[sdiy] Pot life specifications

[George Hearn]

> For argument, the Alpha 12mm pots are rated for 15,000 cycles,  
> Panasonic EVU
> snap in: 10,000, Spectrol: 100,000.
>
> How accurate/serious are these numbers?

It's quite easy to get an indication of how good the pot (or encoder) life
is by this method;
1. Take a pot and hold it in a vice with the shaft exiting upward.
2. Using a retort stand or other method, suspend a dill above the pot, on
axis, and with the pot shaft in the drill chuck.
3. Start the drill and leave to run for 10,000 revolutions or more.
4. Mechanical wear can be additionally simulated by having the drill
slightly off axis causing an additional wobble. 

Some pots survive this very well, others don't.  I found it works as a good
relative measure!  George