Bourns Pots

[Structo]

I bought a handful of pots for my upcoming 100w build and I have to say at first look and feel, they don't feel like a very high quality pot.
Very little turning resistance and they only come with one washer and one nut.
I bought them from AES.

Right now I'm not sure I will use them.

Anybody use these before?
What is the track record as far as durability and reliability?

[FYL]

Anybody use these before?
What is the track record as far as durability and reliability?

They are OK, not great.

[jelle]

I do not like the taper. Too slow, IMHO.

[David Root]

I bought some from Apex Jr. a few weeks before this forum had a long thread on mechanical and electrical qualities of various pots.

They felt good, didn't look great but no-one at that time seemed to have an opinion on these Bourns pots. They look better than Alpha, which seem to be the lowest grade, a bit below CTS as far as I can gather from this forum.

So I have been using PEC mostly at $10 a pop, along with the odd A-B J taper where they fit the need.

Seems to me that a decent $5 pot is like the proverbial 5 cent cigar these days.

[Structo]

Well side by side, the Alpha's seem better.
Just the feel and looks, the Bourns look and feel cheaper.
But yet they cost almost a dollar more.

[FYL]

Seems to me that a decent $5 pot is like the proverbial 5 cent cigar these days.

Tocos (Tokyo Cosmos) produces some excellent carbon film pots. Their RV24 (24 mm) and RV30 (30 mm) models are really nice but only come in metric guise (9 mm dia / 6 mm shaft) and low power ratings - not a problem in most apps.

http://www.tocos.com/local/pdf/products/RV24.pdf
http://www.tocos.com/local/pdf/products/RV30.pdf

Check their web site for distributors:
http://www.tocos.com/

[CHIP]

I decided to go with PEC's also, but I did just get 2 A-B 1meg audio from Apex Jr. I'll have to cut the shafts but for a 2 watt A-B, they were really inexpensive.

[David Root]

Those Tocos look allright. Where can one get them?

[butwhatif]

bourns have always been top-notch, used in some of the best stuff
alphas i have never liked

[FYL]

Those Tocos look allright. Where can one get them?

Distribs are listed on their web site. For sunny BC and Canuckistan: http://www.tocos.com/sales-locations/?stateid=52

[FYL]

bourns have always been top-notch, used in some of the best stuff

The new hecho in China Bourns pots have very little in common with their glorious ancestors.

[jhaas]

I got some bourns pots form AES in the past and thought the same thing about the feel of them. Much too little friction for my taste.

After hearing others give positive feedback on them, I started looking at the datasheets, and it seems they have different models with varying amounts of friction. I don't have it in front of me, but search for the datasheet and you'll see what I mean.

I'd be curious to know if the Bourns pots that Apex Jr. sells are of the higher-friction variety.

[mlp-mx6]

I'd be curious to know if the Bourns pots that Apex Jr. sells are of the higher-friction variety.

In my experience, yes. The friction is comparable to the Alphas I have used in the past.

For comparison, both have more friction than any A-B 2W pot I have ever used.

[butwhatif]

the gooey alphas--is that supposed to be for the shakers? just sayin

[David Root]

FYL, I found that UTech also has an office in Calgary, so I'll try that. Thanx.

Also, +1 on Apex Jr.'s Bourns pots friction level, very nice I thought and yes, higher than A-B, more like PEC.