Did I Toast My Pot?

[LunaticFringe]

Well I think I may have overheated my first pot. Was trying to ground the lead to the back of the volume pot using a pencil tip and had to go at it long enough that I already had suspicions that I had gone overboard. I can kind of get sound from the pup, but intermittently and I have to twist the knob back and forth until it fades in, like a radio. What do you guys think?

 

[ZoSo0789]

Re: Did I Toast My Pot?

sounds like it

 

[LunaticFringe]

Re: Did I Toast My Pot?

D amnation! Why is d amn censored.

 

[dr. ad]

Re: Did I Toast My Pot?

i think your connection is dodgy.
but i've never killed a pot so don't know what it sounds like either

 

[LunaticFringe]

Re: Did I Toast My Pot?

Is there any definitive way to tell? I just want to know before I spring for a new one.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Did I Toast My Pot?

*insert lame stoner joke here*

 

[ZoSo0789]

Re: Did I Toast My Pot?

Is there any definitive way to tell? I just want to know before I spring for a new one.

try disconnecting it, hooking up the multimeter, and turning it SLOWLY through the taper to see if there's a constant reading, or any funny readings

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Did I Toast My Pot?

try disconnecting it, hooking up the multimeter, and turning it SLOWLY through the taper to see if there's a constant reading, or any funny readings

Define "funny readings".

Here's what I would do. I test things for a living, and I've installed dozens of pots in guitars and pedals (and even cooked a few ). First, de-solder all wires from the pot, then do the following tests:

1. Measure the resistance between the two outside lugs of the pot. It should be close (+/- 20%) to the pot's spec value. If it's infinity, zero, or way off, you cooked the pot. If it's normal, continue.

2. Turn the pot all the way to one side. Measure the resistance between the center lug and the lug on that side. If it's more than zero, you cooked the pot. Otherwise, turn the pot all the way to the other side and measure between the center and that side. If both sides read zero, continue.

3. Measure the resistance between the back of the pot and each of the lugs. If any of them read anything other than infinity, you cooked the pot.

If all these tests pass, the pot is probably fine.

 

[LunaticFringe]

Re: Did I Toast My Pot?

Define "funny readings".

Here's what I would do. I test things for a living, and I've installed dozens of pots in guitars and pedals (and even cooked a few ). First, de-solder all wires from the pot, then do the following tests:

1. Measure the resistance between the two outside lugs of the pot. It should be close (+/- 20%) to the pot's spec value. If it's infinity, zero, or way off, you cooked the pot. If it's normal, continue.

2. Turn the pot all the way to one side. Measure the resistance between the center lug and the lug on that side. If it's more than zero, you cooked the pot. Otherwise, turn the pot all the way to the other side and measure between the center and that side. If both sides read zero, continue.

3. Measure the resistance between the back of the pot and each of the lugs. If any of them read anything other than infinity, you cooked the pot.

If all these tests pass, the pot is probably fine.

Thank you, sir.