johngooch Posted June 21, 2018 Report Share Posted June 21, 2018 I have a simple bluetooth speaker with a 3.5 mm input but no volume control. I would like to add a pot on the outside of speaker. Needs to be water proof. Anybody have any suggestions for a simple volume control/potentiometer that is also water proof? I do not have good head for this kind of tech... j Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Rose Posted June 21, 2018 Report Share Posted June 21, 2018 You want the whole pot on the outside of the speaker? Or just the knob? I'm going to assume the latter; it's easier. In any event, Bournes makes the 3590 sealable pots that you can get at Arrow for ~$13. Various resistances between 200 ohm and a couple of hundred k. Since the pot is sealed, you can then put caulk around it to the case of the speaker, to seal the mounting hole. Or do a web search for 'waterproof potentiometer'. -- Or can you control the volume from the BT transmitting device? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Rillie Posted June 21, 2018 Report Share Posted June 21, 2018 I would think yes to your last question, Jay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johngooch Posted June 22, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2018 6 hours ago, Jay Rose said: You want the whole pot on the outside of the speaker? Or just the knob? I'm going to assume the latter; it's easier. Yes the easier way.... just the knob. Quote In any event, Bournes makes the 3590 sealable pots that you can get at Arrow for ~$13. Various resistances between 200 ohm and a couple of hundred k. Since the pot is sealed, you can then put caulk around it to the case of the speaker, to seal the mounting hole. Good to know about bournes and Arrow.... where would you start for resistance...? Quote Or do a web search for 'waterproof potentiometer'. -- Or can you control the volume from the BT transmitting device? I am needing to control the Aux input- not the BT.... And thank you for your response-- suggestions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Rose Posted June 22, 2018 Report Share Posted June 22, 2018 I'd start with ~20k audio taper. Input jack goes across the resistance; wiper feeds the amp. That's assuming an unbalanced, consumer-style input. But 10k would probably also work. If this is a stereo setup, you might have a very hard time finding a dual-gang waterproof pot. Uh... is the minijack input waterproof? There are such things, but they're expensive. And they require a snap cover, to keep water from flowing in when there's no plug. In this case, are you looking for truly waterproof? Or is it a question of weighing the expense of a bit more protection vs the cost of just keeping a spare speaker handy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johngooch Posted June 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2018 Sorry to be cryptic. I am adding a volume control to Demerbox-- which i am so glad i made the investment! love it. . The aux input is internal - which is brilliant. i put a lectro Ria inside the box and i have a wireless waterproof speaker system which i am using for a god mic on a marine doc i am doing . Lots of boat to boat stuff. I would like to add a external volume control to the Demerbox ( aux input only) so that listeners can control the volumes of the god mic- no cart, god mic not run thru panel of any kind... ... from our hero boat.... I totally 100% get why there is not volume control on the outside of the box-- i know we have all had the annoyance of somebody reaching for a volume control on a PB speaker that is controlled back at the cart... So for 99% of my jobs, i like that option being taken away-- I'll remove the control when the project is finished. Jay Rose--- mono is fine. Only the pot needs water proofing. I'll start with 20k audio taper. thx again, j Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Rillie Posted June 23, 2018 Report Share Posted June 23, 2018 Maybe the Demerbox guys could come up with something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johngooch Posted June 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2018 Sure -it would be a one off for me. I don’t think it would benefit almost all of the demer customers and in fact it could create some confusion for some. I was hoping to tap in the DYI knowledge of this board and do it myself. It is very simple to wire -I just needed some starting specs on the pot. I will let you know how it works out. j. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Rose Posted June 24, 2018 Report Share Posted June 24, 2018 23 hours ago, johngooch said: I'll remove the control when the project is finished. That'll leave a hole. Why not install the pot and leave it there... but put a switch inside the box, that'll defeat the pot when you don't want it to be active? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johngooch Posted June 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2018 Good idea-- and simple to do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mono Posted June 24, 2018 Report Share Posted June 24, 2018 5 hours ago, Jay Rose said: That'll leave a hole. Why not install the pot and leave it there... but put a switch inside the box, that'll defeat the pot when you don't want it to be active? 5 hours ago, johngooch said: Good idea-- and simple to do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johngooch Posted June 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2018 all good input thanks.... many different ways to approach the challenge... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesDemer Posted June 26, 2018 Report Share Posted June 26, 2018 I am loving this post! Thanks for all who added interesting ideas and concepts. As I mentioned to John Gooch, We are about to introduce a new DemerBox model that has volume control on the front keypad. Although it will be stepped (unlike a pot) it will stick out at all and will interface with our new circuit board. There will also be a real time, always on battery indicator on the keypad. I've included a picture. In addition to the switch stuff, the new DemerBox circuit board will also have digital signal processing (DSP) that will allow us to flatten out the dips in the dynamic response at higher frequencies. I'm really excited about this. DB 2018 Switch Plate.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johngooch Posted June 26, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2018 Wow-- that is very exciting James! Looking forward to test driving that new design! In the mean time , still looking for the right waterproof pot....lots of sites out there but finding the right spec is the challenge... and if i poke i a hole in the speaker case i do not like, i can always buy a new pelican--- all the electronics are in the lid. Of course- hoping i can keep it all water tight..... I j Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mono Posted June 26, 2018 Report Share Posted June 26, 2018 On 6/25/2018 at 1:05 PM, johngooch said: all good input thanks.... many different ways to approach the challenge... 11 hours ago, JamesDemer said: I am loving this post! Thanks for all who added interesting ideas and concepts. As I mentioned to John Gooch, We are about to introduce a new DemerBox model that has volume control on the front keypad. Although it will be stepped (unlike a pot) it will [ not ] stick out at all and will interface with our new circuit board. There will also be a real time, always on battery indicator on the keypad. I've included a picture. In addition to the switch stuff, the new DemerBox circuit board will also have digital signal processing (DSP) that will allow us to flatten out the dips in the dynamic response at higher frequencies. I'm really excited about this. Quote DB 2018 Switch Plate.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johngooch Posted June 27, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2018 It is a great idea..... time for me to find the correct pot... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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