Can a standard CTS 250K pot be wired to work in reverse?

[HalfManHalfBass]

Hi guys,

I'm actually not bad with circuitry, solder and stuff, but this has me confused!

Is it possible to wire a volume pot, (say a CTS 250K), so that when it is in the usuall 'full on' position (fully clockwise) it is actually 'off' and when it is fully counter-clockwise it is at 'full' volume?

I know they make left handed pots but I'm unsure as to whether I actualy need one or not, or if it's just a case of swapping a couple of connections on a couple of tabs?

Many thanks as ever,

Rob.

 

[isko]

Yes you can reverse it.Looking at the pot upside down,just ground the left tab,the hot output goes to the right tab andthe middle tab goes to the output jack and/or pickup selector.

 

[HalfManHalfBass]

Many thanks for your reply ISKO, very helpful!

Rob.

 

[line6man]

Yes you can reverse it.Looking at the pot upside down,just ground the left tab,the hot output goes to the right tab andthe middle tab goes to the output jack and/or pickup selector.

Incorrect!

The taper will be running backwards.

Unless of course, you go with linear taper pots.
Linear taper pots work great for volumes, but you will still want an audio taper for the tone control.

If you want to run your pots backwards, you will want C taper pots.

 

[walterw]

right; unless you get linear taper, wiring the pot backwards will make it act like a switch, where the volume doesn't change till the end when it shuts off.

it'll sound the same on "10" and on "0" as when wired the right way (just at the opposite end), but you won't get anything useful in-between.

 

[HalfManHalfBass]

Ahh-just when I was thinking it might be possible-my hopes have been dashed!

Many thanks for all the replies guys, it seems that even in the world of electronics things rarely go smoothly!

 

[tallboybass]

Just get a reverse taper pot...problem solved.

 

[line6man]

Just get a reverse taper pot...problem solved.

IMHO, B taper volumes and a C taper tone will work better.