Dual-gang audio rotary pot with switch?

HI Folks Does such a thing exist ? Just trawled through CPC's listings (just love the bit about 'Show 'in stock' items ?' -

- no - taunt me with things I _can't_ buy !! )

....and I can see dual-gang pots without switches, and single-gang pots with switches - but not 2-g with switch.

If such a creature existed then it'd make tidying up this particular project a lot simpler.....

Thanks Adrian

Reply to
Adrian Brentnall
Loading thread data ...

I'm sure they do but you may need to hunt. As you haven't told us the value[1] that you want, it would be pointless anybody looking for you.

If you can find decent pictures of the CPC ones - or you recognise the method of construction - you may be able to swap the rear of a single gang pot with the rear of the double gang, thus moving the switch from one to the other.

It used to be quite possible to mix'n'match pots in this way - including dual (unganged) pots with different front and rear values - if the original wan't available. The fixing lugs were easy to prise off and re-use on standard types by AB (also branded RS).

[1] Value and law: Linear, Log, Anti-log ...
Reply to
Terry Casey

It's one of these things that used to be common. But these days you'd more likely use a twin VCA controlled by a one gang pot.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

Fair comment. I was wondering if they existed at all.....

It's for a stereo volume control - I have a module that plays MP3's from a memory card and runs 2x5w to a couple of speakers. Whole thing sits in a wooden enclosure with a couple of speakers and a big dryfit battery.

All controls (vol / < / > / etc) are via pushbuttons - I'm looking to graft in a conventional rotary pot as a volume control (anything between 5k and 50k log or lin would do fine) - and if it also had a switch for the 12v dc to the MP3 module then that'd mean I only needed one 'user-accessible' control.....

That's a thought - but I'm not sure I'd trust CPC's photos - they seem to be very 'generic' sometimes...

Thanks - that's a thought - though a d/g pot and a separate switch might be the way I have to go....

Adrian

Reply to
Adrian Brentnall

Hi Dave

Yes - understood.... I suppose I could put a couple of pushbuttons (vol up and vol down) on the front of the unit (see my reply to Terry to see what it's all in aid of).

At the moment it's all sort of gaffer-taped together - and adjusting the volume involves diving inside the unit and locating the tiny pcb-mounted switches - but a couple of bigger (more robust) push-switches might do the job...

Thanks Adrian

Reply to
Adrian Brentnall

Do you have a friendly local tip* and/or an active local Freecycle group from which you might source an old stereo amp?

*sorry - I suppose I ought to refer you to your specialist weee recycling facility
Reply to
Robin

I reckon you'd have to collect over 100 stereo amps before you found one with a power switch on the volume control. Such kit exists, but nowadays its going to be a job to find it. Why not put a wanted ad on fleabay. FWIW I'm sure-ish that the old Hacker stereo gramophones had such a pot. Nut I wouldnt be surprised if they had become collectable by now.

NT

Reply to
Tabby

That name's just taking the weee. :)

NT

Reply to
Tabby

You could try Quad. Some of their older models (like the the 33 pre-amp) used what you need - and they're said to be still good at supplying spares for old stuff despite having been taken over. But it would likely not be cheap.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

They're remarkably 'fussy' at our local tip - they really don't like you fossicking about in their 'pre-loved electronics' bin.....

I think I'll go another way - found a couple of heavy-duty toggle switches on CPC - use one for power and the other (dpdt-centre-off) to replace the 'volume up' and 'volume down' switches on the pcb...

The toggle switches are way over-specced, but the unit will be thrown into the back of a van & things may drop on it - so a bit of over-engineering isn't a bad plan!

Adrian

Reply to
Adrian Brentnall

Think I'll go for 'Plan B' - see my response to Robin

Thanks Adrian

Reply to
Adrian Brentnall

Thanks - doesn't really merit that level of cost / hassle. I'll do it with a couple of CPC's toggle switches...

Adrian

Reply to
Adrian Brentnall

I wouldn't use a linear pot for volume - log pots are a much better match for our very non-linear ears!

Well, a quick Google brings up lots cof queries just like yours - but no answers!

So, it looks like a separate power switch will be necessary.

If rotary action isn't a prime requirement, why not put two push switches in parallel with the existing switches for volume up/down? If you want it to look neat, you might find a range with a matching push-on/push/off power switch ...

Reply to
Terry Casey

As others have said, they used to, but might be hard to find now. The ones I recall had the switch on the rear of the pot, and had a cam attached to the shaft which operated spring-loaded switch contacts. It might be difficult to make something like that, but if you found a pot with a long input shaft (assuming those are still available too, even!) then maybe you could homebrew something on the front-side (along with a metal bracket to mount it all onto the front panel).

Is this for a main power switch, or something else? Adding an interrupter and an optical switch would be relatively easy[1] I think (more so than a nice clicky on-off switch) but does have the disadvantage that you still need to waste some power in the 'off' state.

[1] heck, you might even find a suitable pot that you could somehow graft that onto the back.

Hmm, maybe with a bit of jiggery-pokery the switch from a single-gang will transfer to an unswitched dual-gang?

cheers

Jules

Reply to
Jules Richardson

Hi Jules I'm in 'lazy' mode - need something 'off the shelf' for this one....

Think a couple of toggles will do it - have ordered them - so let's hope so!

Thanks Adrian

Reply to
Adrian Brentnall

True - but working on the principle of 'beggars can't be choosers'

Looks that way

Went down that route - dear old CPC have precisely the right parts in their online catalogue - except that one of them (either the momentary or the latching button) is 'awaiting stocks'. Having 'awaited' ffrom CPC in the past (more than 4 months on one particular item that never actually materialised!) - I perfer now to order things that are (allegedly) in stock......

So - toggles it is!

Thanks Adrian

Reply to
Adrian Brentnall

heres one

formatting link

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

sorry - didn't realise they were so old - I'll go back to my memories of the click when turning off the stereo, watching the dot disappear on the TV, .....

Reply to
Robin

formatting link

Hiya NT

Never thought of looking on eBay! - thanks But for 15 quid I think I'll stick with the toggles

Thanks anyway Adrian

Reply to
Adrian Brentnall

formatting link
>

That's the snag. They disappeared off the stock lists many years ago. Before I was ready to let them go. ;-)

So any remaining will fetch a quite high price.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.