Acceptable open pot values

[RockinProf]

Hey all. This is just a curiosity question as I have a good quantity of pots I’ve desoldered in a drawer. For the sake of basic knowledge, what is acceptable resistance across an open pot? I realize a pickup is incredibly high resistance. At the same time I have to figure that due ti a pickup output being fractions of a volt, we’d want virtually no resistance in the wiring harness. Across my parts drawer I’m seeing a range from .2 ohms to 5 ohms. I get that even the 5 ohm value is low but again considering the extremely low output of a pickup I don’t have sufficient knowledge on how 5ohms would affect output.


Thanks!

 

[GuitarStv]

5 ohms is really high! I usually see around .1 ohms or lower. Not sure there would be much impact on sound though . . . people don't usually spend much time playing with their volume or tone knobs fully rolled off.

 

[RockinProf]

5 ohms is really high! I usually see around .1 ohms or lower. Not sure there would be much impact on sound though . . . people don't usually spend much time playing with their volume or tone knobs fully rolled off.

I kinda thought so too. This is between lug 2 and 3 (pickup hot lead and output jack hot lead). This is on a Dunlop super pot too. I’m thinking that I need to learn more on this topic. Ate there any physicists amongst us who could weigh in on how 5ohms would affect 100mv of current?

 

[solspirit]

Depends on how much you've planted. .

 

[Artie]

If you short the leads of your meter, you will see several ohms of resistance. It's normal, and you probably haven't had you meter calibrated lately. (If ever.)

A good quality pot will show several ohms of resistance in any position. It's normal. It will have no affect on the sound. Resistance "resists" current. Not voltage. Since a pickup puts about a 10 millionth of an amp, losing a 100 millionth wont affect anything.

 

[formula73]

If you short the leads of your meter, you will see several ohms of resistance. It's normal, and you probably haven't had you meter calibrated lately. (If ever.)

A good quality pot will show several ohms of resistance in any position. It's normal. It will have no affect on the sound. Resistance "resists" current. Not voltage. Since a pickup puts about a 10 millionth of an amp, losing a 100 millionth wont affect anything.

In addition to this, pots can be damaged pretty easily by excessive heat. Before you decide to toss one in something, I’d put a meter from an outer to the center terminal and very slowly cycle it a few times while watching the resistance to make sure there are no bad spots. A sweep is best for this but digital is ok, too. Just make sure you’re in the right range on the meter.

You don’t want any nasty surprises. The end of the shaft has a plastic button that rides against the inside of the casing as it turns. If it’s damaged, it can cause gritty spots or even let the contacts come away from the carbon trace.

if you’re careful, pots can be opened up and components swapped around.

 

[GuitarDoc]

. . . people don't usually spend much time playing with their volume or tone knobs fully rolled off.

Ha! I love it.:18::arms: