1. Do not share user accounts! Any account that is shared by another person will be blocked and closed. This means: we will close not only the account that is shared, but also the main account of the user who uses another person's account. We have the ability to detect account sharing, so please do not try to cheat the system. This action will take place on 04/18/2023. Read all forum rules.
    Dismiss Notice
  2. For downloading SimTools plugins you need a Download Package. Get it with virtual coins that you receive for forum activity or Buy Download Package - We have a zero Spam tolerance so read our forum rules first.

    Buy Now a Download Plan!
  3. Do not try to cheat our system and do not post an unnecessary amount of useless posts only to earn credits here. We have a zero spam tolerance policy and this will cause a ban of your user account. Otherwise we wish you a pleasant stay here! Read the forum rules
  4. We have a few rules which you need to read and accept before posting anything here! Following these rules will keep the forum clean and your stay pleasant. Do not follow these rules can lead to permanent exclusion from this website: Read the forum rules.
    Are you a company? Read our company rules

How to choose potentiometer

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Building Q&A / FAQ' started by DonCorleonez, Mar 15, 2016.

  1. DonCorleonez

    DonCorleonez Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2009
    Messages:
    80
    Balance:
    195Coins
    Ratings:
    +15 / 0 / -0
    Hi all,

    Been through several projects, until i came up with this question, how to choose potentiometer?180/360 rotation? let say i am using wiper motor, what kinds of condition i should choose 180/360?

    regards
  2. RacingMat

    RacingMat Well-Known Member Gold Contributor

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2013
    Messages:
    2,233
    Location:
    Marseille - FRANCE
    Balance:
    20,875Coins
    Ratings:
    +2,079 / 21 / -2
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    About potentiometers, here are some clues:

    - 10 kOhm (not less, not more)
    - linear variation (not logarithmic)
    - 360° are not truely "360° electrically": the track is only 340° max
    - some may have mechanical stops: it's safer for the pot itself if it has no stops
    but it's not an issue really

    As the motors are used on a range from 120° to 180° usually
    ► 180° pot is fine if you want simple and direct connection between pot and motor (rigid coupling)
    Rigid-Coupling-CLX-SS.jpg
    ► 360° can be used in conjunction with gears to increase resolution BUT it's more complex mechanically and if gears have some gap, you loose the benefits...
    20150131.jpg
    • Informative Informative x 3
    • Like Like x 1
    Last edited: Mar 15, 2016
  3. cgodwin

    cgodwin Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2015
    Messages:
    225
    Occupation:
    Engineer
    Location:
    Eugene, Oregon
    Balance:
    2,478Coins
    Ratings:
    +278 / 2 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, JRK, Joyrider
    Also recommended is to use a hall effect position sensor, also called a non-contact position sensor or non-contact potentiometer. Because the position sensing is magnetic instead of using a physical wiper rubbing on a resistor, they last much longer and have a smoother response. Also they generally don't have a stop to crash into.
    • Agree Agree x 3
    • Informative Informative x 1
  4. ferslash

    ferslash Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2011
    Messages:
    495
    Balance:
    4,798Coins
    Ratings:
    +180 / 2 / -0
    guys please move this tread to the Q&A (since it is clear short an explicative)

    fer :D
    • Like Like x 1
  5. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2014
    Messages:
    20,460
    Occupation:
    Innovative tech specialist for NGOs
    Location:
    St Helens, Tasmania, Australia
    Balance:
    144,596Coins
    Ratings:
    +10,741 / 52 / -2
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
  6. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2014
    Messages:
    20,460
    Occupation:
    Innovative tech specialist for NGOs
    Location:
    St Helens, Tasmania, Australia
    Balance:
    144,596Coins
    Ratings:
    +10,741 / 52 / -2
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    • Useful Useful x 2
  7. DonCorleonez

    DonCorleonez Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2009
    Messages:
    80
    Balance:
    195Coins
    Ratings:
    +15 / 0 / -0
  8. cgodwin

    cgodwin Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2015
    Messages:
    225
    Occupation:
    Engineer
    Location:
    Eugene, Oregon
    Balance:
    2,478Coins
    Ratings:
    +278 / 2 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, JRK, Joyrider
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Informative Informative x 2
    • Winner Winner x 1
  9. RacingMat

    RacingMat Well-Known Member Gold Contributor

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2013
    Messages:
    2,233
    Location:
    Marseille - FRANCE
    Balance:
    20,875Coins
    Ratings:
    +2,079 / 21 / -2
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    Hall effect pots are interesting indeed!
    (apart from the price)

    but just for the record, they are not perfect:
    - they require good voltage supply
    - output range is reduced: 0.4v to 4.8v
    - because the output is digital, you have some jitter in the measure.
    • Informative Informative x 1
  10. Blame73

    Blame73 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2014
    Messages:
    1,210
    Location:
    Italy
    Balance:
    8,255Coins
    Ratings:
    +1,103 / 2 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    Yes, go with hall effect pots. In one week both my "conventional" pots "died" after almost a year, and in the last weeks they weren't working well at all, with no precision. The last days you can see the rig moving by itself just turning motors on.

    I bought the TT Electronics 6127V1A180L.5FS too as a replacement.
  11. Barry

    Barry Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2014
    Messages:
    398
    Occupation:
    Web Developer
    Location:
    Northern Ireland
    Balance:
    3,877Coins
    Ratings:
    +251 / 2 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    I'm using Bourne 6639S-1-502
  12. Stealthelius

    Stealthelius Member Gold Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2015
    Messages:
    51
    Occupation:
    Office Clerk
    Location:
    Rome, Italy
    Balance:
    106Coins
    Ratings:
    +10 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    Any problems with Hall Effects pots? In these days i've some problems with conventional pots...
  13. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2014
    Messages:
    20,460
    Occupation:
    Innovative tech specialist for NGOs
    Location:
    St Helens, Tasmania, Australia
    Balance:
    144,596Coins
    Ratings:
    +10,741 / 52 / -2
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    I have found Hall sensors to be very reliable and durable. They have excellent fidelity and won't break in a motor runaway.
  14. Nick Moxley

    Nick Moxley Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2013
    Messages:
    2,779
    Occupation:
    Owner/Operator- Moxleys Rantals
    Location:
    Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
    Balance:
    17,054Coins
    Ratings:
    +2,504 / 30 / -2
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    Halls are MORE Than Durable, Lol I locked one up to a point of needing a LARGE pair of pliers to free it up, Added a drop of oil and its been good ever since. Have no fear, halls are here. :grin

    PS thinking back, I actually locked up the same pot twice, Once i got the Flex coupler's on and a Flexible Pot mount, everything went butter smooth.
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2016
  15. bruce stephen

    bruce stephen Hammer doesnt fix it, must be electrical

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2015
    Messages:
    1,286
    Occupation:
    general contractor
    Location:
    michigan
    Balance:
    9,110Coins
    Ratings:
    +1,237 / 9 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform, 6DOF
    I've tried and killed a lot of pots, carbon film, cermet, wirewounds. The halls are by far the most reliable and durable. I use the 360's with gear reduction instead of the 180's direct. The only type that was even close to as smooth and accurate was the bourns. The halls also offer a very low resistance to turning which can help reduce oscillation.
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1
  16. fzxj520

    fzxj520 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2015
    Messages:
    176
    Location:
    SimTools is a generic Motion Simulator
    Balance:
    1,341Coins
    Ratings:
    +87 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF
    • Like Like x 1
  17. DonCorleonez

    DonCorleonez Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2009
    Messages:
    80
    Balance:
    195Coins
    Ratings:
    +15 / 0 / -0
    @Barry is Bourns 5k not 10k?
  18. Barry

    Barry Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2014
    Messages:
    398
    Occupation:
    Web Developer
    Location:
    Northern Ireland
    Balance:
    3,877Coins
    Ratings:
    +251 / 2 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    Yes.

    I asked about pots a long time ago and a few people recommended those ones for me.
  19. RacingMat

    RacingMat Well-Known Member Gold Contributor

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2013
    Messages:
    2,233
    Location:
    Marseille - FRANCE
    Balance:
    20,875Coins
    Ratings:
    +2,079 / 21 / -2
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    10K is mandatory with Arduino

    with other setups, maybe 5K is okay: read the specs ;)
    • Informative Informative x 1
  20. Barry

    Barry Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2014
    Messages:
    398
    Occupation:
    Web Developer
    Location:
    Northern Ireland
    Balance:
    3,877Coins
    Ratings:
    +251 / 2 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    I wasn't aware of that. I'm using JRKs