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a bender's guide

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[potentiometers]

[circuit bending]
[introduction]
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[parts]
[exploring the art]
[how it works]
[direct wiring]
[potentiometers]
[capacitors]
[photo resistors]
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[leds]
[humidity sensors]
[body-contacts]
[reset switch]
[line outputs]
[other techniques]
[cautions]
[closing words]
      

Instead of switches, potentiometers (variable resistors) can be soldered in the middle of the pairs of connections. In many cases this will allow the adjusting of the new effect with the turn of a dial. Potentiometers, like non-adjustable common resistors, come in a variety of values measured in ohms of resistance. Experiment with different values to learn their effects. Potentiometers usually have three soldering points, or lugs. Solder your two wires so that one connects to the middle lug and the other to one of the outside lugs. Which outside lug you choose depends on what you want the effect to sound like as the potentiometer's dial is turned in a pre-determined direction. Example: The volume control on your stereo is a potentiometer. If you were to reverse its outside lug wiring the volume would go DOWN when you turned it up (clockwise).

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Switches can be used along with potentiometers between the pair of circuit-bending connections as well. In this way, effects can be pre-set with the potentiometer's knob and turned on and off with the switch. A wire would be soldered to one of the points in a circuit-bending pair, through the toggle switch, then through the potentiometer and back into the circuit-board to the other point of the pair. This switched component wiring may be used with any components, including the following...

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