Im doing a build where they recommend a B10K pot but I only have a A10K pot. Will that matter and whats the difference? Sorry but Im a newbie at this. Be kind, lol. Thanks in advance!
The rate at which the parameter changes as you turn the knob will be different with a differently tapered pot. It may still be OK - or really annoying - depending on what's being controlled. It really depends on the circuit.
Got a schematic?
A10K = 10K total resistance between the ends, and the resistance is distributed nonlinearly along the rotation. B10K = 10K total, but with the resistance distributed linearly.
The reason this matters is that certain circuits - and the human ear - are more sensitive to changes at the low end of a pot rotation, and using a B (linear) tapered pot makes the rate of change of whatever the pot is controlling be bunched up at either the top or the bottom end of the pot shaft rotation.
For instance, a volume control compensates for the funny quirk of the human ear that it is approximately logarithmic in response. If you use a linear pot for a volume control, then nearly all the change in volume happens in the first quarter of the pot's rotation. Using an A-taper pot makes very small adjustments in signal size in the first part of travel, and larger changes later in the rotation. So it has the effect of making the amount of change in volume per change in pot position seem linear.
That's a long way of saying what you have already heard - a B10K will work fine, but the apparent amount of change per unit of pot rotation will seem bunched up on one end, not evenly distributed over the pot's rotation.
damn! I just realized I got 2 C100Ks instead of A100Ks as well. What happened is i made an order with Small Bear and they apparently screwed the order up. Has anyone else every exsperience a screwed up order with Smallbear? Im building an uglyface btw PBE6.
Quote from: brokenstarguitar on November 15, 2014, 04:51:15 PM
damn! I just realized I got 2 C100Ks instead of A100Ks as well. What happened is i made an order with Small Bear and they apparently screwed the order up. Has anyone else every exsperience a screwed up order with Smallbear? Im building an uglyface btw PBE6.
Just wire the 100kC in reverse and it will work the same but in opposite direction of rotation.
Just wire the 100kC in reverse and it will work the same but in opposite direction of rotation.
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what do u mean opposite direction? and i read somewhere while researching the uglyface build that reverse 100Ks give it a better sound. Anyone else read or hear about that?
Turn the pot left to turn up and turn pot right to turn down.... that would be the opposite.
I've done a ton of business with smallbear, and having easily purchased over 5000 components from them, I have received 1 pot with an incorrect taper. I let them know and they had the replacement to me in 2 days (considering I'm close to the northern most point of the contiguous United States, that's prett great), allowing me to keep the errant pot. Great people with superb business practices. Just email them and they will correct any errors.