This Panel Mount 10K Dual Logarithmic Potentiometer w/ On-Off Switch is a two-in-one; you get a dual-ganged potentiometer and an on-off switch. For the potentiometer-half, you've got a dual standard log-taper 10Kohm potentiometer, with a grippy shaft. It's smooth and easy to turn, but not so loose that it will shift on its own. It also comes equipped with an on/off switch at the beginning of the shaft's rotation.
Potentiometers, or "pots" to electronics enthusiasts, are differentiated by how quickly their resistance changes. In linear pots, the amount of resistance changes in a direct pattern. If you turn or slide it halfway, its resistance will be halfway between its minimum and maximum settings. That's ideal for controlling lights or a fan, but not necessarily for audio controls.
Volume controls have to cater to the human ear, which isn't linear. Instead, logarithmic pots like this one increase their resistance on a curve. At the halfway point volume will still be moderate, but it will increase sharply as you keep turning up the volume. This corresponds to how the human ear hears. Using a log pot therefore gives the effect that a setting of full volume on the control sounds twice as loud as a setting of half volume. A linear pot used as a volume control would give large apparent changes in loudness at low volume settings, with little apparent change over the rest of the control's range.
Unlike many of our other potentiometers, this one is not breadboard-friendly. The pins are about 0.15" apart, and the rows are close together so you'd short the switch to the potentiometer. Thus, we suggest soldering wires to the pins as necessary, or designing a custom PCB.
The built-in switch makes it perfect for audio projects where you want to control both power and volume of a stereo signal.
