Slide Pot

[threepwood]

Hi there.

I'm looking to make a clean boost pedal and have been toying around with the idea of using a slide pot instead of a normal rotary.  Trouble is I can't find the one I need which is a 5kC.

I've found this page on Mouser but the sheer amount of info is a bit mind boggling: http://uk.mouser.com/Passive-Components/PotentiometersTrimmers-Rheostats/Slide-Potentiometers/_/N-9q0yl/

I was wondering/hoping someone round these parts could point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance.

[darron]

Why 5KC? That could be a struggle to find. Reverse log pots are uncommon. You could use a 5KA and flip it upside down and it becomes C so they probably don't make them...


What's the circuit that you have in mind?

[Earthscum]

What Darron said...

You wouldn't be able to find rotary pots in reverse log if you could pop the shaft out and stick it in from the other side.   

[threepwood]

Ha ha. That's a very good point!

So I can use this  http://uk.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Alpha-Taiwan/RA6020F-10-20D1-B53/?qs=r%252bH8fxWReuP%252bYhH6bW3BLo2HTnA%2fBJAo3q5%252bcdBwG2U%3d and somehow flip it round?

I'm looking at making the Thunderpus from the Madbean site.

[Mark Hammer]

While they have some cosmetic appeal, unless you have a professional commercial setup, slider pots are more trouble than they're worth.

• machining the opening is a pain in the arse
• you have fewer options for knobs
• they take up too much room (don't forget there's screws to secure them, over and above the slot itself
• they get dirty easier

[threepwood]

While they have some cosmetic appeal, unless you have a professional commercial setup, slider pots are more trouble than they're worth.

• machining the opening is a pain in the arse
• you have fewer options for knobs
• they take up too much room (don't forget there's screws to secure them, over and above the slot itself
• they get dirty easier

Oh man you're killing my dreams!

I found this to (hopefully) deal with cutting an opening into the enclosure  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-Expert-35748-Hand-Nibbler/dp/B0001K9TGU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335474069&sr=8-1

And these for attaching it http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pack-10-Brass-Motherboard-Standoff-6-32-x-M3-and-10-Steel-M3-screws-/390369762505?pt=UK_Computing_DesktopComponents_RL&hash=item5ae3d9dcc9#ht_1241wt_952

Good point on the size issue though.  It have to be a big ass enclosure to fit it all in.

Hmm...

[darron]

don't let them wreck your dreams!

just post us some photos when you're done!

[Mark Hammer]

Hey, if your dreams are bigger than my bullets, go with it.  I'm just sayin'....

[Earthscum]

Hey, Mark... those slide pots from the EQ boards are a perfect size... measure on a 125B where you want your slot, and use a hack saw straight across the top, "width" wise. If you have access to a band saw, that would be ideal. Once you get close, you can punch through the rest with a utility knife. I'd use the widest metal saw you can (1/16" is "large" and decent size, 1/32" is too tight). The pot fits nearly perfect, almost no slop. If it were an engine, I'd let it go as "expansion room". The screw fits right through the slot, and you can use a piece of plastic in the slot over the corner past the screw. Just epoxy it in the slot and sand it to the contour of the box, like binding. Also, if you drill a little hole on the slot that catches the ball, it will pop out with the spring and defeat the center detent.

threepwood: if you look around, you can find the internal dimensions of various boxes. You could match that up to a pot that is close (under-sized) and do the same trick. The pots I'm referring to Mark about come off an EQ board that Electronic Goldmine used to carry (and had on sale for ultra cheap for a time). They measure ~2.375" overall body length, or ~60mm.

[threepwood]

Hey, if your dreams are bigger than my bullets, go with it.  I'm just sayin'....

I was only pulling your leg mate.  Everything you said was spot ons and confirmed everything thing that I was worrying about. I just hoped somebody would have a simple solution for me.  I'll never learn! 

Earthscum:  That's a lot of info to digest.  Much apreciated!

In terms of machining a hole: I've got a couple of old enclosures laying round that I can practice with on with the nibbler tool and hacksaw.

I think what I'll do is build the pedal with a rotary pot to make sure everything is in order then switch the rotary for a slide pot to see if I can get it to work.  I'm still a bit insure which slide (in terms of resistance etc) would be best though.
I think I'll get hold of one of these https://bitly.com/ and give that a try.  Unless anyone has a better suggestion?

Thanks again guys!