[sdiy] electrical problems with panel pots/electrical tape

[Dan Snazelle]

Ok
let me start by saying i always use the alpha 16mm pcb mount pots that futurlec sells. i dont however pcb mount them. i cut off the little pcb mount pins, and i solder my wires into the three holes right above the post.

however, these three holes always end up pretty flush with the unpainted aluminum panel and if ANY little bit of wire or solder happens to touch the panel the nightmares start.

the last three or 4 modules i have finished, i have had all kinds of weird problems UNTIL i covered the three front holes (after i soldered) with ELECTRICAL TAPE.


so my question is this.

since some pots have positive voltage, or negative, or often ground, i can understand how them ALL touching the panel is bad. HOWEVER when i look at your projects on here, i rarely if ever hear of anyone using electrical tape.


so...what are the solutions? DOES A PAINTED PANEL HAVE LESS CONDUCTIVITY? is that part of my problem is that i am using unpainted aluminum?

when i stick the wires through the holes and solder them, i always cut the wire off as much as possible. but  if i loosen the pots from the panel, the bad problems go away. and that is when i know that something must be touching and i reach for the electrical tape.

of around 22 modules now, almost ALL of the aluminum panels needed tape. the plexiglass panels it was obviously never a problem.


i dont want to switch to pots with solder terminals as futurlec pots are SO CHEAP and SO SMALL.

any advice?

anyone else have the same problems?



thanks