How does a volume control work?

3 Comments

1. wires says:

   October 15, 2009 at 7:50 am

   A volume control is also called a potentiometer. It is usually in a lower level stage on an amplifier. It is variable resistor with a connector at each end. There is another connector that is a slider that makes contact to this resistor over it’s full length and can be adjusted from one end of the resistor to the other. This slider feeds the next amplification stage.

   For an audio control, the signal is applied to one of the end connectors of the resistor. The other end connector is connected to ground. The slider then will tap off a signal level that runs from the full applied signal at the one end of the resistor to zero signal at the ground end of the resistor.

   The resistor and volume control and be round with a knob that you turn, or it can be straight and have a knob that you slide up and down.

   0 signal end
   \
   /
   \<—— slider and signal to next stage of amp.
   /
   \
   /
   0 ground end

   The link below leads to better pictures.
2. Sandicheeks says:

   October 15, 2009 at 7:50 am

   you think too much
3. scence_247 says:

   October 15, 2009 at 7:50 am

   A volume slider is a type of volume control device found on certain electronic devices. It usually consists of a small plastic or metal part mounted on a side of the device that can slide back and forth a short distance, adjusting the volume up or down depending on which way you slide it.