How to Wire Radio Potentiometer
The potentiometer (pot) is found in almost every radio as a volume control. In this application, the variable resistance of the pot is used to attenuate a signal, allowing for volume to be raised or lowered. One of the pot's three terminals is grounded to allow the signal to be attenuated completely when the knob is rolled to zero. When looking at the potentiometer with the post pointing upward and the terminals facing you, the terminals, from left to right, are referred to as "1," "2," and "3." Wiring a potentiometer requires only basic knowledge of circuitry and soldering.
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Things You'll Need
- Potentiometer
- Insulated copper wire
- Soldering iron
- Rosin-core solder
- Soldering flux
Instructions
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1
Clean the terminals of the potentiometer with soldering flux. Heat your soldering iron and apply a small bit of solder to tin the tip, wiping it clean on a damp sponge.
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2
Solder a wire from the volume circuit to terminal "3" of the potentiometer. The pot is wired in series with the circuit in the same way as a standard resistor.
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3
Solder a wire from the middle terminal of the pot back to the circuit to complete the signal path.
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4
Push terminal "1" back against the chassis of the potentiometer. Solder it in place to create a signal ground.
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5
Solder a wire to the chassis of the pot. Solder the other end of the wire to a grounding point on the radio chassis.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Be sure your ground from the potentiometer is grounded to the same location as the other radio circuit grounds to avoid a signal loop that may create hum.
Work in a well-ventilated area to prevent inhalation of harmful fumes produced when soldering.
