Quick fix for a staticky volume knob...

[The Paulinator]

Isn't there something you can spray on a volume knob when it is crackling and cutting in and out when you turn it? This is happening on a little JVC surround sound processor that I am using as a stereo amp for a bedroom system.

Thanks

[Bill Fitzpatrick]

Radio Shack might have contact cleaner. If that fails try Norvac in Eugene. Specify that it's for pots.

[The Paulinator]

Do I just spray it all over the outside of the knob assembly inside the unit or what? I assume that stuff is not harmful to the rest of the unit in case there is overspray.

[Bill Fitzpatrick]

No, you have to open the unit up and find the volume control terminals. Right around the terminals there should be little openings that lead to the inside of the control. You need to spray the inside of the control and then turn the control full up and down a half dozen times. Needless to say, the unit should not be playing music at the time. There will be almost no overspray and what there is will be harmless to the electronics.

[adam12]

I think the contact cleaner is the better method but I have had good luck just wearing out the oxide on wiper by repeated rotations. Just turn off the power and run the volume up and down 100-200 times. The wiper will wear through the oxide and it will clean it up for a while.
Anyone else tried this? It worked for me.

[Da5id4Vz]

I’ve used adam12's method with great success for both permanent and temporary fixes. (Its a tmporary fix when the problem reapears) A very talented service engineer showed me the repetitive twisting trick a long time ago. (I usually get results much sooner than 100 cycles) (Like Bills instructions, do this with the power off.)

I’ve had radio shack contact cleaner be a little too aggressive. In some instances it can eat through the resistance layer of the pot, other times I’ve washed the lubrication out of the shaft pushing. (Never use it on an old Tapco product. Those posts were supposed to be stiff.)

If your likely to replace the pot anyways and the twisty trick didn’t work, Id go ahead and sprintz it with the contact cleaner.

A better and much more expensive solution to contact cleaner is the Caig labs stuff:
http://shopping.netledger.com/caigstore

[crippledchicken]

be careful with rat-shack cleaner, i've used it in slide controls and got rid of the static but, those controls were so rough when sliding after the cleaner, that it was almost impossible to adjust them in slight increments. i thought they would smooth back out after awhile but, never did. i had no problems with rotational pots using the cleaner. now i just rotate, or slide back and forth the controls to clean oxidation. if problem comes back, i just replace the control. just thought i'd give caution to those that haven't used the radio shack cleaner on slide controls yet. good luck, crippledchicken

[Immo_G]

I'd strongly advise changing the pot if you can't get rid of the noise, my car amp (everyone stops reading) had this when adjusting, and in the end it went open circuit.

Not usually a problem, unless thats driving an opamp, which means full rail DC output, goodbye woofer.

[pinkmouse]

What sometimes works in a quick fix situation is to use spray window cleaning solution. It is mostly purified water, with a little acetic acid and surfactant. Just give the pot a good blast, shake it to remove most of the liquid, then leave to dry somewere for warm for 24 hours or so.