Content

• Steps

A potentiometer is a type of variable (adjustable) resistor. Potentiometers are widely used to adjust parameters in electrical devices (radio or amplifier volume, toy or instrument speed, lighting levels, etc.). The main function of a potentiometer is to change the resistance and thereby reduce the voltage of the electric current. Adjusting the potentiometer allows you to change the resistance, which in turn changes the guitar's volume level or dims the lights in the house. As a rule, they are sold at very reasonable prices. This article will show you how to check such a device.

Steps

1. 1 Find out the capacity of the potentiometer. The bit width determines the resistivity, which is measured in ohms and is usually indicated at the bottom of the device.
2. 2 Take an ohmmeter and set it to a value higher than the resistivity of the potentiometer. For example, set the ohmmeter to 10,000 ohms if the potentiometer is 1,000 ohms.
3. 3 Take a closer look at the potentiometer. Find the three ears that protrude from the device. Two of them are simply called pins, and the third is called sliding contact. Typically, the two terminals are side-by-side, while the sliding contact is in a different location.
4. 4 Take the ohmmeter probes in your hands. Attach the test leads to the two pins of the potentiometer. The display will show a value within just a few ohms of the indicated potentiometer resistance. If the value is very different, then you have attached one ohmmeter probe to the sliding contact. If you find it difficult to distinguish between the sliding contact lead, try applying the test leads to different leads to get the desired reading.
5. 5 Turn the handle all the way to the other side. While doing this, continue to hold the test leads on the leads. Resistance should remain the same or change quite a bit.
   • The readings on the display may differ from the bit level of the potentiometer. Typically, these devices have a margin of error of 5-10%. The error can be indicated on the device, but this is not always the case.The readings obtained should not go beyond this range (for example, the readings of a device with a resolution of 10,000 ohms and an error of 5% should be in the range from 9,500 to 10,500 ohms).
6. 6 Remove one of the probes from the potentiometer leads and apply it to the sliding contact. Now slowly turn the knob the other way and watch the ohmmeter display. When you turn the knob to the very end, the resistance reading will be equal to only a few ohms. If you turn the knob in the opposite direction, the values ​​should be equal to the maximum resistance of the potentiometer. The resistance should gradually and slowly increase with the turn of the knob, without any sudden jumps.
7. 7 ↑https://www.physics-and-radio-electronics.com/electronic-devices-and-circuits/passive-components/resistors/whatispotentiometer.html
8. 8 ↑https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdUK6RPdIrA
9. 9 ↑https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPYT6UBdGRA
10. 10 ↑https://sciencing.com/test-potentiometer-4910467.html
11. 11 ↑https://sciencing.com/test-potentiometer-4910467.html
12. 12 ↑https://sciencing.com/test-potentiometer-4910467.html