Potentiometers are used to control the output signal on an electronic device.They have a small shaft on top that works like a knob, when the user turns it, it turns the resistance on the signal up or down.The change in resistance is used to adjust the electrical signal, such as the volume, gain, or power.To install and wire a pot, you need to ground the first terminal, feed the input signal into the third terminal and then run the output signal through the middle terminal.You will need to solder each wire to a terminal.If you have experience working with soldering tools, learning how to wire a potentiometer is easy.
Step 1: The main terminals are in the middle of the pot.
Place your pot on the flat surface facing you.The terminals are yours.Your ground is the first terminal.The input signal for the pot is the middle terminal.The output signal is the third terminal.A small ring is attached to the second terminal.The input is controlled by how low or high it is.Think of a potentiometer as a dimmer switch if it helps.The ground is all the way off and the switch is in terminal 2.A potentiometer is used to adjust an input signal.Sometimes a pot can be used to increase the signal on a device.
Step 2: You can see what range you can achieve by reading the resistance numbers on your pot.
Pots are rarely used to control signals that are more than a couple of volts, but the amount of resistance that they provide is important.The higher the range, the more control you have over your device.The front of the pot has a number on it.A 200K pot can give a maximum of 200,000 ohms of resistance.The most common kind of potentiometer is 100K, since it has a good range for audio equipment.The numbers are printed directly on to the pot.The shaft is on the opposite side of the terminals.
Step 3: Put your pot on the flat surface with the 3 terminals facing you.
Next to your electronic device, place your pot on a flat surface.If you know where you are going to put the pot, start there.The 3 terminals should be turned so that they are facing you.The backside of any input or output ports can be seen if you remove any panels from your electronic device.If you are working on a breadboard, place the pot on the rows with the terminals facing you.
Step 4: Take a look at the wires you are going to be using.
If the terminals aren't acid-core, you can use any kind of soldering wire to connect them.Measure the length of wire from the terminal to the device if you have an installation location set up.Use wire cutter to remove wires to expose the copper.Cut and remove plastic from the tip of each wire with the help of the notch on the cutter's blades.To make sure you can remove the wire cleanly, set your wire stripper to match the gauge.If you want to solder your wires, you need to set them out on your work surface.soldering wire is used for plumbingIt will not work with your electronics.If the soldering wires don't work on a specific kind of electronic device, use specialized wires.
Step 5: Go to terminal 1 on the left to connect a ground wire.
Attach a small length of wire to the exposed part.Lower the wire to connect it with the exposed metal part on terminal 1.To join the wire to the terminal, press your soldering tip.Attach the other end of your electronic device to the exposed metal surface.If you want to use terminal 3 on the right, you have to turn the knob clockwise.
Step 6: Attach your middle terminal to the device's output circuit.
Attach another length of wire to the middle terminal of your pot.The signal needs to be wired to the device's output from this terminal.Attach the wire to the metal connection on your device.The input of the middle terminal is the potentiometer.The signal goes out of the electronic, into terminal 2, then back out again of terminal 3.The port that sends the original signal out of the device is connected to terminal 2.This means wiring terminal 2 to the output jack on a guitar.This means wiring terminal 2 to the speaker output terminal.
Step 7: You can run a wire from terminal 3 to the device.
The pot's output is Terminal 3.The pot sends information back to the device.Attach the exposed length of soldering wire to the terminal.Attach the wire to the input port of your electronic device.There is a metal opening on the back of the knob or cable connection.Attach the wire directly to the pot.The location that you want to send the signal to has to be wired to Terminal 3.This means wiring terminal 3 to the input jack on a guitar.The audio amplifier has a terminal 3 that connects to the input channels.
Step 8: Make sure that your pot is working by testing it.
The input and output terminals on the pot need to be connected.The dial should be turned to feed the signal.To adjust the signal, turn the knob on the pot.When you turn the knob, the signal on the voltmeter will go up and down.If the device doesn't work when you turn it on, there's an issue with the connections you soldered.
Step 9: Turn the shaft to change the signal on your device.
You can feed a signal to the pot by playing music, hitting a guitar note, or turning a light on.You can turn the audio or light on by twisting the shaft.The light level can be raised by twisting the shaft to the right.Turn the output off by twisting the shaft all the way to the left.You can modify the amount of resistance that your signal receives with your pot.
Step 10: If you want, you can add a knob by sliding it over the potentiometer.
If you want, you can expose the shaft and install a potentiometer.If you want to change the look of your potentiometer, you can always get a knob.There are knobs on the market that slide over the shaft of a pot to make them look better.To find out what options are available for your make and model, you can either search online or go to an electronics store.