Why am I getting those static bursts when I fiddle with the volume?

[eleven07]

I have done some fixes to my radio, its kind of old.

It has a dual-stereo volume controls- two controls side by side.

The thing is, I havent touched the volume circutry in it, but it gives me bursts of loud static, thru my headphones, when I raise the volume. its annoying and it hurts my ears.



-1107

 

[wzkbrown]

Probably a dirty wiper in the control.&nbsp;&nbsp;Get some 'tuner cleaner' from radio shack and spray into the control 'with mighty twisting of the knob' and wash it clean.&nbsp;&nbsp;Get the right cleaner (no PAM, WD-40 or spray starch) or you will ruin it for good.<br>k

 

[Rip]

I've had success injecting isopropyl alcohol with an eyedropper into the control & rotating the shaft several times quite briskly. You may want to direct air from a hair dryer on it for a few minutes after cleaning to help it dry out.

 

[kirsebom]

If you have a leaky capacitor in your circuit, and there is a DC current flowing through the wiper, you will never get rid of the crackling. Cleaning does not help.