 test kit also does a world of good in convincing the brain that the eyes are crazy :shock: Collect the "oh, I think this is gold" stuff in a box until you get the kit, then you will have a lot of things you can look at to see the reaction on various items and substances and quickly learn the difference (boy, does that sound like Hoke or what?????? 8)

OK well this is out of the same system I am pretty confident that its the real thing,you seem to be a pro at this so how would you grade this in terms of pricing from a rifiner?

 

[Smack]

First picture: gold plating over either kovar or copper pin material.
Second picture top piece: gold plating over stainless steel, save these to be processed with lids from processors.

 

[CBentre]

Hey thanks for all the help thus far, I was just wondering if anyone would be offended if I were to post multiple items on this thread of different types of circuit boards to help me understand how to sort properly for a refiner. I totally lack the experience and knowledge at this point to even try and take on refining myself right now. Or should I post in a different section are possibly look for another forum. I know most of you are in here for more serious stuff and I don't want to offend anyone. Thanks again!

 

[Geo]

absolutely this is the place and the topic. you started this thread so post all the pictures you want to, im sure some one will point you in the right direction.

 

[NobleMetalWorks]

It also may be anodized Al, I see people all the time trying to sell Anodized Al as gold plate on eBay, it's a regular thing. In electronics, Al is used to dissipate heat among other things.

The Military used and may still use gold plate to harden electronics from EM Pulses or other interference. However, in applications like an HD receiver, gold is usually only used in the connectors, not as shielding. Capacitors are used as a passive way to filter signals and clean them up, they are sometimes still used today but more often software or ICs programed for specific signal filtering, over sampling, etc. So I don't think it would be used as a signal barrier.

GoldSilverPro and Lou are correct about the taste test, Au is a Nobel metal, and thus does not dissolve in the presence of human saliva or digestive acids (humans produce HCl to dissolve stomach contents). The saliva in your mouth can dissolve some metals, thus giving a "taste". But your saliva will not dissolve any metal that is Nobel, thus there is no taste. Your saliva must be able to dissolve the metal you are taste testing, for you to taste anything.

I have run across a lot of this type of shielding or heat sinks taking audio/video equipment apart. I have yet to find any that were gold plated. I have seen a lot of Al that was plated in gold, in military telecom equipment however.

I hope you find out it's gold, and if you do please post here. I am sure I'm not the only one that would like to know if it's gold plated.

Good thread

Scott

 

[CBentre]

It also may be anodized Al, I see people all the time trying to sell Anodized Al as gold plate on eBay, it's a regular thing. In electronics, Al is used to dissipate heat among other things.

The Military used and may still use gold plate to harden electronics from EM Pulses or other interference. However, in applications like an HD receiver, gold is usually only used in the connectors, not as shielding. Capacitors are used as a passive way to filter signals and clean them up, they are sometimes still used today but more often software or ICs programed for specific signal filtering, over sampling, etc. So I don't think it would be used as a signal barrier.

GoldSilverPro and Lou are correct about the taste test, Au is a Nobel metal, and thus does not dissolve in the presence of human saliva or digestive acids (humans produce HCl to dissolve stomach contents). The saliva in your mouth can dissolve some metals, thus giving a "taste". But your saliva will not dissolve any metal that is Nobel, thus there is no taste. Your saliva must be able to dissolve the metal you are taste testing, for you to taste anything.

I have run across a lot of this type of shielding or heat sinks taking audio/video equipment apart. I have yet to find any that were gold plated. I have seen a lot of Al that was plated in gold, in military telecom equipment however.

I hope you find out it's gold, and if you do please post here. I am sure I'm not the only one that would like to know if it's gold plated.

Good thread

Scott

Hey Scott thanks for the positive comments, I will post the results as soon as I can get my hands on a test kit. Is ebay a good choice to purchase one?

 

[CBentre]

As for board grading and sorting I guess I should start with my first picture of the hd receiver part, to be honest with you I normally leave this part intact on the board. But because of curiosity I took in off to explore. So now that it is off would anyone know what category the actual board inside would fall in if removed? As well as a typical price range for that category?

 

[NobleMetalWorks]

Hey Scott thanks for the positive comments, I will post the results as soon as I can get my hands on a test kit. Is ebay a good choice to purchase one?

I purchased my first test kit off eBay, and it worked fine, for about 3 weeks. No big deal because now I have the little bottles already neatly labelled, and I make my own test solutions. If you do decide to purchase a test kit off eBay consider spending the extra money and getting one that comes with test pins, they are most of the time on a key ring. As the solutions degrade, comparing a pin standard to the scratch of what you are testing becomes more and more important. Not to mention the fact that you can a standard base to compare with.

I believe a few other members have purchased test kits off eBay. If possible, I would buy one that originates here in the US, if you can find one, or if you live in another country something close. My first one came from China, and took for-freaking-ever to get here.

Scott

 

[CBentre]

Hey Scott thanks for the positive comments, I will post the results as soon as I can get my hands on a test kit. Is ebay a good choice to purchase one?

I purchased my first test kit off eBay, and it worked fine, for about 3 weeks. No big deal because now I have the little bottles already neatly labelled, and I make my own test solutions. If you do decide to purchase a test kit off eBay consider spending the extra money and getting one that comes with test pins, they are most of the time on a key ring. As the solutions degrade, comparing a pin standard to the scratch of what you are testing becomes more and more important. Not to mention the fact that you can a standard base to compare with.

I believe a few other members have purchased test kits off eBay. If possible, I would buy one that originates here in the US, if you can find one, or if you live in another country something close. My first one came from China, and took for-freaking-ever to get here.

Scott

Thanks I will do that

 

[CBentre]

Here is a network board, the tiles on the floor are 12"x12" for a size comparison.

 

[CBentre]

Here is another type of HD receiver it has gold trim where screws were, some are gold trim while some of this same model have silver trim.

 

[CBentre]

Ok this one I think I know, it's from a large power back supply. so I'm thinking it would be a power suppy board out of case?

 

[trashmaster]

I would scrape some of the solder maskoff and take a look.
Many times if the soldermask is a lighter color there is gold plating under the solder mask ( not always ).

 

[CBentre]

I would scrape some of the solder maskoff and take a look.
Many times if the soldermask is a lighter color there is gold plating under the solder mask ( not always ).

Interesting, I will take a look.

 

[CBentre]

This is what I believe you would call a telecoms board not sure what kind of value I am looking at for this?

 

[Geo]

the first four pictures would be considered high grade boards. the power supply boards are low grade green boards and the last one is mid grade telecom.

 

[CBentre]

the first four pictures would be considered high grade boards. the power supply boards are low grade green boards and the last one is mid grade telecom.

So do the low grade green boards get put in with the psu's that are out of the cases? Probably not because some of those are green one side an off white on the other.
Also, the network board blue board 2nd picture. I thought that would be considered a telecoms board but wasn't 100% sure of it. Thanks for your help

 

[CBentre]

OK these baby's came out of digital audio equipment.

 

[CBentre]

sorry couldn't fit