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Understanding Push-Pull Potentiometers

Dean N

Dean N

Jul 4, 2006
2,161
4,158
Pittsburgh, PA
#1
I'm learning electronics, and want to understand exactly how a push-pull pot works. I know it's essentially 2 pots operated by one shaft, pushed down to control one, up to control the other.

Let's say the settings of both pots are 0-10. If I turn pot A to 3, and then pull up to engage pot B, and turn it to 6, do I still have pot A working at 3? If the knob is set at 6 for B, then I push it down, is A now at 3 or at 6? Where is the B setting now? Am I making any sense?

I'm interested in using a push-pull pot for 2 independent controls (like bass/mid, or vol/balance). I do understand the resistance and taper concepts.

I understand physics, chord theory, all kinds of bookish stuff, but some of these real-world basics frustrate me.
 
#2
It's just one pot with a switch built in:

upload_2019-3-18_18-28-7.png

Push-Pull-Pot-Basics.png
 
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#3
Yeah, I've read that on a bunch of sites, but it doesn't really help me understand what's happening to the current as it passes through the thing. I'm probably overthinking this. (And I totally understand SPST, SPDT, DPDT, etc., switches. :confused:)

I guess I'm asking 1) can a push-pull be used in the same way as a stacked pot, and 2) how exactly does it work. I want to read about how the current runs through it, and what the switch does. Every site says "coil splitting" (which I also understand) or "add cool mods".. so, yeah. I need a 5th grade level potentiometer course...
 
#5
I think you are confused. The pot is independent of the push/pull switch. The wiper of the pot stays in contact with the same resistive trac regardless of the position of the push pull.

There are single and dual ganged push/pulls, but again, the push/pull switch is independent of the pots, and in every case, the pot/s operates like a stand-alone pot.

All a push/pull pot does is save space by including a double pole double throw switch into an existing control.
 
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#7
You can also get what's known as a dual concentric pot. That also has two pots, but with one shaft inside the other, you get two controls. The controls will be an outer bottom ring and an inner top knob. Allows for independent operation of each pot, where-as in the dual ganged I mentioned in the above post, there is only one shaft & knob, IE, both wipers move in unison.
 
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#10
Dean N said:
Umm, uhh, so it's not two pots? Just one with a bonus switch?
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. There are also dual pots with a switch section, as seen on page 3 here: Link Removed. You could use the switch to switch between pot sections, or something else, or even both of those things at the same time.
 
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#14
Coolhandjjl said:
No way. This is TalkBass where it will go on for at least a dozen more pages, lie dormant for 10 years, be revived as a zombie thread, etc., etc.
Click to expand...
Just to be clear, go on for a dozen more pages with the same answers over and over, some of which are absolutely wrong?

Also throw in a handful of "only you know what's best," even if it isn't helpful or doesn't make sense.
 
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