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A potentiometer is a type of variable (adjustable) resistor. Potentiometers are widely used to control the output of electrical devices (e.g. volume of a radio or amplifier, speed of a toy or tool, lighting levels, etc.). Its main function is to resist (i.e. reduce) electric current. Turning the potentiometer varies the resistance, which in turn adjusts the volume on the guitar or dims the lights in your house. [1] X Research source These devices are usually very affordable. This article explains what you should know about testing one.
Steps
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Find out what the rating of the potentiometer is. This is actually the total resistance measured in ohms and it can usually be found written on the bottom or the side. [2] X Research source
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Get an ohmmeter which you will set to a setting that is higher that your potentiometer's total resistance. For example, you can set the ohmmeter to 10000 ohms if the rating of the potentiometer is 1000 ohms. [3] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Take a closer look at the potentiometer. Locate the three tabs that should be sticking out of it. [4] X Research source Two of those tabs are called “ends” while the third one is called a “wiper”. Most of the time, the two ends are located next to each other, while the wiper is somewhere else.
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Take the probes of your ohmmeter. Put them on the two ends of the potentiometer. What you see on the display should be within only a few ohms of the potentiometer's rated resistance (see Note below). If the reading is way off, then that means that you have put one of the probes of the ohmmeter on the wiper. If you find it difficult to tell which tabs are the ends, and which tab is the wiper, try different combinations with the probes until you get a proper reading. [5] X Research sourceGordon McComb, Electronics Hobbyist
When testing a potentiometer, take a multimeter and set it to measure resistance at the highest range. Connect the probes to the outer lugs of the pot, then slowly rotate the shaft. The readings should smoothly climb from zero ohms to the full-rated resistance value. If not, the potentiometer could be faulty. Next, put one probe on an outer lug and one on the center wiper terminal. Rotate again - if the resistance doesn't smoothly sweep from zero to the max rating, the wiper may have faulty contact.
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Turn the controller all the way to the other side. Make sure to keep the probes in constant contact with the ends while doing this. The resistance should stay the same or only change very slightly. [6] X Research source
- The actual reading may not be exactly what the potentiometer is rated for. These devices typically have a tolerance of 5-10%. Tolerance may be listed on the device but not always. The reading you get should not be outside of that range (e.g. a 10,000 ohm device rated 5% should read between 9500-10500 ohms).
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Take one of the ohmmeter's probes off the end and put it on the wiper. Now you have to turn the controller slowly all the way to the other end and watch the ohmmeter while doing so. When you reach the end, the resistance should only be a few ohms. At the other end the value should be the maximum resistance of the potentiometer. The resistance should gradually and slowly increase as you turn the controller and there should be no sudden jumps. [7] X Research source
Community Q&A
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QuestionWhere do I find the wiper on a potentiometer?Community AnswerIt's usually in the center terminal. The other method is finding a terminal where the Ohm reading changes between it and the other two terminals, and that one is the wiper. Some pots are tapped at 10, 20, 30, 35 or 50%. These taps will have a reading that stays the same from every other tap except the wiper. You will need to remove the pot from the circuit to be sure.
Tips
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References
- ↑ https://www.physics-and-radio-electronics.com/electronic-devices-and-circuits/passive-components/resistors/whatispotentiometer.html
- ↑ https://toolsweek.com/how-to-test-potentiometer-with-multimeter/
- ↑ https://toolsweek.com/how-to-test-potentiometer-with-multimeter/
- ↑ https://toolsweek.com/how-to-test-potentiometer-with-multimeter/
- ↑ https://sciencing.com/test-potentiometer-4910467.html
- ↑ https://sciencing.com/test-potentiometer-4910467.html
- ↑ https://sciencing.com/test-potentiometer-4910467.html
