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How to Adjust a Pot With a Multimeter

A "pot," or "potentiometer," is an electronic component that functions as a variable resistor. Pots typically consist of a strip of electrically resistive material, such as carbon, in a circular form, and a "wiper" arm makes contact with the material. The wiper arm is connected to a shaft on which a knob can be attached to allow a person to vary resistance by turning the knob. The pot has three "lugs," or "terminals," to which electrical connections are made: one terminal at each end of the resistive strip, and one for the wiper arm connection.

Things You'll Need

Multimeter with leads (probes)

Instructions

- 1
  Set a multimeter to read DC volts. Depending on the amount of voltage in the circuit you are adjusting, set the multimeter's range so that a full-scale reading is less than the DC voltage in the circuit. When in doubt, set the meter to read the highest voltage, then lower the scale as needed. This prevents burning out the meter.
- 2
  Place the positive probe of the multimeter on the center terminal of the pot you want to adjust. In most potentiometer configurations, the two outside terminals will be the ends of the resistive material, and the center terminal will be the wiper arm.
- 3
  Place the negative probe on a "ground" point of the circuit you are adjusting. Typically, you would be adjusting the voltage at the pot's output (the wiper arm terminal), with reference to the circuit's ground or neutral potential.
- 4
  Watch the multimeter's reading as you turn the knob, and adjust the pot to the desired voltage value.

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