PCB Insulation

[sliberty]

When building a pedal using PCB mounted pots, how do you insulate between the back of the PCB and the back of the pots? Is there some non-conductive plastic sheet material that I can get and cut to size for this purpose, or is there some other technique that you recommend?

[EBK]

There are special dust covers you can buy that insulate the back of the pots.  Here is an example:
http://www.smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/dust-cover-for-16mm-alpha-pots/

However, I personally just use either gaffers tape or double stick foam tape.

[bluebunny]

I often use the trimmed plastic pouches that are sometimes (still) used to package guitar strings.  Saves throwing them in the ocean.  Or a bit of card.  Or else buy the pots wearing condoms (the pots, not you):

[GGBB]

The Alpha 16mm PCB mount pots RV16AF-41 have enough space so that under normal circumstances they won't contact the solder joints, but it all depends on whether or not the board can move around (and how big the solder joints are). You should generally make sure the board won't move so that the pot joints aren't stressed. When I use lugged pots mounted with solid core wire, I leave a little room using a plastic ruler as a spacer. Even then I normally use electrical tape for insulation if I don;t have any dust covers. I don't really like the dust covers as they seem to be a little deeper than the space allows so the pots need a little force to sit level which stresses the joints. It's probably possible to trim the covers, but that seems like unnecessary work.

[merlinb]

The double-sided sticky pads are enough insulation for me:

[Groovenut]

When I use 16mm right angle pots, I usually use this

https://www.harborfreight.com/4-fl-oz-liquid-electrical-tape-36821.html

works well for the peace of mind in case the other mountings should fail.

It peals off easily so you could put it on the pcb or the back of the pots

goop

[mimmotronics]

I've personally used the double-sided sticky tape in the past, but might not be a viable long-term solution..would the adhesive lose its grip over time? The liquid insulating goop sounds like an interesting alternative! 

[sliberty]

That liquid electric tape looks like a cool solution. I'll have to pick up some of it. Thanks for the tip.

[bloxstompboxes]

When I use 16mm right angle pots, I usually use this

https://www.harborfreight.com/4-fl-oz-liquid-electrical-tape-36821.html

works well for the peace of mind in case the other mountings should fail.

It peals off easily so you could put it on the pcb or the back of the pots

goop

They have a spray on version I have used as well. It was advertised on the package as being good for boats and resisting the salt water/air. I still have it, but use it much anymore since I try to use board mounted pots with the condoms or double sided foam, or velcro.

[ElectricDruid]

I use PCB-mounted right-angle Alpha pots a lot, and I find that the pot condoms push the pots away from the board. It wouldn't be so bad if the back of them was flat, but they seem to have a little peak on them - probably a moulding flashing or injection mark or something?

My personal favourite solution is overhead transparency plastic. In this age of laptops and projectors, I don't suppose many people use it any more, but there's probably still a lot of it kicking about. I have a pack of A4 sheets that has been keeping me going since the nineties sometime! It's stiff enough that a little bit of sharp wire won't poke a hole in it. I've seen similar plastic sheets used for covers for spiral bound documents, so I'm sure you can still get it. Way cheaper than pot condoms.

HTH,
Tom

[J0K3RX]

Use this and you can goop your boards at the same time 

https://www.flexsealproducts.com/product/flex-seal-liquid/

[rockhorst]

I'd suggest the thick, foamy white double sided tape used to hang up mirrors and stuff, available at the hardware stores. I've tried the pot condoms, dislike them personally.

[sliberty]

Thanks for all of the replies.

I don't think I want to buy pot condoms for every pot for every build for all of eternity. Plus, one of the responses was that they might stick out too much.

The double stick take thing bugs me because of the risk that it might stick to the PCB and be hard to remove. I suppose I could leave the paper on that side, but who knows if it will stay on for the long haul.

The business card solution might work on some projects. The current one I am working on has the pots oriented in such a way that I would have to use two smaller pieces, and its not clear that they would stay where I put them.

The liquid tape solution sounded cool to me, so I went out and bought a bottle. I am going to give it a try, and will report back in a few days. This whole problem didn't occur to me until I had already solder the pots onto the board. So I'll need to remove them, give their backs two or three coats, let them dry fully (package says 10 minutes between coats, and at least 4 hours to dry), confirm that they are not conducting by using my ohm meter, and then re-solder them onto the PCB.

Stay tuned....

[amptramp]

You could use Gorilla tape on the back of the pots.  This stuff is much stronger than duct tape and it is difficult to cut through.  Don't use it on the circuit board - if you have to take it off, you may rip components off the board.

[sliberty]

Hmmmmm....never heard of Gorilla tape until now. I may get a roll just to check it out.

[J0K3RX]

Could try hot glue stix.. you can get them in all different colors and it peels off fairly easy if needed..

[rockhorst]

The double stick take thing bugs me because of the risk that it might stick to the PCB and be hard to remove. I suppose I could leave the paper on that side, but who knows if it will stay on for the long haul.

Quite simply put: it will...also, you stick it too the pots back side but not to the pcb. It may touch the tip of solder joint that are sticking out, but it's only 1mm thick (1/25th of an inch) so there's still separation between the pcb and the pot. You're making a fuss over something none existing .

[italianguy63]

I use double stick tape... The cheap stuff-- the paper falls off too easy.  So, I started using 3M brand-- it is red.  And, too expensive, but luckily you don't use much of it.  It comes in a roll.

MC

[EBK]

If the backing falls off of your double stick foam tape, simply remove it and add a bit of gaffers tape in its place.  I'll often do that preemptively if I'm after single stick foam tape.

(Unless the backing is falling off while the tape is still on the roll...)

[rockhorst]

I'll post a picture of the tape and how I use it later. Maybe I'm missing something here, but these problems are alien to me.