Speaker crackle from the volume knob

[silent tone]

This has happened a variety of devices I have. Pretty much anything I have with an analog volume knob, 2 clock radios, car radio, logitech z560s, old shelf stereo system, etc. When you adjust the volume, theres static, usually on the left or right speaker. "Excercising" the volume knob gets rid of it for a while, but a few hours later, it returns. Is this dust or corrosion in the knob, or faulty components, or what?

 

[sswingle]

Who cares? You aren't sitting there adjusting the volume all the time.

 

[Smilin]

Possibly a little corrosion in the rheostat.

You could maybe blast a little silicone spray in there after you've 'worked it' around a bit to get it clean sounding.

You live near the ocean by chance?

 

[VirtualLarry]

I had that happen, on all three adjustment knobs on a set of stereo speakers that I had, that I keep in my car. Power/volume, left/right balance, and treble/base (dual pot, push/pull to select). They got so bad, that just touching any of them caused them to short/open sometimes, cutting/overamplifying the sound when that happened. It was terrible. I figured that they were totally shot.

I took the thing apart, carefully desoldered everything, and then individually "exercised" each of the pots a bunch of times. None of them seemed to be noticably mechnically worn or defective in any way, so I soldering them all back in, and then the thing behaved as good as new again! Might be something to try, if you are handy with a soldering iron.

 

[lenjack]

It's dirt and oxidation in the contacts. DON'T use silcone spray as it will reduce conductivity. Get some contact or volume control cleaner at Rat Shack or other elcectronic store. Open the unit and try to spray into the control while rapidly rotating it. This often will remedy the problem