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DIY Stompboxes => Building your own stompbox => Topic started by: bobbletrox on February 17, 2004, 11:09:53 PM

Title: Replacing external controls with trimpots?
Post by: bobbletrox on February 17, 2004, 11:09:53 PM
(http://www1.jaycar.com.au/products_uploaded/product_4834.jpg)

I'm not really a big fan of putting heaps of knobs on enclosures when most of them will probably just stay on the same setting anyway.  So I was wondering whether regular pots can be directly substituted with the same value trimpot (like the ones pictured).  Then I could just set and forget!

Is it possible?
Title: Replacing external controls with trimpots?
Post by: Peter Snowberg on February 17, 2004, 11:13:45 PM
Absolutely. :D

As long as you don't exceed the wattage rating, a pot is a pot is a pot for the most part. Substitute away.

Take care,
-Peter
Title: Replacing external controls with trimpots?
Post by: BILLYL on February 17, 2004, 11:15:22 PM
Kinda of agree with you on that one.  Once you find the sweet spot - why change.

I don't see any reason why you couldn't.  Only suggestion  I would have would maybe drill a small hole over the screw slot in the top of the enclosure so you can tweek the effect (things do have a tendency to drift)

Good Luck.

BILLYL
Title: Replacing external controls with trimpots?
Post by: bobbletrox on February 17, 2004, 11:20:31 PM
Great!  Thanks again Peter  :o

Enclosure real-estate is hot property...and some controls just don't deserve to be represented on the top of the box.
Title: Replacing external controls with trimpots?
Post by: bobbletrox on February 17, 2004, 11:22:16 PM
Quote from: BILLYLOnly suggestion  I would have would maybe drill a small hole over the screw slot in the top of the enclosure so you can tweek the effect

Good idea.
Title: Replacing external controls with trimpots?
Post by: troubledtom on February 18, 2004, 05:05:28 PM
why not? it makes a lot of sense for a set and forget device.
           build on!!!!
               - tom
Title: For the 'really' Frugal
Post by: petemoore on February 18, 2004, 11:06:39 PM
Or those who don't want to venture to RS for the right sized pot...
 Take your regular pot or whatever you have and find the setting you like, make sure you know where the lugs 1,2,3 go, then without disturbing the potshaft, remove the circuit connections  and measure between
 A the pots lug 1 and 2
 B the pots lug 2 and 3
 Find a fixed resistor close to what was measured for A
               ""                        ""         do the same for B
  form a divider by seriesing A and B
 It should measure like the pot did. Insert the fixed resistors for A and B.
 the open lead of A is lug 1
 where the two resistors are connected series is the wiper [lug 2]
 open end of B is lug 3
Title: Replacing external controls with trimpots?
Post by: Steve C on February 18, 2004, 11:16:19 PM
Mouser sells all kinds of miniature pots that work great (piher, xicon, etc.).  You could also dial in what you like on a breadboard with mini pots and measure the resistance, then replace it with a resistor/s and save even more space and dollars too.
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