Simulation Potentiometer Recommendation?

Question

Hi,I have a potentiometer on a simulation board used to simulate an A/D input to a microcontroller-based product.The pot is a Radio Shack $1.99 kind of model.  It worked OK for about 2 months and now it is behaving erratically.Application is low-current, strictly transducer stuff.Can anyone recommend a better style of potentiometer to use that will behave more precisely and last longer?Constraints are:a)Should be no more than 1-2 turn (it is operated manually, and a 10-turn pot would be a pain).b)Should be mechanically capable of accepting a knob (a screwdriver is too much work).Cost is no object.  I'd go up to $25 if it would last a year.Thanks, Dave.

CBFalconer · Accepted Answer

Anything should be better than a Radio Shack. You are looking for generic carbon pots, which come in various tapers, such as logarithmic, linear, etc. Digikey should produce something. Salvaging something from an older radio/tv volume or tone control should do.

Bill Chernoff · Answer

try Midori America in L.A.conductive plastic pots.

Joerg · Answer

Hello CBFalconer,Those are actually the best. Those big old encapsulated monster pots. I never had one of them fail on me so far.Regards, Joerg

Spehro Pefhany · Answer

The gold standard is conductive plastic over a wirewound element, butif you don't have too many bits of resolution, a cermet pot shouldwork well enough for you, at least to 10+ bits of settability. Best regards, Spehro Pefhany-- "it's the network..."                          "The Journey is the reward"             Info for manufacturers:  software/hardware/analog  Info for designers:

Simulation Potentiometer Recommendation?

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