Dead End FX PCB What pots?

[Harris529]

I've purchased a Leo X pcb from Dead End FX (it looks awesome!)  https://www.deadendfx.com/build-doc-links  and I'm in the process of sourcing parts.  I'm not sure what kind of pots.  I was about to buy this series https://www.taydaelectronics.com/potentiometer-variable-resistors/rotary-potentiometer/linear/b-10k-ohm-linear-taper-potentiometer-with-pc-mount.html   However, I need a A20K and I can't find a A20K right angle pot.  So, really two question...am I looking at the right pots?  and ....would you substitute in a 10K there if you couldn't find a 20K?  I have not played this pedal, but I understand that they have tones of volume on tap....and the pot in question is to add clean signal.  Thanks!!!

[BetterOffShred]

You can use the solder lug pots they sell and just solder in a little leg of solid core wire.  I recently finished my Harvey Dent build from Dinos original run using a couple pots like that and it worked fine. 

Just get the solder lug A20k.  And yes, both the lion and lion X are loud as hell.   Pretty good 4049 OD though. 

[digi2t]

I have not purchased right angle PCB 16mm pots in years. Often times, you'll run into the problem of not being able to find pot values in a right angle PCB configuration.

A few years back, I came up with a solution. I started using plain old PCB lug pots, and I convert them to right angle using solid core copper wire. I use 22 gauge solid core, strip off the insulation, and with a small hemostat I curl the end of the wire. Jigging up the pot in a small vice, I hang the curled end of the wire onto a lug, and solder it to the lug. I then cut the wire to an appropriate length (dependant on how high off the PCB you want the pot to sit), and repeat the process for the remaining lugs.

Important note here; if you have rotary switches, or toggles, you should mount these first. The mounting surface of rotary switches is much higher than that of 16mm pots, so installing the tallest component first gives you your reference as to how long your solid core wire tails should be, and how high you should be mounting your pots. When pots need to be set high off the PCB because of taller switch components, I use a piece a foam that IC's get shipped on to shim up the pot to the proper height for soldering. I trim the foam to get the pot to the right height, and then place it between the pot and PCB. I always solder the center lug first. This allows me to get the height correct right away, and allow me to adjust the position of the pot to match the silkscreen circle. I then solder the two outside lugs.

Here are some pictures of pots mounted with my technique. I don't recommend using smaller than 22 gauge wire. 20 is better, but 22 is still stiff enough to resist any mechanical forces at assembly time.









I good example of shimming the pots higher up off the PCB. The mating surface of the rotary switches is higher than that of the pots, so after installation of the rotary switches, the pots are jigged and soldered to match the height of the rotary's.



One last note, in tight quarters, clipping off the excess lug pins from the pot might be necessary. As you can see in all my pictures, the solid core wire is soldered as close to the pot as possible. On the Harvey Dent (Schumann Two Face), the pots are arranged in a manner where all the lugs face each other. If you don't trim off the excess lug pins, they'll be so close that shorting my be an issue.

[marcelomd]

Header pins work too: