In article
,
Victory wrote:

Arfa,

I did look at the PDF and it didn't look like it had threads on the
pot. I will phone the company again today. I don't want you to think
that I am not actually doing any of the work myself though. I do get
frustrated when talking to these guys on the phone and they say 'sorry
can't help you' especially after the people on the form say the parts
are easy to come by and common-place. Must be my way of saying things
I guess. The electronic store that I buy from won't be of any help
because they won't tell me the part number and the baggie it comes in
is of little help. And yes I do appreciate the help. I guess I will
look for another forum that might be able to help with a parts list
since I don't want to outstay my welcome (if I haven't already).


Mouser and Digikey and the like are parts distributors. They sell parts
made by many different companies. It is not their business to specify
which part you need for your application. They are not there to offer
technical support. They expect you to know what you want, and to ask for
it using correct terminology.

As others have pointed out, "five-pin pot" is not the correct
terminology. No one would have any idea what you're talking about. The
pot you have could be called a pot with an integral on-off switch.
Actually, it isn't integral at all - it's merely two separate
components; a rotary pot and a rotary SPST switch, fastened together
mechanically for your convenience.

In order to acquire a suitable component for your application, be
prepared to provide at least the following:

Resistance (e.g. 1k ohm)
Power rating (e.g. 2 watts)
Taper style (linear or logarithmic)
Mounting style (the threads you want mean that it is a "chassis mount"
pot, i.e., meant to be fastened to the front panel of an enclosure -- as
opposed to a "board mount" which would be soldered to the circuit board
but not to the chassis.)

You're going to get strange looks if you walk into a restaurant and ask
for some "mixed up unborn chickens" instead of asking for "scrambled
eggs."