Attenuator question.

[danosol]

Have any of you had a popping or crackling sound come from your attenuator?  I just installed my GP attenuator and when I cycle back from click 17 to 16 I get a light pop or click in the right channel.  When I go from 16 to 17 nothing, but from 16 to 17 I get a pop.  If I try and move it real slow it sounds like a louder pop or crackle only on the way back from 17 to 16.  I plan on calling G0oldpoint but thought I would check in here to see if you guys had any suggestions.

[Paul Birkeland]

I would give the attenuator ten or twelve full rotations quickly, just to burnish the contacts a little bit and remove any oxidation.

When we first got the switches in that go with the BeeQuiet and Submissive, I built up an attenuator and it popped during switching.  I was pretty disappointed and was ready to throw in the towel, but Doc B. suggested contact cleaner and several rotations, which completely solved the problem.

-PB

[danosol]

It has gotten better and of I switch it fast or normally it eother doesn't make a pop or a very slight one.  When I move it slow it sounds like a dropout scratchy pop, and only when moving back from 17 to 16.

Where would I spray the contact cleaner in the switch exactly?  I'll be calling Arn at GP today as well.  Thanks Paul.

[Paul Birkeland]

A really slow rotation of the control will exaggerate any small issue, I would recommend just not moving the switch that slowly.

I don't (think) I have any Gold Point switches sitting around here, but I believe whatver you might spray in there will get on the inside of the clear plastic ring, so I would just suggest exercise.

-PB

[danosol]

Talked with Arn at GP and he said that he has neve heard of my problem.  He told me to try and gently rock the the two wafers back and forth to get the nylon washers to seat in (Didn't work).  When I told him about spraying with contact cleaner he said that the attenuater is already prelubricated.  So if I was to use a contact cleaner, would I just use Deox-it?

[adamct]

Yes.

[danosol]

Is it OK to shoot some DeOxit into it while it's mounted to the chassis?

[adamct]

Yes, assuming its not powered on! 

[danosol]

I made sure. 

[Laudanum]

I know some wont agree with this but I personally wouldnt spray or apply deoxit into a switch or enclosed part.  I like the stuff but I apply to contacts with a q-tip or spray on external parts only.   Im referring to the "standard" stuff, D5 I think it is.  It seems to work great when first applied but I think, like some others do, that it ends up gumming up the works so to speak.  Im not so sure it's the product itself or that it's residue collects dust over time.  I've had a couple scratchy guitar pots that Ive "fixed" with Deoxit for a short time but ended up replacing because they seemed to get worse fairly quickly.  Maybe one of their products other than the D5 wouldnt have been problematic.   Just my personal opinion.

[danosol]

Thanks Desmond for the Input. 

I too have used the D5 for guitar pots and one in particular got scratchy again not long after spraying it.  My guess was that the pot was faulty to begin with so it got tossed.  I'm hoping that isn't the issue here.  Most pots already have some sort of grease in them already so damned if you do and damned if you don"t.    GP said that they have never heard of my issue happening to their pot. 

I sprayed it anyway and it seems to have gone away, but time will tell.  Crossing my fingers.