This falls into the category of being one of those gimmick tools that you get because it might come in handy someday. It wouldn't surprise me if it was originally one of their "special offer" things with suitable marketing hype.
It definitely has a purpose though, as it's easy to pick up and instantly do a continuity test on a fuse or lamp without messing about with dials and leads of a multimeter.
The circuitry is basic, but also quite pleasing because it uses a Darlington transistor that hints at the modern continuity testing screwdrivers that are still sold.
The Darlington transistors are a precursor to the modern super high gain MOSFETs, but inherently much more resilient to electrostatic damage.
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16 thoughts on “Retro maplin thing with schematic”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars ELBERTO says:

    Maplin was great back in the 90s but they decided to turn into Tandy and concentrate on selling crap toys

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Stephen Cook says:

    I was a Maplin customer from the days when they sold kits packed on someone's kitchen table, very good value. Then they gradually outgrew themselves. Sadly a lot of small businesses in towns where there were Maplins, went bust.

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars hightower005 says:

    I miss Maplin 😢

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars vizionthing says:

    I wish I had kept the old catalogues, remember the artwork?

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Phonotical says:

    Something tells me there is a reason you stopped using it ⚡

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Dread Naught says:

    I had one of those, it was a free gift.

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Cooking With Cows says:

    Thanks for giving us all a Handy.

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Acme Fixer says:

    The big mistake was using a Darlington transistor with only 3 volts supply. A Darlington transistor has one serious disadvantage, the saturation voltage cannot go below 1 volt. So with good batteries giving 3V, the most voltage that could be across the LED and 100 ohm resistor is 2 volts. And it's even less with batteries near end of life. Some older red LEDs needed about 2 volts to begin to light up.

    What they should have done is use two transistors in the Sziklai compound connection. Then nearly 3 volts would be across the LED and 100 ohm resistor. Much more sensitive and brighter, and the batteries would last longer.

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars TC says:

    maplins didn't close down they just went online only.

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ryan Roberts says:

    That thing totally needs blue LEDs and mandatory SOS mode to cycle through every time you use it.

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Dan Bentch says:

    Maplin sounds like Radio Shack in the US.

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars twohedwlf says:

    Nice, OG leatherman. Now that's a handy tool, I've had a leatherman in my pocket almost full time for the last 20+ years.

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Aardvark Maximus says:

    The phone number dates it to before April 1995 as that was when the additional 1 was put after the zero on PhONEday on all uk STD codes to increase the number of phone numbers as they were running out due to faxes and second lines being installed for the fledgling Internet services.

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars MsLancer99 says:

    Well you never know in 50 years from now your Retro Maplin thing could be worth loads and loads of money???

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Dave MacLeod says:

    Maplin was the place that helped me learn practical electronics. Some of the circuits I built from parts I bought ten years ago are still in use. Yes, Maplin was pricey, but that's the cost of being able to walk into a shop and buy a physical product. And speaking of Rolson tools, I can't say a bad word about them. Only recently I retired my Rolson flush cutters after many years of faithful service. They cost £4. I still use my Rolson steel rule virtually every day, and I have Maplin hybrid AA batteries still in use after several years of recharge cycles!

  16. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars The Walrus says:

    Huh. I have in my toolbox a Snap-On device of a similar nature. Have no idea how many decades ago my father acquired it.

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