Need help idetifying this 50k pot!!!

[DIYampNOOB]

I have this 50k pot salvaged from an old PC speaker set. I need to know if it is stereo or mono. It is switched. I'm thinking of using this for a SURE 4x100 amp.

 

[VictoriaGuy]

It looks to have 5 pins for connection- 3 pins for the pot and 2 pins for the SPST switch.
So it is a 'mono' pot. For stereo you need a double-gang pot with two sets of 3 pins for the pots.

 

[VictoriaGuy]

It looks to have 5 pins for connection- 3 pins for the pot and 2 pins for the SPST switch.
So it is a 'mono' pot. For stereo you need a double-gang pot with two sets of 3 pins for the pots.

 

[VictoriaGuy]

Sorry about the double post- server is v. slow right now, and 'acting up'......no edit allowed due to time delay.

 

[DIYampNOOB]

Forgive my NOOB-ness, but how did the manufacturer of the pc speakers it came out of, get it to run stereo? I mean...the channels were correct and it also turned the set on and off. I am just confused.

 

[VictoriaGuy]

Forgive my NOOB-ness, but how did the manufacturer of the pc speakers it came out of, get it to run stereo? I mean...the channels were correct and it also turned the set on and off. I am just confused.

Well, it puzzled me as well!
You are sure there are only 5 pins on your pot, as in the spec sheet you posted?

 

[Pano]

If it has 5 pins, then it's mono with a switch. If 6 pins, then stereo, no switch.

 

[DIYampNOOB]

These pics should help...

https://picasaweb.google.com/102444038593081286951/MysteryPOT?authuser=0&feat=directlink

 

[DIYampNOOB]

Some quick thumbs of the pot...

 

[Pano]

Yep. Mono with switch.

 

[sofaspud]

Some stereo circuits (chip amps specifically) have a DC volume control. A single pot is used to adjust the DC level. That's probably what your PC speakers used. The TDA1013 is an example off the top of my head.

 

[DIYampNOOB]

This pot came out of an Altec Lansing PC amp'd speaker set with 4 full range satellites and one sub, put out by DELL. Power on and off and Left and Right volume were controlled by this pot and the sub had it's own pot. So...how'd they do it?

 

[DIYampNOOB]

OK....hmmm so far that's the best explanation. Guess it wouldn't do so well on my amp then?

 

[sofaspud]

The chip amp has a DC volume pin. The same pot can connect to each channel's chip amp. The pot adjusts the DC voltage on each pin, likely over ~5V range, and this sets the volume for L & R. The sub may have a similar chip amp, or it may use its pot in the conventional manner. It's likely that the sub pot is after the summing circuit and it is a single-gang pot also.
It's probably not the pot you want for your project, unfortunately.

 

[DIYampNOOB]

Thank you for the quick lesson!!! Much appreciated.