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SX-1250 ACV-163 Balance Pot Testing

tinkerer

tinkerer

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
I thought I knew how to test a balance pot but maybe not. I'm getting sound from both right and left channels even when the balance is turned full left or full right. So I've pulled the balance pot out for testing. There are 2 rows of 3 pins each, one set being right and one set being left. My assumption is that with an ohm meter attached to center pin and either right pin or left pin, and the pot rotated either full right or full left, that one side would read 0 resistance and the other side full resistance (around 100K), and the other set of pins would read just the opposite. In other words, one channel would be full on and the other channel full off. So, let's say I rotate full right, I'm getting 0 ohms center pin to left pin on both right and left channel, and full resistance center pin to right pin on both right and left channels. Am I testing properly?
 
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The pot has 100k from each outside pins for each gang. From the center position, each side is opposite where one side is zero from center to outside pins.
 
Yes from center if one side is 100k the other side is zero. But, will the other gang match that or will it be reversed?
 
One gang is the mirror or opposite to the other gang. One half of the carbon track from the center or detent position to an outside pin are zero or very low ohms. The other side are your 100k.
 
Thanks rcs16

I'm beginning to think I've got a defective pot.

Balance Pot Set to Center
Bank A Pins 2 & 1: 91K Ohms Bank B Pins 2 & 1: 0.0 Ohms
Bank A Pins 2 & 3: 0.0 Ohms Bank B Pins 2 & 3: 104K Ohms

Balance Pot Set to Full Right
Bank A Pins 2 & 1: 91K Ohms Bank B Pins 2 & 1: 104K Ohms
Bank A Pins 2 & 3: 0.0 Ohms Bank B Pins 2 & 3; 0.0 Ohms

Balance Pot Set to Full Left
Bank A Pins 2 & 1: 0.0 Ohms Bank B Pins 2 & 1: 0.0 Ohms
Bank A Pins 2 & 3: 91K Ohms Bank B Pins 2 & 3: 104K Ohms

Looks to me that when centered the pot is functioning correctly.
But when set to Full Right or Full Left it isn't.

I haven't determined if Bank A/B is Right or Left. Doesn't much matter for discussion.
 
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