Potentiometer that is.I have a USB encoder board that gives me these specs for pot usage. 5K 150nF .15 Supplied with board100K 10nF 10n Supplied with boardLook like I have a choice between two type pots. 5k and 100k. (they supplied me with the capacitors). I'd like to build a trim wheel and then one of those steering handles they use instead of the rudder panels when they are taxiing. Which of the two type pots would you reccommend? Can anyone give a brief exaplaination of the difference? Thanks,gary B.

Gary,5K means the pot has a resistance of 5,000 Ohms. 100K refers to 100,000 Ohms. Without more information I don't see how to determine which would be the better choice. Is there a manual for the encoder board?Mikewww.mikesflightdeck.comwww.mikesflightdeckbooks.com

Mike, I have either choice allowed on the board. So given the choices, which would be better for a trim wheel? I assume that a pot is like a volume control OR a balance control for music systems. Same principle applies I think. And I assume I would need a balance type pot as opposed to a volume, as I would want to center the pot for either application. The steering nose wheel OR the trim wheel. Guess I could just buy both and try them see which one works the best. Of course I am using Fs9. I'm just going to assign the axis to the pot. Dont know what else information I should supply. I have an either or choice. Thanks.

Gary,If the USB interface is powered by the USB port, the 100K pot will likely minimize the power drain.Mikewww.mikesflightdeck.comwww.mikesflightdeckbooks.com

I would think the people who made the board would be the best ones to answer - like Mike said, it's pretty impossible to say anything without understanding how the board works.Beginners have enough trouble with this "yea, for joystick its 100kOhm" -knowledge that is very specific to certain interface hardware (gameport in this case) that tends to form this kind of folklore without any connection to anything. :)//T

Ok, well heres the info on the USB board but I dont see where it makes any difference reading it at all. I must be really dense. If they say you can use ANY pot value, it seems that it is up to the user to decide what pot to use for what application. And that is what I am asking. IF I wanted to make a trim wheel, what type pot would a person use? Doesnt anyone here have a homebuilt trim wheel? If not, what might be your best guess? I ask, because I dont know, thats all. I squirt water for a living and we dont use pots on a firetruck!http://www.ultimarc.com/a-pac1.htmlThanks again...

Gary,You want a linear taper pot rather than an audio taper unit. The resistance value doesn't matter as long as you get the appropriate capacitor. Mikewww.mikesflightdeck.comwww.mikesflightdeckbooks.com

Ok Mike. Thanks much. Appears pretty straightforward now.