Has anyone ever seen a potentiometer like this? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Tripper
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 02:44:41 am
content: Hi. Long time lurker, finally posting as I’ve hit my head against a wall trying to find a certain potentiometerI’m hoping someone in this very knowledgeable forum could help point me in the right direction.I have a subwoofer that has a wonky pot. I’m handy enough with a soldering iron etc to get this replaced but for the life of me, I cannot seem to find a replacement pot. The specs are simple enough, A10K,16mm but the current pot seems to have a collar around it and I can’t find anything even remotely similar to this. I’ve attached pics for clarity.I’ve tried the usual, RS, Mouser, element 14 but I’m just an idiot.That’s the “level” pot and finding a replacement for that has been impossible. I’d also like to change the pot beside it which controls the LPF and that’s B50K, same size but it has 6 pins (making it 2 gang I believe) and again with that collar.I’ve searched and searched but am coming up empty. I even figured I’d just get a simple standard pot and forgo the collar but even that hasn’t worked out; can’t seem to find the right sized pot.I can’t believe a simple pot like this can be so difficult to find, so I’ve pretty much confirmed, yes I am an idiot.Any pointers please? Really appreciate any assistance.Thank you!!

author: JustMeHere
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 03:23:24 am
content: This one is awfully close. Hopefully it gives you a place to start looking.https://www.tubeampdoctor.com/en/peavey-poti-a10k-pc-mount-with-bracket

author: Tripper
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 06:15:38 am
content: Thanks for sharing that. Looks awfully close and definitely helps narrowing things down. Will keep searching. Thank you!

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 07:00:54 am
content: I thought it may have just been an add on vertical mount but my Google FOO turned up this Fender replacementhttps://www.amprepairparts.com/pots.htm#fender16Not that expensive but if you are lucky you might find someone higher up the food chain for better pricing.

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 07:38:29 am
content: Looks like a standard small R/A pot. Why not just make your own R/A mount and attach it via the lock nuts? Heck, even spot solder it to the case. I've done heaps of "custom" mods like that.

author: Tripper
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 08:24:24 am
content: Thank you all for the help provided. Yup, pretty sure those peavey ones are the right ones. The price to ship some over is just stupid; guess I’ve been spoilt by RS.I agree, seems pretty standard except for the collar, figure it’ll make more sense to get some quality ones and just work those in with some spot solder as suggested; heck, I could get some top of the line pots with spares and it’ll still be cheaper than trying to get these.My sincere thanks to everyone who helped with this, knew the forum would deliver! An ice cold beer from me if you’re ever in my neck of the woods!Cheers all and have a great day ahead! Thanks again!!

author: SL4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 11:05:59 am
content: Remember that Peavey buy them somewhere...I don’t think they’re custom pots.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 01:07:46 pm
content: That R/A bracket is only held on by the bent tabs on the existing pot. You should be able the remove and re-use it, either using the tabs on the new one (at the risk of snapping them) or with glue / solder.Note that the 'A' means that you're looking for an audio taper pot (aka Log).

author: Tripper
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 03:46:23 pm
content: Pretty sure peavey just buys em, just couldn’t seem to find the source. In any event, the pots don’t exactly scream quality so no loss there I guess.Tricky to keep the existing collar, I’ve removed the gain pot and tried removing the collar, pins snapped right off. In any event, I think I can get around it as the collar seems to serve two purposes; a mounting bracket which seems really redundant and it’s tied to ground. Both should be easily solved (famous last words eh?).I’ve ordered some new pots (alps which are overkill but hey, why not) and hopefully it all goes well.

author: Wimberleytech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 04:06:25 pm
content: Possibility?:https://tinyurl.com/t499lv7I like the suggestion to reuse the bracket. That is what I would do.Does the "A" mean it is antilog?

author: oPossum
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 04:11:17 pm
content: A is log (audio) taperB is linear taper

author: Wimberleytech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 04:23:23 pm
content: Quote from: oPossum on February 11, 2020, 04:11:17 pmAhhh...shoulda been obvious

author: IDEngineer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 07:07:49 pm
content: Agreed on "reuse the bracket", securing it to the new pot in any number of ways. This might also allow you to move to a higher quality pot (conductive plastic, for example) if the original was cermet or some other garden variety.This could also be Yet Another Example of why 3D printers are so darned useful. You could crank out a mounting bracket like that in under 30 minutes, tailored to your choice of replacement pot. This would separate the electrical decisions from the mechanical ones, allowing you the freedom to optimize both in whatever way suited you.

author: GromBeestje
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 07:18:00 pm
content: Quote from: oPossum on February 11, 2020, 04:11:17 pmThis holds true for American and Asian potmeters, but for European potmeters it's the other way around.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potentiometer#Resistance%E2%80%93position_relationship:_%22taper%22

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 07:34:27 pm
content: Quote from: GromBeestje on February 11, 2020, 07:18:00 pmIt's easy to check. Set the originl pot (which is presumably just noisy) to mid rotation and measure the resistance between the wiper and each end. If they are approximately equal then it's linear, if wildly different, then it's log.

author: IDEngineer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 07:36:42 pm
content: Quote from: GromBeestje on February 11, 2020, 07:18:00 pm"The nice thing about standards is there are so many different ones from which to choose."

author: Dave
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 08:43:40 pm
content: Speaking of standards, this thread would not be complete without this comic.

author: IDEngineer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 09:37:17 pm
content: One of my favorite comics. And none more accurate!

author: pcmad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2020, 02:17:32 am
content: cant you take the bracket off and put it on a standard pot by bending them flaps

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2020, 03:55:24 am
content: Quote from: pcmad on February 12, 2020, 02:17:32 amThis has already been suggested twice - and I had thought about it as well.The problem comes with those tabs breaking. They were made to be bent once and stay put. To reuse the bracket, you would have to bend those tabs out to release the bracket from the original pot and then bend them back to secure in place on the new pot.So that's:from Bend once and stay putto Bend three times and then stay put... the metal doesn't always survive this treatment, as several of us can attest to.Also, this is assuming all the other geometry is compatible.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2020, 08:04:58 am
content: I think people mean remove the old pot from it, and then stick the new one through itwithoutbending it back on. It doesn’t have to be affixed, it’ll be bolted on anyway.

author: pcmad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2020, 02:12:48 pm
content: Quote from: Brumby on February 12, 2020, 03:55:24 amas ave say its already fucked you cant fuck it any more (ie what have you got to loose)why not glue or solder a new one on the old mount

author: IDEngineer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2020, 04:17:15 pm
content: Quote from: pcmad on February 12, 2020, 02:12:48 pmThat's what I tell people too. If it's already broken and you don't need the original for some reason, might as well scavenge it for parts to get things working again.I agree: Reuse the old mount, use the tabs if they survive or epoxy/solder if they don't. Or 3D print a new one that's perfect for the new pot, as suggested above.

author: Ordinaryman1971
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2020, 05:53:55 pm
content: ebay item: 280779174020They are $1.89 for two. You can move the mounting over.