Main Output Pot on Behringer UMC1820

[raybbj]

Hi Folks,

Does anyone know what kind of pot (part#) is used for the main output volume pot on a Behringer UMC1820 interface? I have had endless conversations with Chat GPT, Gemini and Co-Pilot, but to no avail. My pot is scratchy and it's a sealed pot so I don't I can lubricate it with DeOxit.

As popular as the Behringer UMC series of interfaces are, surely I can't be the first person with a scratchy main output pot.

I know the specs:
- 6 pin (stereo)
- sealed
- Audio Taper
- 10K
- 15 mm shaft
- 9 mm housing
- D shaft
- mounting lugs
- Panel Mount

I just can't seem to source these specs. One AI assistant told me that Behringer made these pots custom for the UMC interfaces, but that goes against their business model of using off the shelf parts to keep costs low.

Can anyone provide guidance?

If I can't source a replacement pot, I might try putting some DeOxit on the shaft and seeing if it will wick down into the housing.

Regards,
Ray

 

[RFR]

I’d give cleaning it a shot. But sparingly. Being sealed there’s no place for exceess to run off.

 

[rob aylestone]

Confused? You know the spec? Can’t you just order a compatible item or is there an issue? All I have ever done is pop it out, so I can check the physical size and the pad spacing, and order one from my usual component suppliers. Visually that’s all I’ve done. Usually they fit, sometimes with a bit of pin bending. Other times the body might be a few mm too big so physically it doesn’t fit, so you order another from somebody else? In all the years of doing these kind of repairs, I’ve never even kept records for myself of where the parts came from and certainly I’ve never thought of putting the info on the net, because in another year there’s no guarantee the supplier will have the same spec again? 10k log two channel/stereo pot. 15mm shaft, 9mm housing? Is that not the other way around?
First poss

I found some 16mm versions on Amazon these have splined shafts not flat.

If I was fixing it, there seems no real issue based on what you’ve said, but once the faulty one is out, I’d not expect any issue. I tried AI and the results are ridiculous. Clearly the training for technical things is crazily weak. All suggestions are rubbish!

 

[raybbj]

Like I said, I can't seem to find anything that meets these specs. I'm on vacation next week, so I will take it apart and put some DeOxit on the tip of a toothpick and see if I can any to wick down the shaft, otherwise I will keep trying to source the pot, but it's proving to be difficult.

 

[rob aylestone]

In what way? They look perfectly normal? You've not taken it apart yet? Then how did you get the specs? Pot bodies in the miniature size are generally 16mm. The critical thing really is the shaft type, and the depth from front to the two 3 pins. That is easy if the panel to pcb pad distance is larger, but impossible if it’s very small.

Part of deoxit success is the swooshing of lots of fluid under pressure. You can dribble in down the shaft. It will evaporate before it gets to the tracks, and even if it did, the solvent would lift the dirt, evaporate and put it back again! Usually, once out, you can release the tabs, remove the cover, swoosh and replace. Get the thing out first. Then fix it or swap it.

 

[TalismanRich]

Here are photos of the UMC1820 pots and the underside of the circuit board. Maybe this will help you find a proper replacement. Yellow pots are the monitor and main controls, the blue ones are the channel pots. The pushbuttons on top of each channel and the headphone controls are on a separate circuit board that connects via the connector.

 

[TalismanRich]

This appears to be close, lacking the two support legs in the back

10K audio taper mini pots

Parts Express has an Alps 10K Mini Pot as well.

Parts Express ALPS Audio Taper Stereo Potentiometer 6mm Shaft Wholesale - Opentip

www.opentip.com