source of replacement potentiometer

[gothictoss]

Hey all,

I have owned a NAD C326BEE stereo amplifier for a few years now, more recently there has been some loss of the left channel / crackling when adjusting the balance potentiometer, i assume replacing this should restore full functionality.

Checking the online service manual below indicates the part to be a "VR ROTARY POTENTIOMETER 20KMNX2 L=20mm W/CCRV16A01F-20-20F-MN20K-3C (RoHS)", but google is bringing up no exact matches for the term, and i dont know which partial matches would be compatible.
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1441478/Nad-C-326bee.html?page=29#manual

Would you have any suggestions where i might source this potentiometer? I mean ultimately the handle length is not important, and i really dont intend to ever use the balance adjustment, so the steepness curves wont matter either. Just a replacement to set equal balance and ignore for years to come, without the channels crackling.

Thanks for any assistance you can provide.
Robert

 

[Bluejets]

You might try giving the interior of the pot (if accessible via the terminals) a squirt with contact cleaner ( or crc...wd40) first.
A good spin back and forth a few times after that usually clears the problem.

 

[gothictoss]

Thanks bluejets. I had already taken it out of the system, but can certainly try giving the internals a clean and re-soldering.

 

[Alec_t]

If you intend to have only a 'set and forget' function you could just replace the pot with fixed resistors, or even by-pass the pot altogether.

 

[shrtrnd]

How's about looking at the characters written on the pot itself, maybe a manufacturer name or logo.
Odds are, it'll help narrow-down the search for an exact replacement.

 

[bertus]

Hello,

Are they dual potmeters?
https://www.taydaelectronics.com/po...potentiometer-blend-balance-center-click.html
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-pcs-ALPH...tent-Potentiometer-Pot-15m-6pin-/292518641180

Bertus

 

[gothictoss]

How's about looking at the characters written on the pot itself, maybe a manufacturer name or logo.
Odds are, it'll help narrow-down the search for an exact replacement.

Thanks for the response, the are a few bits of info on the pot. Alpha, M20K, ON3.

This seems very close to the ebay model identified by Bertus, dual with centre detect, I wonder if I can now find something similar in the UK. No D handle, but I can't be too fussy.

perhaps the below would work?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LINEAR-2...899993?hash=item421cbba0d9:g:qr8AAOSweClfEEVy

Thanks!

 

[PETERDECO]

Did you try Bluejets suggestion and spray it to clean it? I recently used WD-40 to fix scratchy sound on bass amplifier - fixed. Volume on electric guitar - fixed. Tone control on friend's stereo - fixed. Of course I spray all switches and controls once I'm inside the unit.

 

[Nickelmore]

Thanks for the response, the are a few bits of info on the pot. Alpha, M20K, ON3.

This seems very close to the ebay model identified by Bertus, dual with centre detect, I wonder if I can now find something similar in the UK. No D handle, but I can't be too fussy.

perhaps the below would work?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LINEAR-2...899993?hash=item421cbba0d9:g:qr8AAOSweClfEEVy

Thanks!

Did it work out for you? I have the same model and the same problem.

I'm thinking about by-passing the pot anyway. What kind of resistor do I need for this?

 

[poor mystic]

Did it work out for you? I have the same model and the same problem.

I'm thinking about by-passing the pot anyway. What kind of resistor do I need for this?

Did you try the WD-40 trick? Should be good for a month or 2

 

[Nickelmore]

Did you try the WD-40 trick? Should be good for a month or 2

Yeah, tried it with potentiometer cleaner (Kontakt Chemie Tuner 600) and it seemed to just move around the dirt inside the potentiometer. The crackling/drop outs moved from the one speaker to the other.

I've managed to bypass the balance potentiometer with 4x 10ohm resistors, and it was working fine in a first run. Going to test it in a week if everything is fine now.

 

[Phil_Fr]

Yeah, tried it with potentiometer cleaner (Kontakt Chemie Tuner 600) and it seemed to just move around the dirt inside the potentiometer. The crackling/drop outs moved from the one speaker to the other.

I've managed to bypass the balance potentiometer with 4x 10ohm resistors, and it was working fine in a first run. Going to test it in a week if everything is fine now.

Hi Nickelmore,

I am facing the same issue with my amplifier Nad C326 and I am now considering to bypass the balance potentiometer by resistors just like what you did.
Could you please explain a bit more in details how you did that as there is 6 pins hence you would need 3 resistors instead of 4 (per your reply).
Ps: sorry for typo...I’m French

Hi Nickelmore,

I am facing the same issue with my amplifier Nad C326 and I am now considering to bypass the balance potentiometer by resistors just like what you did.
Could you please explain a bit more in details how you did that as there is 6 pins hence you would need 3 resistors instead of 4 (per your reply).
Ps: sorry for typo...I’m French

BTW, I also tried to clean with WD40 but it worked just for a couple of days.

 

[Nickelmore]

Hi Nickelmore,

I am facing the same issue with my amplifier Nad C326 and I am now considering to bypass the balance potentiometer by resistors just like what you did.
Could you please explain a bit more in details how you did that as there is 6 pins hence you would need 3 resistors instead of 4 (per your reply).
Ps: sorry for typo...I’m French


BTW, I also tried to clean with WD40 but it worked just for a couple of days.

Hi Phil_Fr,

my father did this and i tried to follow it - but I'm not an electrician. And I hope to remember it correctly: He bypassed the outter pins twice with 10ohm resistors

1 - 2 - 3
4 - 5 - 6

from 4 to 1 (1) and to the connection (2)
from 6 to 3 (3) and to the connection (4)

I hope this is useful in any way
We had to drill a hole so the potentiometer fits in a 90° degree in the case and the regulator stays in place (even though the top point is not upwards anymore )