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- Component ID questions

It can be acceptable to show a picture of something and ask what it is. However, there are some special guidelines to keep in mind when doing so:

• The photo must be clear.

  Electronic parts are often small. Your phone camera may not be able to get close enough to show necessary detail and stay in focus. So don't use your phone camera. Bad pictures aren't acceptable just because that's all you can do. Either somehow use better equipment, or don't post. If you can't do it right, don't do it here.

• The photo must we well cropped.

  A big picture with a tiny part in the middle is a waste of everyone's time. Crop the picture properly to show the relevant detail.

• Show context too.

  We need to see the details of the component you are asking about, but showing its wider context is also often useful. That usually means two pictures, one detailed closeup and one further back showing the whole board or whatever.

• What is the overall device?

  Knowing that the part in question is in a 1960s television versus a modern power supply can make a big difference. Tell us what else you know. Does it run on batteries, have a extra-beefy wall plug, uses 115 V, 220 V, etc, etc?