Potentiometers - How They Work, Disassembly and Exploration

In this video, I disassemble a couple different pots (Bourns and CTS 500k audio taper) to show how they're constructed, and explain how they work. I also show how to identify pot values and taper by their markings and by measuring with a multimeter.
**Correction: at 6:25, I said it backwards. Narrower has more resistance than wider. For the same length, a thinner wire has more resistance than a thicker wire. Similarly, at 4:37, it would have been clearer to say "longer length, more resistance".

[glazinq]

Now this is what YouTube is all about! Great presentation, very clearly explained and extremely helpful. Many thanks!

[djsonuamravati]

this is the best and simplest video on thank u sir

[khaledadams]

Been working with pots for a while now and this was still VERY informative and easy to watch. Thanks!

[stevenA]

FINALLY, someone who explains how these things work and how to tell the difference!!! Liked.

[chuckjones]

I do tutorials myself so I know what im talking about when I say this is a very well put together tutorial, more like a small seminar :)

great job

[Geopholus]

Thanks for the accurate, and well presented video on potentiometers. This video is SO MUCH BETTER than most of the others! The great thing about CTS pots is that they can dissipate more power than most of the other audio pots (except PEC) and they can be disassembled, and reassembled to to change shaft length or style and also change resistance elements of double ganged pots.

[guppyfry]

I've been reading about Pots, but only after watching your video do I see and understand how they work. Thank you!!!

[gwmerr]

Natural teacher at work here. I came here knowing what a potentiometer does ....always wondered the what & how? In ten minutes I learned so much targeted information! Wow, thank you, johnplanetz

[glennsophie]

Thanks for the video. I had problems with my cts pot but your video gave me confidence to open it up and fix it. Many thanks. I was nearly ordering new.

[BaldurKhr]

So beautifully explained and so easy to grasp. Thank you for this elegant presentation!

[nmssis]

your vid posts are like a breath of fresh air for novices like me.

Thanks for posting

[pauleaston]

Yes! Now I know why the volume on my Quasar black and white tv ain't working. Thanks, JC.

[philjones]

Nice video - something I've often wondered about but had no idea how they worked. You explained it very well!!

[arupdutta]

Very well explained in layman's terms. Greetings from Kolkata, India.

[manifestgtr]

dude...you are really good at explaining things...normally, I'll watch a video like this and the person doing it is so steeped in the subject that they just cant or don't bother to explain it in a way that's easily digestible...awesome video

[flamingfigures]

My physics teacher threw a potentiometer on the speakers for the announcements. Turns the volume down to minimum and continues lessons... best hack ever.

[Special-Delivery]

Thank you very much John Cooper.👍🏻🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[UnluckyFett]

Thanks, Ive know how they work but your video and explanations really make it clearer in my head on how to wire pots to do different thing

[richardcouture]

Thanks for taking the time to do this for others.  It was very informative and well done.

[wentzr]

excellent explanations and demonstration on how the variety of pots work and how they're manufactured.