# Crank Knob to Volume Control **URL:** \ **Category:** Proton Packs\ **Created:** [August 16, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112 "2014-08-16T17:45:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/6bbea6/32.png) [@Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Venkmans_Swagger)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/1 "2014-08-16T17:45:51Z")
I’m looking to turn my [crank knob](https://www.gbfans.com/shop/crank-knob) into my volume control. I’ve read the GBFans documentation for the soundboard which states I need a 10k linear potentiometer. I am correct in thinking the item below is what I need? Also what type of wire would I need to solder this to? 3 amp? ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Witt](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/87869e/32.png) [@Mike\_Witt](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Mike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/2 "2014-08-16T17:54:01Z")
I used the one u show. The stem on it is to short and with the split in it, it made it hard to tighten down the set screws in the [crank knob](https://www.gbfans.com/shop/crank-knob) and have it sit and spin correctly. Best bet is to use the one from radioshack with the super long stem. Its solid and you can cut it down to the correct length. Worked a lot better. ---
**Author:** ![Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/6bbea6/32.png) [@Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Venkmans_Swagger)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/3 "2014-08-16T17:59:29Z")
Unfortunately I’m in the UK so we don’t have RadioShack over here, I’ll look for a long stemmed potentiometer though thanks. Any idea on the type of wire I need? Cheers for the reply ---
**Author:** ![Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/6bbea6/32.png) [@Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Venkmans_Swagger)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/4 "2014-08-16T18:08:28Z")
Is this better? ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Witt](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/87869e/32.png) [@Mike\_Witt](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Mike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 6:11pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/5 "2014-08-16T18:11:10Z")
Yes that looks like the one i used ---
**Author:** ![Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/6bbea6/32.png) [@Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Venkmans_Swagger)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 6:14pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/6 "2014-08-16T18:14:42Z")
Thanks Mike. Nice work on your GBTVG pack ---
**Author:** ![thebigone2087](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d6d6ee/32.png) [@thebigone2087](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/thebigone2087)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 6:59pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/7 "2014-08-16T18:59:38Z")
For the wire, I used standard solid core 24ga wire. ---
**Author:** ![Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/6bbea6/32.png) [@Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Venkmans_Swagger)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/8 "2014-08-16T19:03:24Z")
Is that the same wire that you ran to your Spengler plate? ---
**Author:** ![thebigone2087](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d6d6ee/32.png) [@thebigone2087](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/thebigone2087)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 9:38pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/9 "2014-08-16T21:38:15Z")
Yep, sure is! I used the same wire for all my wiring with the exception of the speakers which I used standar speaker wire. ---
**Author:** ![FossilizedArt](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/fossilizedart/32/3993_2.png) [@FossilizedArt](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/FossilizedArt)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 10:43pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/10 "2014-08-16T22:43:54Z")
A question, if you don’t mind– While it seems neat to have the volume control on the [crank knob](https://www.gbfans.com/shop/crank-knob) on the pack, it’s not the easiest thing for the pack wearer to access, and is more likely to be messed with by any prankster who runs up behind you. Why not put the volume control potentiometer on the thrower? (that’s what I do with every pack I build). Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![bishopdonmiguel](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/bishopdonmiguel/32/187401_2.png) [@bishopdonmiguel](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/bishopdonmiguel)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 11:26pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/11 "2014-08-16T23:26:03Z")
> [@FossilizedArt](#): > > While it seems neat to have the volume control on the crank knob on the pack, it’s not the easiest thing for the pack wearer to access, and is more likely to be messed with by any prankster who runs up behind you. This! Unless there is a specific reason to do this with the [Crank Knob](https://www.gbfans.com/shop/crank-knob), a control on the thrower or [motherboard](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/proton-pack/motherboard) would be preferable purely from a usability standpoint. Having said that, you might still mount the knob on a potentiometer so that it turns nicely even if not connected to a circuit. If you want it to spin around unhindered, remove the potentiometer stop. ---
**Author:** ![Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/6bbea6/32.png) [@Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Venkmans_Swagger)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 8:23am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/12 "2014-08-17T08:23:30Z")
> [@thebigone2087](#): > > Yep, sure is! I used the same wire for all my wiring with the exception of the speakers which I used standar speaker wire. Thanks buddy. Means I don’t have to buy any more wire as I have enough for my battery, Spengler plate and now my potentiometer. ---
**Author:** ![Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/6bbea6/32.png) [@Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Venkmans_Swagger)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 8:26am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/13 "2014-08-17T08:26:38Z")
Great idea FA and thanks Bishop for your input too. I think you guys might be right about the accessibility of the [crank knob](https://www.gbfans.com/shop/crank-knob). Hmmmm the top knob on the thrower would be good to use ---
**Author:** ![chibigear](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/65b543/32.png) [@chibigear](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/chibigear)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 10:10am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/14 "2014-08-17T10:10:39Z")
I used 4K7 ohm potentiometer in our packs, and the GBFans soundboard without worries. Our newest rookie’s pack has the same potentiometer under the [Crank Knob](https://www.gbfans.com/shop/crank-knob) for volume control, and works nicely. Might change that to the Clippard on the gun though, when the thrower is done, like in my tutorial here; > **[Making a working volume control knob from real Clippard R701](https://forum.gbfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=37282)** > > Howdy folks! It seems that I could be making myself a bit helpfull for you, as I got the package from GBFans, including the Clippard R701 valve for the proton gun. In one thread I was misread to have attched a potentiometer in a real Clippard,... ---
**Author:** ![Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/6bbea6/32.png) [@Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Venkmans_Swagger)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 10:30am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/15 "2014-08-17T10:30:58Z")
love what you did with the Clippard Chibi. I was thinking about doing this but this will be my first build and I don’t think I have the skill to do it ---
**Author:** ![Hoot](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/df705f/32.png) [@Hoot](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Hoot)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 2:53am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/16 "2014-08-21T02:53:42Z")
Hey Venkman - I just finished mine after doing some research. I used a 10K potentiometer (it was what was recommended on here somewheres for the GBFans board). I bought a 10K Linear Potentiometer with a longer shaft from Radio Shack. I then used a wiring diagram from the internet. I used this image (as if you are looking at the rear of the potentiometer, shaft facing away from you) ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/7/e/7eb63ac569711ad86268032f44e1fd1540e4c8f1.jpeg) Where TOP is POsitive on the GBFans board. Worked great for me. ---
**Author:** ![robpenfold](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/robpenfold/32/6540_2.png) [@robpenfold](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/robpenfold)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 4:53am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/17 "2014-08-21T04:53:30Z")
Thanks for that diagram Hoot. I literally just mounted my volume pot on my [motherboard](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/proton-pack/motherboard) and was about to go scouring the net to figure out which terminal went where. You’re timing couldn’t be better. ---
**Author:** ![Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/6bbea6/32.png) [@Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Venkmans_Swagger)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 7:22am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/18 "2014-08-21T07:22:54Z")
For someone that is new to electronics and building, does the “Wiper” port remain unused? ---
**Author:** ![thebigone2087](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d6d6ee/32.png) [@thebigone2087](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/thebigone2087)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 8:14am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/19 "2014-08-21T08:14:45Z")
No, the “wiper” is the negative connection for the sound board. So if we went with normal wire color it’d be Red on top (positive) black in the middle (negative) and green on the bottom (ground). Check out my electronic setup: [Proton Pack Build part Deux -- My GB1 Super Hero - #31 by thebigone2087 - Proton Packs - GBFans.com](http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=36997&start=30) scroll down until you see the layout and the pot orientation. Keep in mind my pot is backward. ---
**Author:** ![Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/6bbea6/32.png) [@Venkmans\_Swagger](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Venkmans_Swagger)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 8:29am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112/20 "2014-08-21T08:29:39Z")
Awesome thanks mate. I’ve never worked with electronics apart from the GBFans lights and sound kits so the earth/ground/green wire is something I’ve never used. Its always been just Red+ and black- so thanks for your help [Next page](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/crank-knob-to-volume-control/37112.md?page=2)