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DaftnDirect
Honored Contributor
February 28, 2018
Question

Maplin collapse. A sad day.

Just heard that Maplin has collapsed into administration.


It's sad news for those of us who enjoyed wondering around the store, getting inspiration for those little electronics projects we like to mess about with. It was also a useful place for the occasional emergency PC component purchase... for when you just can't wait for an on-line order to come though. With the disappearance of Tandy (RadioShack) and now Maplin, my high street is becoming a much less geeky and altogether less appealing place to visit.


It's obviously worse news for the 2,500 UK staff who work in the 200 stores and I'd like to wish well for the future.

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    DaftnDirectAuthor
    Honored Contributor
    February 28, 2018

    Blimey @kojack, that knife switch is a new one on me, not seen anything like it!


    I used to deal with big open knife switches for DC escalators & lifts back in the day... all mounted on big slate panels but that kind of thing was outlawed a long time ago!

    13700K, RTX 4070 Ti, Asus ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming, Corsair H150i Capellix, 64GB Corsair Vengence DDR5, Corsair 5000D Airflow, 4TB Samsung 870 , 2TB Samsung 990 Pro x 2, DK2, CV1, Rift-S, Quest, 2, 3, Pro, Windows 11 Pro 24H2 (10.0.26100)
    kojack
    kojack
    Honored Contributor
    February 28, 2018
    I might just buy one, hook it up to an arduino and use it as the landing gear control in Elite Dangerous. :)

    Here's a cheaper one. Only 63amp and 2 pole, but it's $5.40us.
    https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Wholesale-Heavy-Duty-63A-2p-Double-Throw-Knife-Disconnect-Switch-Delivered-Safety-Knife-Blade-Switches/1746002_32695823276.html
    (There's a 32A one for $3.51 too)

    But can you really live with just 63A when a 225A is available?
    httpsae01alicdncomkfHTB14OJmKVXXXXXlXVXXq6xXFXXX7Wholesale-Heavy-Duty-63A-2p-Double-Throw-Knife-Disconnect-Switch-Delivered-Safety-Knife-Blade-Switchesjpg
    Author: Oculus Monitor , Auto Oculus Touch , Forum Dark Mode , Phantom Touch Remover , X-Plane Fixer Hardware: Threadripper 1950x, MSI Gaming Trio 2080TI, Asrock X399 Taich Headsets: Wrap 1200VR, DK1, DK2, CV1, Rift-S, GearVR, Go, Quest, Quest 2, Reverb G2, Quest 3
    DaftnDirectAuthor
    Honored Contributor
    February 28, 2018

    The last serious job I did was the traction install at Cockfosters & Northfields Depots, 1200A circuit breakers by Hawker Siddeley, I could put you in touch with the rep if you fancy trying one of those out!

    13700K, RTX 4070 Ti, Asus ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming, Corsair H150i Capellix, 64GB Corsair Vengence DDR5, Corsair 5000D Airflow, 4TB Samsung 870 , 2TB Samsung 990 Pro x 2, DK2, CV1, Rift-S, Quest, 2, 3, Pro, Windows 11 Pro 24H2 (10.0.26100)
    LZoltowski
    Inspiring
    February 28, 2018
    Cockfosters ...

    funny face lol GIF
    Core i7-7700k @ 4.9 Ghz | 32 GB DDR4 Corsair Vengeance @ 3000Mhz | 2x 1TB Samsung Evo | 2x 4GB WD Black ASUS MAXIMUS IX HERO | MSI AERO GTX 1080 OC @ 2000Mhz | Corsair Carbide Series 400C White (RGB FTW!) Be kind to one another :)
    Techy111
    Honored Contributor
    February 28, 2018
    Pah you lot saying TCR has no comp stores !!! I know a few lads who have a big lorry parked around and things fall off it all the time  :D 
    A PC with lots of gadgets inside and a thing to see in 3D that you put on your head.
    kojack
    kojack
    Honored Contributor
    March 1, 2018
    Going a little off topic... but on aliexpress I just found a 5KG pull force electromagnet for only $3.36. If I buy ten or so, I can make a rail gun!
    :)

    Actually I'd love to go magnet fishing. But I'd be worried that a permanent magnet would get stuck on something too heavy to lift. So I'd want to use an electro magnet. I can get a 600KG pull force electro magnet for only $76us. I'd probably need a car battery or something to power it.


    I've been on aliexpress a lot lately because my students are making custom game controllers for a subject. So I've been buying bulk supplies (arduinos, leds, resistors, wire, etc) in advance to save them the shipping time, plus for me to experiment with.
    Author: Oculus Monitor , Auto Oculus Touch , Forum Dark Mode , Phantom Touch Remover , X-Plane Fixer Hardware: Threadripper 1950x, MSI Gaming Trio 2080TI, Asrock X399 Taich Headsets: Wrap 1200VR, DK1, DK2, CV1, Rift-S, GearVR, Go, Quest, Quest 2, Reverb G2, Quest 3
    Anonymous
    March 1, 2018
    All that went completely over my head. Here in 'Nham (Tottenham) you can't get knife switches but just about everyone has a switchblade knife lol :o :D :D :D

    Toys'R'Us have also gone into administration too. Probably pound shops have contributed to both of these companies going down the toilet too.
    kevinw729
    kevinw729
    Inspiring
    March 5, 2018
    Sad news - will be missed. Spent hours at the Tottenham Court road location in London - always helpful.


    https://vrawards.aixr.org/ "The Out-of-Home Immersive Entertainment Frontier: Expanding Interactive Boundaries in Leisure Facilities" https://www.amazon.co.uk/Out-Home-Immersive-Entertainment-Frontier/dp/1472426959
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