EntertainmentCommon
DVD or Blu-ray player
Also called disc player, home theater player.
A small optical drive, a supply, and an infrared receiver, in a box that was designed to stack. The VFD on the front is pretty and painful to reuse.
A donor is the dead machine. The parts below are what is still worth removing from it. “Leave it” is a part that is physically in there and should stay in there: too dangerous, too worn, or only useful as part of a repair you are not doing.
A scrapped machine is a box of parts that failed at different times. The reason it was thrown out is often one bad piece. The motor, the cord, the supply, and the screws are frequently still good. This index says which is which.
Why it is in the trash while the parts are not
Nothing to play. The electronics are usually fine.
Before you open it
Do this while it is still unplugged, cool, and not leaking. Unplug.
Where the dead machine usually is
- Living room and entertainment stack — In the house
- Thrift store — Retail
- Bulk trash day — Curb
Thrift stores still have a shelf of them.
How it comes apart
Cover slides back after side screws. The IR receiver is on the front panel board.
Tools: Phillips.
What to take
The table is the short version. The notes under it describe that part inside this machine, not only the general description.
| Part | Call | How many | How often | Where to look |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infrared remote receiver | Prize | 1 | usually | Front panel. |
| Switch-mode wall supply | Worth pulling | 1 | always | One side. |
| Brushed DC motor | Worth pulling | 1 | usually | Tray. |
| Brushless DC motor | Bonus | 1 | always | Spindle. |
| Laser diode | Leave it | 1 | always | Pickup. |
| Vacuum fluorescent display | Bonus | 1 | sometimes | Front. |
| Tactile switch | Bonus | several | usually | Front buttons. |
| Enclosure | Worth pulling | 1 | always | The chassis. |
Prize
Three-pin receiver.
Front panel.
Keep the little board.
Good.
Worth pulling
5 V and 12 V are common.
One side.
Label and isolation-check.
Good.
Small DC motor.
Tray.
With the belt if there is one.
Good.
A shallow metal box.
The chassis.
Good size for a small supply.
Fine.
Bonus
Sensorless.
Spindle.
Leave it with the pickup.
Hard to drive.
Needs filament and a negative grid supply.
Front.
Only with its board.
Working, and hard.
Small.
Front buttons.
Keep the board.
Good.
Leave it
Same warning as an optical drive.
Pickup.
Leave it.
Eye hazard if extracted.