Trimmers: 6mm top adjustment vs Cermet 3362P

[Jeff M.]

I’m sourcing parts for an ElectroVibe (non-mini) and I have a question on the trimmers.
From the build reports, it looks like most folks use the Cermet 3362P as far as I can tell.

Are there any differences between these two styles other than the Cermets being enclosed/sealed?
I notice the Cermets are .5w and 10% tolerance while the others are .1w and 20% tolerance.
Since trimmers rarely end up on the far ends of the throw, I’m not sure the 10% tolerance difference between the two would be that big of a deal.
What would be the benefits of .5w vs .1w on a trimmer?

That said, would the Cermets be more reliable, better quality and/or less prone to drift or something like that?

These 6mm Top Adjustment vs these Cermet 3362P

 

[JamieJ]

I think the cermets are better quality but not by a huge amount. Yep the tolerance shouldn’t make any difference.

 

[Sturdag Lagernathy]

I've used both, and there's not much difference. The top adjust MAY be a bit cheaper in construction, so may want to use it for voltage divider or something "set and forget" as opposed to a function you would need to adjust regularly..

 

[temol]

Here's the main difference

 

[Jeff M.]

Excellent, thanks!
I just started building pedals this year (with zero electronics experience and a rank beginner at soldering) and while many of the things I‘m not sure of are answered by a bit of research, I couldn’t find much info on the trimmer differences.

I did figure out the hard way that the non-Cermets are a bit “delicate” when I snapped one off trying to see ”how far CCW this thing goes”. The lesson on that one was test the throw BEFORE soldering it in!

I‘ll probably just get Cermets going forward since they are sturdier, but I can still use up the cheaper ones that I picked up.

 

[Robert]

Here's the main difference

Projects are progressively being updated to accommodate either type of trim pot.


I tend to lean towards 3362 type, they're lower profile (which makes populating the board a little quicker since they're the same height as IC sockets) and feel more refined/durable to me.

 

[ntuncer]

There is no 250K 3362 at Tayda. Is it possible to use 200K or 500K instead of it? or it is better to use 250K 6mm Top Adjustment?

Search results for: '3362'

www.taydaelectronics.com

 

[slacjs]

There is no 250K 3362 at Tayda. Is it possible to use 200K or 500K instead of it? or it is better to use 250K 6mm Top Adjustment?

Search results for: '3362'

www.taydaelectronics.com

500k should be fine, it’s just twice as hard to get the exact resistance as a 250k. 200k would work as long as the required resistance isn’t over 200k.

 

[peccary]

Here's the main difference

View attachment 19389

You can finagle the middle lead to fit, though, if you don't mind it being a bit cockeyed on the PCB.

 

[temol]

That's what I do sometimes when I run out of the 3362