jammy5152 Messages: 61 Registered: May 2018 Location: Georgia
Member
Hi
In replacing a volume pot on an amplifier without a schematic or any markings , would a 500 k be the answer??
Mine seems to drop out some going from 6:00 ( off ) to about 10:00 ( on ) to full volume the rest of the way...
A volume pot should turn on fully from start to full right ?
Thanks
The original pot has a rated value and can be measured to find the correct value to replace it with. Tube amps will use 500K or 1Meg type values, but most solid state circuits will use much lower values like 50K.
What amp are you trying to fix?
As for the rotation of the pot versus the loudness of the amp, that relates to the taper of the pot. The taper will describe how evenly or unevenly the resistance changes per degree of rotation.
A linear pot will change resistance evenly from CCW to CW as the shaft is turned. At the midpoint of the rotation, the resistance will be 1/2 the total pot value.
Audio taper pots will change unevenly as the shaft is rotated. An audio taper pot when turned to the midpoint of the pots rotation might instead of 1/2 the resistance value, maybe 1/3 or 1/4 of the value. That way the volume will rise across a wider range of rotation.
Check the original pot and see if there are any markings of value or taper.
jammy5152 Messages: 61 Registered: May 2018 Location: Georgia
Member
Chicagobill
I have volume from the start and as it goes up it's fine until about 11:00 ,and then it goes down some until about 2:00 and then volume is back to going louder ..any chance the pot could be worn down at the carbon area between 11:00 and 2:00 ..This is a solid state amplifier
THANKS