[sdiy] electrical problems with panel pots/electrical tape

[Tom Wiltshire]

Sorry Dan, but I think I've got to agree with Graham. This is  
principally a problem of your own making.

I use the 16mm alpha pots the way that they were intended (eg PCB  
mounted, 90 degrees to the board) and I've never had any problems  
with them shorting.

Couldn't you just solder the wires to the back of the tags once  
you've broken the PCB pins off?

T.

On 25 Sep 2008, at 20:04, GRAHAM ATKINS wrote:

> Someone (Can't remember who) makes some little PCB's called "pot  
> chicklets". you solder the pot pins into the PCB then connect the  
> wires to the PCB terminals.
> I would not recommend what you are doing.
>
> Graham
>
> On Sep 25, 2008, at 16:53, Dan Snazelle wrote:
>
>>
>> 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
>>
>>
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