Spectrol pots info
2007-05-23 by Paul Schreiber
a) there are 3 Spectrol pots used in MOTM 100K conductive plastic linear Old Spectrol part number: 148-7104 (original black, non-RoHS. Mouser *used* to stock it.) New Spectrol part: 148SXG56S104SP (white body, RoHS, made in France by Sfernice. Not a "standard stocking" item.) 100K cermet linear Old Spectrol part: 149-71104 New: 149SXG56S104SP (Mouser has this) 100K conductive plastic log Old: 148-9609-104 (this was *always* custom made for me, Mouser non-stock item. I paid <$5ea for it and they came directly from Spectrol in California) New: 148SXG56S104ZP (what I was quoted $12.25 for) b) Mouser has the cermet 100K linear at the old price. Not a problem for me. This is a "standard stocking" item: Also available at Allied, Newark, and others. c) the issue is with the conductive plastic 148 parts: #1: Mouser only has the 1/8" shaft as a *stocking item* #2: the 100K log pots was *always* custom for me. d) Spectrol themselves *never made these parts*. This is referred to as 'build to print'. The parts were first made in the UK, then in Mexico and now by a Vishay division in France. The are jacking up the price because they consider my 100K log pot as a "pain in the ass" and therefore "if you *really* want us to, we will but bend over and squeal like a pig". If the MOTM community wants to scour the Earth looking, please do so and let me know the results. I will still persue from my side. Paul S.