Where to buy control potentiometer's ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: MathWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2021, 04:38:12 pm
content: I need some low power rotary pots , w/ knobs, mounted, for in PSU projects, etc. Just looking on Mouser, for a 50k under "precision pots" , they start at like 12USD and by the end of the 1st page they are $80USD. What's the mark-up on them???Of the regular rotary pots, I'm just swampped by all the different versions, and then I have no idea what brands are good/bad etc.....and I'd like to buy it in standard sizes, rather than needing all different nuts/washers/etc.I need some guitar pots too, I bet there's a pile of them out there with obscene prices.What kind of pots were in old scopes and meters, that lasted for ages ? How much money are similar quality parts these days ?

author: JohnnyMalaria
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2021, 05:04:04 pm
content: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=50k+precision+potentiometer&ref=nb_sb_noss?

author: tkamiya
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2021, 05:15:51 pm
content: The term "pots" refers to potentiometers, ex. variable resisters. It really doesn't say much about what you are looking for. Do you need the usual 270 degrees turn (single turn) potentiometer? Or, do you want 10 turn or more type? Why precision? For a simple power supply and possibly guitars, you don't need a precision type. Do you need a shaft for knob? A curve, B, or C? A curve closely mimics linearity (or lack there of) of human hearing. B is linear, and C is inverse of A.I don't recommend Amazon type... and I know because I have many. They are just fine for testing but it is a poor substitute for brand names such as Burnes. As I turn the knob, resistance reading jumps unevenly. The counter dials they often come with are lacking solidness that it's useless.I'm sure you can buy quality.... older scopes often used near military quality kind, especially Tektronics. They'll cost you.As to a source, I usually use Digikey.https://www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/rotary-potentiometers-rheostats/84Prices are from less than cents to $40786.02 (what?)

author: JohnnyMalaria
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2021, 05:45:48 pm
content: Quote from: tkamiya on May 10, 2021, 05:15:51 pmAmazon isn't a brand - it's a seller. Bourns sells its products on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Bourns&ref=bl_dp_s_web_0(includes plenty of guitar pots)If you already have Amazon Prime and need just one pot, it's cheaper and quicker than somewhere like Mouser.

author: fordem
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2021, 05:57:03 pm
content: Quote from: JohnnyMalaria on May 10, 2021, 05:45:48 pmCorrection - it's a global marketplace where you can find anything from trash to treasure and quality is often suspect - you're a lot less likely to end up with trash if you purchase from a seller, such as mouser or digikey.

author: JohnnyMalaria
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2021, 06:13:05 pm
content: Quote from: fordem on May 10, 2021, 05:57:03 pmOP wants (guitar) pots. Bourns are good brand. Amazon sells them on Bourns' behalf. The selection isn't as overwhelming as Mouser etc (another of OP's concerns). What is so wrong with that recommendation?I often find it helpful to look on Amazon first because Mouser etc can be too overwhelming. Once I find something, I'll look to see if it is on Mouser and compare the price. e.g., guitar knobs. On Amazon, I easily found a 4-pack of Bourn pots. Pasting the part number into Mouser reveals they are available. The decision about where to buy would depend on quantity.If I'm buying enough items that I qualify for free shipping, I'll buy from Mouser even if the item is on Amazon. Otherwise, I'll use my Prime account and get it from Amazon. It's the same product. Blinding refusing to order from a seller because they also sell utter crap is just self-defeating.

author: Jwillis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2021, 08:07:57 pm
content: It can be tough finding electronic parts here in Canada without looking to foreign markets . I look at these first and always get good products . Shipping isn't totally insane and arrive within a few days .Digikey Canadafree shipping over $100 and $18 under . Ships from WinnipegLee's ElectronicsVancouverA1 Electronic PartsTorontoFrom the USATube DepotPretty reasonable prices great quality . Great for Audio Enthusiasts

author: MathWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2021, 08:13:39 pm
content: Yeah the precision pots are mainly multi-turn, for now the main ones I want are low power, single turn, coarse are fine controls for a CV-CC type PSU. So not THH type. I'll have to watch for their life-span too. I just watched a video about how many little cheap types are only good for 200 passes. I had 1 in a LM317 PSU that must have been near worn out (now it's back in my parts bin so I better toss it if I find it...)I'd spend a bit more on them.But if I like to have a few at home, so I'd like to make a big order, and save on shipping, so I want to restock my collection..without resorting to most of what's on ebay/amazon.I've heard of Bourn's brand today so I'll check them too on Amazon, thanks.

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2021, 09:21:36 pm
content: TME.eu stocks potentiometers from lesser known brands, cheaper brands, and they have separate sections for trimmers , single turn, multi turn, audio potentiometers :https://www.tme.eu/en/katalog/potentiometers_24/For multi turn potentiometers, if you want endurance, they stock some Bourns pots with Hybritron element that they claim it's rated for 5 million potentiometer turns as oposed to wirewound 2 mil turns.... but they're expensive at $45-70 each.Otherwise, they have multiturn pots from around 2.75$ each if you buy in quantity (2.75$ for 50, 3$ for 10+), and those are rated for around 250k cycles.

author: tkamiya
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2021, 10:12:24 pm
content: I'll just say if you go Amazon route, be mindful of fakes, especially from third party sellers. I ended up with a few myself.

author: jmelson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2021, 12:11:38 am
content: Quote from: MathWizard on May 10, 2021, 04:38:12 pmHmm? Try 313-1210F-50K. They are just a couple $ each. for knobs, 506-PKA50B1/4Jon

author: wizard69
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2021, 08:28:08 pm
content: From what I can see there appears to be some consolidation with respect to potentiometer manufactures. This probably due to a massive decline in usage.In any event I generally shop for the mil standard RV series for use at work, mostly RV4. However in the field of automation and like else where there isn't high usage like in the past. Or to put it another way the industry moved away from potentiometers years ago. In any event it is still easy to get the RV series for all of that legacy hardware out there.Quote from: MathWizard on May 10, 2021, 04:38:12 pmWho knows; however for the RV4 series $12 US seems to be in the ball park. As for "precision" well that can mean lots of things and might not be the most important parameter. You need to know the wattage required for each application or just buy 2 watt pots and focus on other issues.QuoteBack in the day, we use to stock 2 watt pots to address some of the issues you highlight above. Even then we didn't have a lot of variations. There where also special pots for instrumentation and precision. In any event one of the brands we use to use was Clarostat which is now Honeywell from what I can find.Quote?? I'm not sure why the prices would be obscene, guitar pots are no different than any other quality pot. In fact looking at pictures of Guitars and Guitar amplifiers I suspect that many are simply pots derived from the mil standard numbers.QuotePots don't last at all. See my comments about not seeing many in modern automation hardware. As for things like audio applications potentiometers are high maintenance devices. In fact they don't last for ages, if you look at the data sheets you will find that you might get 25,000 cycles. That might sound like a lot but a guitar player can easily exceed that much usage in as little as 5 years and possibly a lot faster. Then you have the issue of maintenance, which for the most part means cleaning them.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2021, 08:44:50 pm
content: The OP wants pot for his PSU which should be 10 turns and they never use 10 turn pot for guitar.