Values of Potentiometers?

Question

What does the values of potentiometers mean?

What would happen if I was to put a 100k instead of a 500k in a circuit?

(I was told it is todo with thier sensitivity - is this correct?)

Answer 1

It depends on the circuit.

I worked with a company that had a firm design rule, never use pots. Never. they are subject to movement due to vibration, age, etc.

My point is you can build anything without ever using a pot. I had 30 years experience doing that.

In this case, put in a fixed 220k resistor. if that isn't the right value, replace with a larger or smaller value.

But to answer your question, a 500k pot, when used as an adjustable resistor, means you can adjust it from about 0 ohms (maybe 1k) to 500 k ohms.  When used as a divider, the total resistance end to end is 500k, and the slider picks a division ration from that total.

Answer 2

It depends on the circuitry your putting it on. If you put the 100k pot and a 400k ohm in series with it it would be ok . You would have less response from the 100k pot.  The circuitry was designed with a 500k pot for a reason, if you replace it you will find out why it was designed that way. Sometimes it helps keep smoke in the compenents. If you let the smoke out, it just don't work no more.

Answer 3

well yes mainly... but if for instance this is a guiter volume control then depending on the pickups use anything above 100K may be too high impedance for the guitar to connect to an amplifier and work corretly...therfore you sine in this application the pot is a potential divider you may find it only worked if the volume was 100% down to 80%...

this all boils down to impedance matching... and depends on the application...you'de be best doing a search on you intended application with impendance as a keyword...