Crackling on radio volume switch

[porkchop]

My portable preset radio volume switch has started to make crackling noises when i adjust volume. Is there any cure for this problem, or it is time to dump it. The radio was quite expensive and i would like to fix it.

[Count-A-Strong]

It's probably only dust between the know and the metal contacts. buy one of those cans of compressed air and try to blow behind it (or spray it with a little WD40). Hardly a reason to get rid!

[Count-A-Strong]

knob

[KARL]

Assuming the volume is controlled by a knob or wheel that you turn, then the knob is on a spindle that protrudes from what is called a potentiometer. Squirting a bit of what is referred to as a contact lubricant/cleaner into the potentiometer will usually solve the problem. The difficulty is getting at the pot and finding an opening because these things are often sealed nowadays - a certain amount of dismantling will in any case be required.

[ChuckFickens]

Wire wound rheostat???

It's probably not a 1920's radio!

often just turning the power off and giving the volume lots of twists back and forth will sort it for a while, if not switch cleaner in it and do the same

http://www.maplin.co....e.aspx?moduleno=27515

[NazNomad]

Pot/Rheostat - 2 different animals

[ChuckFickens]

You can't smoke a rheostat for a start :)

[NazNomad]

You can 'make' one smoke, i've done it, lol

[NazNomad]

"Naz, don't teach your gran to suck egss, A rheostat is a variable resistance device. "]

Agreed ... and a potentiometer is a potential divider. As I said, 2 different animals.

How'd you like your eggs?

[ChuckFickens]

Agree with naz on this one, a pot can be used as a variable resistor (a rheostat) if only two out of the three terminals are used but other wise a pot is totally different by dividing the voltage rather than reducing it.

[NazNomad]

doc, stop showing yourself up, it's making you look worse than usual.

[NazNomad]

pmsl, of course I can ... you really know sfa about me, do you?

4, 5 and 6 band tolerances too ... can you?


And tropical fish caps, you know those colours too?

[NazNomad]

for 'tolerances' read 'resistance'