12 position potentiometer

[Lucas]

Hey all,

I can't seem to find a linear potentiometer that has 12 discrete
positions (steps) (kind of like a rotary switch but with every
position and extra 1K-5K resistance is added. The device must be like
a conventional potentiometer except it only allows the dial to be in
12 discrete positions. If anyone knows of such a device, please send
me the part ##. much appreciated.

Lucas

 

[William P.N. Smith]

I can't seem to find a linear potentiometer that has 12 discrete
positions (steps) (kind of like a rotary switch but with every
position and extra 1K-5K resistance is added.

What's wrong with making one from a 12-position rotary switch?

 

[Jim Adney]

I can't seem to find a linear potentiometer that has 12 discrete
positions (steps) (kind of like a rotary switch but with every
position and extra 1K-5K resistance is added. The device must be like
a conventional potentiometer except it only allows the dial to be in
12 discrete positions. If anyone knows of such a device, please send
me the part ##. much appreciated.

I'm sure I've seen pots with detents before, but they generally have
LOTs more than 12. If you really just want 12, why not just buy a 12
position rotary switch and install resistors of your own choice?

Depending on your application, you'll want to consider carefully
whether you want a shorting or non-shorting switch.

-

 

[Jamie]

get a 12 pos rotory switch and gang some mini ressisters on it.
or use the 12 pos switch and attach a pot on the back of it.

 

[Watson A.Name - \Watt Sun, the Dark Remover\]

What's wrong with making one from a 12-position rotary switch?

Yeah, you can (or could) buy a 12 pos rotary switch from Ratio Snack.

 

[Glenn Gundlach]

get a 12 pos rotory switch and gang some mini ressisters on it.
or use the 12 pos switch and attach a pot on the back of it.

And I believe that whatever resistor values were on that switch, you
would just HAVE to use position 7.289 . It never fails.
GG

 

[Dave Platt]

get a 12 pos rotory switch and gang some mini ressisters on it.
or use the 12 pos switch and attach a pot on the back of it.

[/QUOTE]

And I believe that whatever resistor values were on that switch, you
would just HAVE to use position 7.289 . It never fails.

And this is different from having a potentiometer with twelve fixed
detents at discrete positions, in precisely which way?

If you want discrete values (e.g. for high reproducibility of the
settings), you have to accept the fact that you're limited to the set
of discrete values that you've built into the control system. "In
between" settings aren't possible with either a switched-resistor, or
detented-potentiometer control.

At least, with a rotary switch and fixed resistors, you can plan out
those discrete settings in advance and implement them with high
precision. You aren't limited to a linear or audio-taper curve, as
you are with a detented potentiometer - you can implement a very wide
range of monotonic tapers. Use 1% or .1% precision resistors, and
you'll end up with much better predictability and reproducibility than
you'll get with just about any potentiometer.