Matronics Email Lists :: View topic - Reading Potentiometer Values

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

Reading Potentiometer Values

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> AeroElectric-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

longg(at)pjm.com
Guest

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 6:26 am Post subject: Reading Potentiometer Values

I have a handful of potentiometers at home and I want to verify the ohms

rating of each. What is the best/easiest or cheapest way to determine

their rating? The only real equipment I have is a simple DC tester with

ohms values. I will be using one to control the audio volume between my

D180 & GMA340.



Thanks,

Glenn

- The Matronics AeroElectric-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List

bob(at)bob-white.com
Guest

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 8:13 am Post subject: Reading Potentiometer Values

Hi Glenn,



It sounds like you have what you need.  Measure the resistance (ohms)

between the two outside pins.  That will tell you what the resistance

of the pot is.  There is another consideration when selecting a pot.

There linear and "audio" taper pots.  A linear pot will change

resistance linearly with pot rotation.  Turn it half way between CCW

and CW will give a reading of 1/2 the total resistance.  An audio taper

will change exponentially.  Rotating half way between CCW and CW will

result in a lower resistance between the center pin and the CCW pin and

a higher resistance between the center pin and the CW pin.  The audio

taper is probably the best choice for your application.



Also, there should be some markings on the pot that will tell you what

value the pot is.  Picking up a couple of random pots from by work

bench, one is marked "200 (ohm) LIN" which is pretty straightforward to

decode.  the other is marked "A100K"  which clearly indicates it is a

100 kohm pot, and I would guess the "A" means audio taper but I would

have to check.



(There are pots that aren't configured quite as described, but it

should work for most run of the mill pots.)



Bob W.



On Thu, 28 May 2009 10:23:23 -0400

<longg(at)pjm.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 I have a handful of potentiometers at home and I want to verify the ohms

 rating of each. What is the best/easiest or cheapest way to determine

 their rating? The only real equipment I have is a simple DC tester with

 ohms values. I will be using one to control the audio volume between my

 D180 & GMA340.

 

 Thanks,

 Glenn

 

 

 

 

 


	




-- 

N93BD - Rotary Powered BD-4 - http://www.bob-white.com

3.8 Hours Total Time and holding

Cables for your rotary installation - http://roblinstores.com/

- The Matronics AeroElectric-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List

longg(at)pjm.com
Guest

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 9:40 am Post subject: Reading Potentiometer Values

Excellent,



Thanks Bob.



--

- The Matronics AeroElectric-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List

nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
Guest

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 12:12 pm Post subject: Reading Potentiometer Values

At 09:23 AM 5/28/2009, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  



I have a handful of potentiometers at home and I want to verify the ohms

rating of each. What is the best/easiest or cheapest way to determine

their rating? The only real equipment I have is a simple DC tester with

ohms values. I will be using one to control the audio volume between my

D180 & GMA340.


	


     For simple volume control duties, simply

     knowing the resistance value is sufficient.

     Further, it's unlikely that the exact value

     is critical. Potentiometers with values

     ranging from 500 to perhaps as high as

     10000 ohms would work for you. It's an

     easy experiment and zero risk to the rest

     of your system.



     Digital multi-meters are inexpensive. Harbor

     Freight has one that seems to be perpetually

     on sale for under $5.

        Bob . . .



        ----------------------------------------)

        ( . . .  a long habit of not thinking   )

        ( a thing wrong, gives it a superficial )

        ( appearance of being right . . .       )

        (                                       )

        (                  -Thomas Paine 1776-  )

        ----------------------------------------

- The Matronics AeroElectric-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> AeroElectric-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum