How to Solder Pots

How to Solder Pots

• 1

  Remove the knob and the cover or mounting plate to gain access to the potentiometer. Carefully move any surrounding wiring from around the pot.

• 2

  Identify each terminal on the pot. One will be the ground, one will be the input, and one will be the resistor element, sometimes referred to as the wiper.

• 3

  Heat the soldering iron until it is hot enough to melt the end of your resin-core solder. Place the tip of the soldering iron on the edge of one terminal to soften the existing solder enough to disconnect the attached wire with the needle nose pliers.

• 4

  Remove the attached wires from the remaining terminals in the same manner. Remove the existing pot and put your replacement pot in its place.

• 5

  Re-position one detached wire to the corresponding terminal on the replacement pot. Hold the end of the solder to the terminal and place the tip of the soldering iron on the edge of the terminal long enough to melt the solder.

• 6

  Pull the soldering iron and the solder away from the terminal as soon as the solder begins to melt. You should now have melted a very small amount of solder on the terminal with the wire attached to it.

• 7

  Wait just a few seconds for the solder to cool, and then carefully move the soldered wire to make sure it is solidly attached to the terminal.

• 8

  Repeat the soldering process to re-attach the remaining wires to the corresponding terminals on the replacement pot.

• 9

  Replace the cover or mounting plate and the control knob. Test the potentiometer to make sure it works properly.