10 turn pots

[Alex30]

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone has any comments about 10 turn pots. It seems like you can spend a lot of money (up to $15-20) on one if you want or you can get ones like this: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-2-4-5PCS-500-1K-2K-5K-10K-20K-50K-100K-3590S-Rotary-Potentiometer-Pot-10-Turn-/111328204099?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var&hash=item19ebad9543&_uhb=1.

What's the major differences in terms of functionality and quality apart from the obvious? It'd be even more helpful if someone has worked with a relatively cheap 10 turn pot that they can recommend\shame.

Basically all I want to use a pot like this for is varying an opamp input for voltage control, I'm not looking to accurately graduate the dial or anything like that either so exact linearity is not a huge deal.

[Asim]

Well, I can tell you one thing I bought a cheapie 10k pot (10 turns) that looks exactly like the one in the link you provided. It has an 18 ohms minimum resistance when turned all the way down.( not good enough for my application)

[German_EE]

As with most things in life you get what you pay for. A high quality device from someone like Bourns will have a wirewound spiral track but the cheap versions use a track made from conductive plastic nd will probably not last too long. That eighteen ohm minimum resistance is probably because they use one wiper against the track rather than two or three.

[tautech]

If it is for a PSU, don't piss around with any cheap stuff.
Get Bourns or similar as German_EE recommends.

If it fails/plays up on a PSU, it will fry more money in components than you are trying to save.

[Alex30]

18Ohm minimum would probably not be a big issue to me. What would be a pain though is if they were faulty or broke quickly. I'm not quite willing to pay 15-20 dollars each when I need two of them. The major reason for building my own psu was to save money

Well, I can tell you one thing I bought a cheapie 10k pot (10 turns) that looks exactly like the one in the link you provided. It has an 18 ohms minimum resistance when turned all the way down.( not good enough for my application)

Thanks. Did your one go up to the full 10k give or take?

[tautech]

http://nz.element14.com/bourns/3590s-2-103l/potentiometer-10k-5-linear-2w/dp/1612611
Why would you consider anything else?

[liquibyte]

The major reason for building my own psu was to save money

If your plan was to save money by building your own, I can tell you first hand that you'll find it didn't work out quite that way.  It is fun though.

[Alex30]

http://nz.element14.com/bourns/3590s-2-103l/potentiometer-10k-5-linear-2w/dp/1612611
Why would you consider anything else?

Hm, that's not a bad price. Will certainly consider this one, I will bookmark this. Thanks for that.

The major reason for building my own psu was to save money

If your plan was to save money by building your own, I can tell you first hand that you'll find it didn't work out quite that way.  It is fun though.

Haha you're probably right.

Edit:

Thought I would throw this link in for laughs http://au.rs-online.com/web/p/potentiometers/1645058/

[Alex Eisenhut]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/POTENTIOMETER-HELIPOT-10-TURN-30K-0-1-LIN-WITH-DIAL-/261078224039

There's one that's half a century old in my scope and it still feels and works better than new ones.

[macboy]

I bought some of those cheap knock-offs, knowing of course that they were knock-offs (of a Bourns 3296 series of course). They are garbage. The ones I got are that familiar blue square, and are labelled "BONENS 3296". Here are some other examples:

[jlmoon]

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone has any comments about 10 turn pots. It seems like you can spend a lot of money (up to $15-20) on one if you want or you can get ones like this: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-2-4-5PCS-500-1K-2K-5K-10K-20K-50K-100K-3590S-Rotary-Potentiometer-Pot-10-Turn-/111328204099?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var&hash=item19ebad9543&_uhb=1.

What's the major differences in terms of functionality and quality apart from the obvious? It'd be even more helpful if someone has worked with a relatively cheap 10 turn pot that they can recommend\shame.

Basically all I want to use a pot like this for is varying an opamp input for voltage control, I'm not looking to accurately graduate the dial or anything like that either so exact linearity is not a huge deal.

Those look like "Bourns or Allen-Bradley" knock offs

[Pedram]

Also cheap ones have mechanical backlash which is pain in the ass to set them precisely . if you really want to go down to the price. use three single turn pot in series.  Coarse adjustment, fine adjustment and super fine adjustment.

[nctnico]

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone has any comments about 10 turn pots. It seems like you can spend a lot of money (up to $15-20) on one if you want or you can get ones like this: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-2-4-5PCS-500-1K-2K-5K-10K-20K-50K-100K-3590S-Rotary-Potentiometer-Pot-10-Turn-/111328204099?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var&hash=item19ebad9543&_uhb=1.

What's the major differences in terms of functionality and quality apart from the obvious? It'd be even more helpful if someone has worked with a relatively cheap 10 turn pot that they can recommend\shame.

I think these are factory rejects from Bourns. I bought a couple and they have defects like not going to 0 Ohm but having a minimum of 10 Ohms. The ones I got have Bourns lasered in the rear and look genuine.

[Asim]

Thanks. Did your one go up to the full 10k give or take?

yes they did (3 out of 3)

[mariush]

TME.eu has some cheap 10 turn pots. They're brand name (though may not be some of the well known brands) so at least you don't get fakes or clones from eBay:

http://www.tme.eu/en/katalog/passives_112309/#id_category=24&s_field=artykul&s_order=ASC&page=1

[SArepairman]

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/bonens-%28bochen-also-works-here%29-counterfit-bourns-trimpot-analysis/

[Alex30]

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/bonens-%28bochen-also-works-here%29-counterfit-bourns-trimpot-analysis/

Also cheap ones have mechanical backlash which is pain in the ass to set them precisely . if you really want to go down to the price. use three single turn pot in series.  Coarse adjustment, fine adjustment and super fine adjustment.

Oh wow, can't believe I didn't think of these two potential issues lol. These issues would definitely be a major pain in the ass. I guess I'll try and get the ones tautech linked to.

[tautech]

Oh wow, can't believe I didn't think of these two potential issues lol. These issues would definitely be a major pain in the ass. I guess I'll try and get the ones tautech linked to.

Put a flag in your profile so accurate local recommendations can be made.
No accurate search was made to find those pots, just "10 turn pot", then 10K and Bourns in the selection options and scroll to find the cheapest. 
Took 10 seconds.

[Alex30]

Oh wow, can't believe I didn't think of these two potential issues lol. These issues would definitely be a major pain in the ass. I guess I'll try and get the ones tautech linked to.

Put a flag in your profile so accurate local recommendations can be made.
No accurate search was made to find those pots, just "10 turn pot", then 10K and Bourns in the selection options and scroll to find the cheapest. 
Took 10 seconds.

Heh, yeah just don't have that much experience with any retailers besides jaycar and rs components. Have you used element 14 before for postage to oz?

[pickle9000]

Mechanical backlash is also present on Bournes, they do sell a variant which has minimal backlash but cost is more and only available in 3 resistances. It's designed for use in string pots (measuring device).

[tautech]

Oh wow, can't believe I didn't think of these two potential issues lol. These issues would definitely be a major pain in the ass. I guess I'll try and get the ones tautech linked to.

Put a flag in your profile so accurate local recommendations can be made.
No accurate search was made to find those pots, just "10 turn pot", then 10K and Bourns in the selection options and scroll to find the cheapest. 
Took 10 seconds.

Heh, yeah just don't have that much experience with any retailers besides jaycar and rs components. Have you used element 14 before for postage to oz?

I'm in NZ, not sure if they are still Farnell in AUS as they used to be here.
No, here's the link:
http://au.element14.com/bourns/3590s-2-103l/potentiometer-10k-5-linear-2w/dp/1612611

[Alex30]

I'm in NZ, not sure if they are still Farnell in AUS as they used to be here.
No, here's the link:
http://au.element14.com/bourns/3590s-2-103l/potentiometer-10k-5-linear-2w/dp/1612611

Sorry, only glanced at your flag there. Ok thanks!

[tkuhmone]

This thread seems to be good on my purposes also  I got power supply for my use, and it has four multiturn 10k ohm pots where two needs to be replaced. So I will look at original Bourns from 3590S series...

[tkuhmone]

In the PSU I mentioned, the origin is propably from years approx 1992...1996 and those have been also in lab use. So that is pretty good expected lifetime for a good quality multiturn pot. Those old Bourns 3590S seem to be some level touch sensitive, at least when pushing the knob on the axle direction -> occasionally power supply output voltage is lost (I assume the center viper has not contact on wirewound resistor)