How do you test a pot to see if it is good?

[FiendN]

What would the symptoms of an overheated pot be??

Mine functions more like an on/off knob!!!
When i turn down to "8" the volume goes totally bye bye !!!

How do I tell if it is bad or if my problem lies else where???

[rspst14]

Re: How do you test a pot to see if it is good?

Do you have access to a multimeter?

Ryan

[ArtieToo]

Re: How do you test a pot to see if it is good?

Here's another thought, I know that in some cases its desirable to maintain a certain degree of anonymity on-line, but you may want to post your city and state.

It'ld just be a shame to beat yourself over the head like this, and then find out you just live down the street from a forum member who could help out.

[italic zero]

Re: How do you test a pot to see if it is good?

Like me? (no.)

[beandip]

Re: How do you test a pot to see if it is good?

if you have a multimeter, set it to the Kiliohms "spot" and probe the two outer lugs. You should get a reading of close to either 250k or 500k, depending on your pot.

[HolyDirt]

Re: How do you test a pot to see if it is good?

if you have a multimeter, set it to the Kiliohms "spot" and probe the two outer lugs. You should get a reading of close to either 250k or 500k, depending on your pot.

correct me if i'm mistaken, but i'm pretty sure that's just to find out the resistance of the pot. some common symptoms of an overheated pot are ground problems or the pot ceases to function at all. i dont think theres a good way to check for a dead pot, besides using substitution (in this case, get a new pot, try it, they're only $5, very cheap) and if that doesnt work, look for problems elsewere

[Gearjoneser]

Re: How do you test a pot to see if it is good?

Make sure the bong water is nice and clean. Take a giant lung expanding hit. Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

[59paul]

Re: How do you test a pot to see if it is good?

Make sure the bong water is nice and clean. Take a giant lung expanding hit. Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

Hey GJ, is that how ya get in the mood to play some of that " Farm Jazz " ??? LOL !!!! Man, I gotta hear some of that !!! .........

[Kent S.]

Re: How do you test a pot to see if it is good?

correct me if i'm mistaken, but i'm pretty sure that's just to find out the resistance of the pot. some common symptoms of an overheated pot are ground problems or the pot ceases to function at all. i dont think theres a good way to check for a dead pot, besides using substitution (in this case, get a new pot, try it, they're only $5, very cheap) and if that doesnt work, look for problems elsewere

You can do something such as check the resistance throughout the pots rotation looking for dead shorts, and opens, and erradict jumps; also you can see if the pot body has gone conductive with any of the outside contacts through various spots of rotational travel. That's about it, toasted caps can make a tone knob act like a volume knob, and if volumes are wired as variable load voltage dividers and a treble bypass cap is used (kinda a waste with VL wiring) and it's cooked then yeah more oddities. Direct substitution is the best route if suspect though.

[HolyDirt]

Re: How do you test a pot to see if it is good?

Hey GJ, is that how ya get in the mood to play some of that " Farm Jazz " ??? LOL !!!! Man, I gotta hear some of that !!! .........

no no no, thats how you get phish