doorpro Posted June 18, 2012 Report Posted June 18, 2012 Hello all, I am a novice in the world of potentiometers and need some clarification. I have 1 dozen A5K pots aboard my boat used as dimmer switches on 12v lighting as well as 20 or so 12v Vimar light switches. One of my dimmers went bad and thats when i found out that it's a simple potentiometer and after investigating further i find out that the vimar dimmers are $60.00 and these pots are a few dollars. I had replaced one of the pots from a local electronics store but it went bad in a hurry and the only difference in the replacement was that it didn't have an off on switch as the rest of the dimmers-pots have aboard and that leads me to the reason for being here for help. Because these are used as 12volt dimmers do i need to worry about the 5k part or can it be more than 5k? as i have seen varied ranges. Also, I see that mine are "A" and not "B" so from what i am reading the "A" is for audio nevertheless they work great. I have also searched for hours and cannot seem to find a potentiometer with the off-on switch that's not a push-pull. The ones that I have simply click as you turn them off and that's what i would like to have again. Finally installing/soldering is not a problem but i will ask anyone responding to this plea to keep it simplified and basically let me know if i need worry about the # value whether it be 5 or 500. Any help will be gratefully appreciated. regards, Doug. Quote
BobB Posted June 18, 2012 Report Posted June 18, 2012 You would need to make sure the pot is capable of taking the load. If the lamp is 60 watts and the potentiometer can onl handle 10 watts then it will disintegrate. probably need to be a wire wound type as well. Quote
BobB Posted June 20, 2012 Report Posted June 20, 2012 Then have a look for a 15 watt (10 watt at a pinch) wire wound resistor of an appropriate ohm value. I would certainly not use a carbon type at all. You also then have to get rid of the heat of course. Quote
TimWilborne Posted June 20, 2012 Report Posted June 20, 2012 It should probably be decently sealed being that you are putting it on a boat also. Otherwise corrosion may shorten the life of it. Quote
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