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Electronics => Beginners => Topic started by: Teti on October 15, 2019, 08:21:20 pm

Title: LCR Trimmer Adjustment Tools
Post by: Teti on October 15, 2019, 08:21:20 pm
Hi guys, I got back to the electronics hobby after a couple of decades, please advise...
Which one of these Trimmer Resistor Adjustment Tools would you choose? Does it matter? I can't really see any difference physically as long as they are non conductive?
I guess I would choose Vishay for those bragging rights?  :-+

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/passive-components/variable-resistors/trimmer-resistor-adjustment-tools/ (https://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/passive-components/variable-resistors/trimmer-resistor-adjustment-tools/)

Thanks for your answers
Title: Re: Trimmer Resistor Adjustment Tools
Post by: MosherIV on October 15, 2019, 10:10:54 pm
Hi
Welcome to the forum.

Does not really matter which one, I have not used mine in god knows how long.

Modern designs do not use pots any more, since everything went digital/microcontroller a lot of adjustments are done in sw and stored din Non volatile memory.

Do not get me wrong, they are still used, just not as often/common.
Title: Re: Trimmer Resistor Adjustment Tools
Post by: jhpadjustable on October 15, 2019, 10:35:50 pm
Which one of these Trimmer Resistor Adjustment Tools would you choose? Does it matter? I can't really see any difference physically as long as they are non conductive?
Usually I use a dollar-store jeweler's screwdriver. Whether conductivity matters depends on what you're working with.
Title: Re: Trimmer Resistor Adjustment Tools
Post by: tkamiya on October 16, 2019, 04:32:09 am
Most trimmer knob/screws are electrically isolated.  It is a good idea to use isolated kind but not really necessary.  They are typically low voltage anyway.  I use any small screw driver I can find within my reach.

Trimmer capacitor is a whole different thing though.
Title: Re: Trimmer Resistor Adjustment Tools
Post by: soldar on October 16, 2019, 08:15:33 am
I don't think I have ever paid money for such a tool. For pots I just use a smallscrew driver and the rare occasions when I need something non-metal I just use something I made myself with a little plastic rod or whatever I have at hand. I have sometimes used the inner tube of a ballpoint pen but you can make one with any hard plastic.
Title: Re: LCR Trimmer Adjustment Tools
Post by: Teti on October 22, 2019, 01:59:58 pm
Thanks for your answers, I might potentially need it for som RF stuff in the future. I've found some decent ceramic screwdrivers on Amazon, these are non magnetic, so shouldn't interfere with coils. I guess plastic would do the same job :) but again... those bragging rights ha ha

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=frequency+screwdriver&ref=nb_sb_noss (https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=frequency+screwdriver&ref=nb_sb_noss)