Jan Mugara sent me some photos of a cool-looking radio he made using a washing machine control panel and other scrap parts. I asked him to share his story:
I had three damaged washing machines. The appliances were broken and unrepairable. The only parts that could be reused were the control panels. I also had one old AM/FM/TV radio. So I decided to put the radio into one of the panels. In the panel there is a program selector knob — I used it for switching between AM/FM/TV (the left one in the photos. )
The middle knob was used for volume level – I simply glued the knob to the variable resistor from the radio.
And the third knob (right) is for tuning. This was actually the most complicated part, because the tuning capacitor has a very small diameter. I needed to create a plastic wheel with a square hole in the center and connect it with glue to the program selector knob.
There is a push On/Off switch. I connected a red LED to it.
I mounted the battery holder on the left side.
For the antenna, I cut a square hole on the upper side of the panel and from the inside I connected it to the the capacitor, which I glued to the side of the panel.
Finally, I made a case out of scrap PCB pieces. I added glue everywhere that looked weak.
The bottom part can be opened for repairs.
It took me about five hours to make (with a lunch break). I gave it as gift to my boss. And next Sunday I plan to make another for my wife.
ADVERTISEMENT
