Power & batteryYou will see this often

Power strip

Also called surge protector, extension strip.

A switch, a cord, and outlets. The MOV that made it a 'surge protector' is a one-shot and may already be sacrificed. Do not trust a salvaged MOV to protect anything.

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.

What you are looking at

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

The switch broke, the cord nicked, or someone bought a nicer one.

Before you open it

Do this while it is still unplugged, cool, and not leaking. Unplug.

Mains voltage

Where the dead machine usually is

Home office — In the house
Junk drawer and cable box — In the house
Office cleanout — Commercial

The cord is the value. A nicked cord is not a donor, it is the hazard.

How it comes apart

Screws in the back. Note the MOV across the line: a colored disc. If it is charred, that strip already did its one job.

Tools: Phillips, Meter.

What to take

The table is the short version. The notes under it describe that part inside this machine, not only the general description.

Parts in this donor
Part	Call	How many	How often	Where to look
Panel switch	Worth pulling	1	usually	The end.
Mains cord	Prize	1	usually	The lead.
Fuse	Bonus	1	sometimes	A breaker or a thermal link.
Enclosure	Bonus	1	always	The shell.
USB cable	Bonus	1	sometimes	USB-outlet versions.
Switch-mode wall supply	Bonus	1	sometimes	Inside USB strips.

Prize

Prize — take this firstMains cord1 · usually
A real cord, if the jacket is intact.
The lead.
Inspect every centimetre.
Nicks are a reject.

Worth pulling

Worth pullingPanel switch1 · usually
Mains, often lighted.
The end.
Read the rating.
Good.

Bonus

Bonus, if you are already in thereFuse1 · sometimes
Some strips have a resettable breaker.
A breaker or a thermal link.
Test it.
Good.
Bonus, if you are already in thereEnclosure1 · always
Outlets molded in.
The shell.
Not pretty.
Fine.
Bonus, if you are already in thereUSB cable1 · sometimes
A small 5 V supply inside.
USB-outlet versions.
That supply is the interesting part. Isolation-check it.
Mixed.
Bonus, if you are already in thereSwitch-mode wall supply1 · sometimes
5 V.
Inside USB strips.
Confirm isolation. Some are nasty.
Unknown until tested.