Wiring a pot as a variable resistor question

[Russ]

I know they'll both work, but which is the preferred method of wiring a pot as a variable resistor (and does it make any difference)-

1) using only the middle lug (output) and one outer lug (input) w/ the other outer lug unconnected?

or

2) using one outer lug (input) and the other outer lug and middle lug tied together (output)?

Thanks,
Russ

[Skreddy]

Number 2.

If there's any roughness at all in the carbon track or any bare spots or scratches or whatever, moving the wiper across it will cause a fluctuation in the resistance over those areas.  If the wiper comes across a completely bald spot, then the circuit goes open (infinite resistance) at that point.  However if you tie the opposite end to the wiper, then the maximum resistance that the pot can yield is the end-to-end resistance of the carbon track.  This will smooth out noisyness and eliminate possible open circuits in scratchy pots.

[petemoore]

Set to resistance, and some test clips tell all.
 Try across a 100k's outer lugs...should read 100k no matter where the shaft/wiper is.
 Secret life of pots tells about pots, pot tapers etc. at GEO
 turn the pot all the way ccw and the wiper [center lug] should be connected to the lug it was turned toward [shaft facing you].
 from one outer lug to center [wiper] for variable resistance...tie the other lug down to the center or not.
 Some say it's what more stable or something to tie the unused lug to the wiper.
 Audio and linear tapers will respond differently to shaft positions, in a VR usage, either one will go from 0 to 100k, but a large portion of the resistance taper may be schrunched up at one end of the shaft travel.