How to test a dual-gang potentiometer?

How to determine whether a dual-gang potentiometer is good or defective? Its performance needs to be tested. Today we will explain in detail the procedures for testing a dual-gang potentiometer.

1. Select an appropriate resistance range on the multimeter, then measure the resistance values of the two potentiometer gangs separately (i.e., the resistance between terminals A and C, and between terminals A’ and C’) to check if they are equal and consistent with the rated resistance.

2. Use wires to short-circuit terminals A and C’, as well as terminals A’ and C respectively. Then measure the resistance between the center taps B and B’ with the multimeter.

Under ideal conditions, no matter where the potentiometer shaft is rotated, the resistance between B and B’ shall be equal to the resistance between A and C or A’ and C’. In other words, the multimeter pointer should stay fixed at the resistance scale value of A-C or A’-C’ without deflection. If the multimeter pointer deflects, it indicates poor synchronization performance of the potentiometer.