[sdiy] Potentiometers!!

[James Patchell]

The Xicon pots are carbon.  Despite this, they feel pretty good and work 
well as well.

The $5 pots I purchase are either plastic or cermet.  The last batch I 
purchased were the Vishay M248 and M249 types (they differ by the 
composition of the resitance element).  I purchased 50 of each, I think 
they actually ran about $3.5 each.

At 09:46 AM 1/14/2004 +0100, Czech Martin wrote:
>What kind of resistance material you are talking about?
>
>Is carbon out of limits?
>Must it be plastic or even cermet?
>
>Plastic pots at Farnel are extremely expensive, your 5$
>statement comes close to it.
>
>Some of the cheaper carbon stuff feels ugly,
>the torque needed is uneven.
>
>m.c.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> > [mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl]On Behalf Of James Patchell
> > Sent: Mittwoch, 14. Januar 2004 06:53
> > To: Bret Truchan
> > Cc: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> > Subject: Re: [sdiy] Potentiometers!!
> >
> >
> > I buy the smooth shaft.  But hey, you are in luck, here in
> > the U.S. of A,
> > you can get them from Mouser.
> >
> > I have catalog 616 (Nov 03 to Jan 04), and they are on page
> > 405.  I get the
> > 10K (31VA401) and 100K (31VA501) parts for the most part.
> >
> > At 08:29 PM 1/13/2004 -0800, Bret Truchan wrote:
> >
> >
> > >Thanks James!  That's good news.  Do you happen to be using
> > the knurled
> > >shaft type of Xicon (Alpha) pots?  If so, where do you
> > usually buy them
> > >from?  I suppose I could order them from ESR in the U.K.,
> > but I'm in the
> > >U.S., and I can't seem to find them in either the Digikey or
> > Mouser catalogs.
> > >
> > >- Bret
> > >
> > >-----Original Message-----
> > >From: James Patchell <patchell at cox.net>
> > >To: Bret Truchan <clone45 at hotmail.com>; synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> > >Sent: Tue, 13 Jan 2004 18:07:38 -0800
> > >Subject: Re: [sdiy] Potentiometers!!
> > >
> > >Not too sure what pots they use, but if they cost about a
> > dollar, they are
> > >probably the Xicon (Alpha) pots. While these are probably
> > not the best
> > >pots in the world, what you get for that buck (actually, I
> > think I get
> > >them for less than 80 cents when I buy in 100s) more than
> > outshines the
> > >more expensive pots in some ways. The Xicon pots have a
> > "very good" feel
> > >when you turn them. Some of the Bourns pots feel better, but if you
> > >purchase them new, they cost about $5 each. Although, you
> > can sometimes
> > >pick up good deals on the surplus market. I got a few
> > hundred bourns pots
> > >for 25 cents each (but a wierd value, 300K)...
> > >
> > >Still, I do not hesitate to use the Xicon pots. I have some
> > that are in
> > >things I built over 20 years ago, and they still work like a champ.
> > >
> > >At 04:42 PM 1/13/2004 -0800, Bret Truchan wrote:
> > >
> > >>Hello everyone!
> > >>
> > >>I'm working on a module that's going to have... potentiometers!!!
> > >>[Waaaahhh! The muppets go wild!!]
> > >>
> > >>I searched the synth-diy archives and got some information. From
> > >those, I >learned
> > >>
> > >>1) Don't skimp
> > >>2) Some good brands are Bourns and Spectrol
> > >>3) If I want knurled potentiometers like many other compact modulars
> > >have, >then one place that sells them is
> > >>http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/esr/products3.html
> > >>
> > >>My initial thoughts are that I DO wish to emulate Analog Systems,
> > >Analog >Solutions, Doepfer, and Blacet for my knobs/pots. The
> > >potentiometers at >www.users.zetnet.co.uk only cost about a
> > dollar, which
> > >makes me nervous.
> > >>
> > >>My Question: Can anyone name and rate the potentiometers used by
> > >Analog >Systems, Analog Solutions, Doepfer, and Blacet?
> > >>
> > >>Thanks a ton!
> > >>- Bret
> > >>
> > >>_________________________________________________________________
> > >>Let the new MSN Premium Internet Software make the most of your
> > >high-speed >experience.
> > >http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-us&page=byoa/prem&ST=1
> > >
> > >  -Jim
> > >***************************************************
> > >I'm a man
> > >But I can change
> > >If I have to
> > >I guess.
> > >
> > >Man's Prayer
> > >Red Green
> > >
> > >***************************************************
> > >http://www.oldcrows.net/~patchell
> > >
> > >http://members.cox.net/patchell
> > >
> > >***************************************************
> > >
> >
> >          -Jim
> > ***************************************************
> > I'm a man
> > But I can change
> > If I have to
> > I guess.
> >
> > Man's Prayer
> > Red Green
> >
> > ***************************************************
> > http://www.oldcrows.net/~patchell
> >
> > http://members.cox.net/patchell
> >
> > ***************************************************
> >
> >
> >

         -Jim
***************************************************
I'm a man
But I can change
If I have to
I guess.

Man's Prayer
Red Green

***************************************************
http://www.oldcrows.net/~patchell

http://members.cox.net/patchell

***************************************************