Help me please, potentiometer problem

[KMossman]

Originally Posted by turk 182

KMossman
Yikes!
in my experience WD-40 will soften the binder that holds the carbon in the potentiometer track in place allowing them to wear prematurely!
the only time i would suggest using wd on a pot is to try and free up a shaft that's frozen in place or extremely stiff never on the carbon track.

perhaps I was clear enough

AFTER using contact cleaner, if the pot is still a problem, THEN try WD-40

I am NOT suggesting spraying WD-40 willy-nilly.

IF at that point, it did soften the binder (destroy the pot), who cares...it was already a lost cause.


and in 10 years I had yet to destroy a pot using WD-40, however I have noticed that I have to 'move' the pot a little slowly else the noise comes back - though it disappears when I go back to 'moving' it slowly.

It is a last ditch effort. It has worked several times for me...............

[KMossman]

Originally Posted by turk 182

genco
have you had a chance to measure if there's any DC across the control?
i still think you may have capacitor troubles.

That can be a cause, IF the DC is significant.

I have had to 'correct' some amps that had problem (no blocking cap, and a poor design were the causes).

[turk 182]

any presence of DC even as small as1/2 a volt on a volume control should be investigated as it's not supposed to be there.

[KMossman]

I agree - usually there should be no DC on a volume control, but isn't the current the major concern?

ie

0.5V at 100mA is a disaster

0.5V at 100picoAmps is curious

[bfp]

Hi gencogenco,
I am trying as well to solve a potentiometer issue like you are trying here. Did you solved it ? In the same time there might be a little off topic but I would like to know your symptom details since there are not stated in the begining post.