Potentiometer with click at 0 - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

m1tch37 · 8th January 2007, 04:15 AM

Gday,

I am looking for a special potentiometer. The item i am looking for is often found on volume controls on mini radios and CD players. When you turn the volume down as far as it goes, you can feel the wheel click and the radio turns off.

Does such a item exist to a hobbyist?

Regards,
Mitch

Roff · 8th January 2007, 04:48 AM

You want a pot with a switch on it. They are commonly available. The switch is not electrically connected to the pot - only mechanically.

justDIY · 8th January 2007, 06:15 AM

the click is sometimes called a detent too. like a pot for a balance control has a center detent between left and right, it's accomplished the same way, with a little addition to the shaft of the pot - could also be done with a notch in the shaft, a spring and a small bearing. when the notch aligns with the bearing, the spring pushes it in, slightly locking the shaft, so you have 'feedback'

m1tch37 · 8th January 2007, 08:10 AM

Yep thats it, i just didn't know the right terminology.

Thanks for your help.

kpsoneji · 8th January 2007, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron H

You want a pot with a switch on it. They are commonly available. The switch is not electrically connected to the pot - only mechanically.

i want to know the pot u had shown is which type of pot? is it resistance wound pot or which type????

Roff · 8th January 2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justDIY

the click is sometimes called a detent too. like a pot for a balance control has a center detent between left and right, it's accomplished the same way, with a little addition to the shaft of the pot - could also be done with a notch in the shaft, a spring and a small bearing. when the notch aligns with the bearing, the spring pushes it in, slightly locking the shaft, so you have 'feedback'

A detent is not going to turn off the radio. You need a switch. I don't believe I've ever seen a pot with a single detent at one end of the rotation.

Roff · 8th January 2007, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpsoneji

i want to know the pot u had shown is which type of pot? is it resistance wound pot or which type????

This site has a list of different types of resistance elements. You can probably buy any of them with a switch mounted on them.
I don't know what kind of element the one in the picture has. I found it by doing a Google image search for "pot with switch".

Hero999 · 8th January 2007, 09:19 PM

Judging by the picture it looks like a carbon track element, noisy and not too reliable but cheap.

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8th January 2007, 04:15 AM	#1
m1tch37	Potentiometer with click at 0 Gday, I am looking for a special potentiometer. The item i am looking for is often found on volume controls on mini radios and CD players. When you turn the volume down as far as it goes, you can feel the wheel click and the radio turns off. Does such a item exist to a hobbyist? Regards, Mitch

8th January 2007, 04:48 AM	#2
Roff	You want a pot with a switch on it. They are commonly available. The switch is not electrically connected to the pot - only mechanically. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Ron

8th January 2007, 06:15 AM	#3
justDIY	the click is sometimes called a detent too. like a pot for a balance control has a center detent between left and right, it's accomplished the same way, with a little addition to the shaft of the pot - could also be done with a notch in the shaft, a spring and a small bearing. when the notch aligns with the bearing, the spring pushes it in, slightly locking the shaft, so you have 'feedback' __________________ If you don't have a planet, what good are gold bars? want to contact me directly? gmail gordonthree check out my project website: http://projects.dimension-x.net Favorite numbers: 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0

8th January 2007, 08:10 AM	#4
m1tch37	Yep thats it, i just didn't know the right terminology. Thanks for your help.

8th January 2007, 09:19 PM	#8
Hero999	Judging by the picture it looks like a carbon track element, noisy and not too reliable but cheap. __________________ I do not answer private messages asking for help because no one else can: benefit from advice I may give or correct me if I'm wrong. Please ask on the open forum if you have a question and I'll be happy to help, if I know the answer.