IEC 60393-1:2008

Potentiometers for use in electronic equipment - Part 1: Generic specification

IEC 60393-1:2008 is applicable to all types of resistive potentiometers, including lead- screw actuated types, presets, multi-turn units, etc., to be used in electronic equipment. It establishes standard terms, inspection procedures and methods of test for use in sectional and detail specifications of electronic components for quality assessment or any other purpose. It has been mainly written, and the test methods described, to conform to the widely used single-turn rotary potentiometer with an operating shaft. This edition contains the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition: implementation of Annex H which replaces Section 3 of the previous edition. It also includes minor revisions related to tables, figures and references.

Potentiomètres utilisés dans les équipements électroniques - Partie 1: Spécification générique

L'IEC 60393-1:2008 est applicable à tous les types de potentiomètres résistifs, y compris les potentiomètres à commande par vis, les potentiomètres d'ajustement, les potentiomètres multitours, etc., utilisés dans les équipements électroniques. Elle définit les termes normalisés et établit des procédures de contrôle et des méthodes d'essai normalisées à utiliser dans les spécifications intermédiaires et particulières de composants électroniques pour l'assurance de la qualité ou à toute autre fin. Elle a été principalement rédigée, et les méthodes d'essai ont été décrites, pour être en conformité avec les potentiomètres rotatifs monotour avec axe de commande, qui sont largement répandus. Cette édition comporte les modifications techniques significatives suivantes par rapport à la précédente édition: mise en oeuvre de l'Annexe H, qui remplace la section 3 de la précédente édition.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 13-May-2008
• ICS: 01 - GENERALITIES. TERMINOLOGY. STANDARDIZATION. DOCUMENTATION
• ICS: 31.040.20 - Potentiometers, variable resistors
• Technical Committee: TC 40 - Capacitors and resistors for electronic equipment
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 31-May-2008
• Completion Date: 14-May-2008

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 60393-1
Edition 3.0 2008-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Potentiometers for use in electronic equipment –
Part 1: Generic specification
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
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please contact the address below or your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

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IEC 60393-1
Edition 3.0 2008-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Potentiometers for use in electronic equipment –
Part 1: Generic specification
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
PRICE CODE
XD
ICS 31.040.20 ISBN 2-8318-9748-3

– 2 – 60393-1 © IEC:2008(E)
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.6

1 General .8
1.1 Scope.8
1.2 Normative references .8
2 Technical data.10
2.1 Units and symbols .10
2.2 Terms and definitions .10
2.3 Preferred values.28
2.4 Marking .28
3 Assessment procedures .28
4 Test and measurement procedures.28
4.1 General .28
4.2 Standard atmospheric conditions.29
4.3 Drying .30
4.4 Visual examination and check of dimensions.30
4.5 Continuity (except for continuously rotating potentiometers) .32
4.6 Element resistance.32
4.7 Terminal resistance .33
4.8 Maximum attenuation .33
4.9 Resistance law (conformity) .33
4.10 Matching of the resistance law (for ganged potentiometers only) .34
4.11 Switch contact resistance (when appropriate).34
4.12 Voltage proof (insulated styles only).38
4.13 Insulation resistance (insulated styles only).39
4.14 Variation of resistance with temperature.40
4.15 Rotational noise .42
4.16 Contact resistance at low-voltage levels .44
4.17 Setting ability (adjustability) and setting stability.45
4.18 Starting torque .49
4.19 Switch torque .49
4.20 End stop torque.50
4.21 Locking torque.50
4.22 Thrust and pull on shaft.51
4.23 Shaft run-out .52
4.24 Lateral run-out.53
4.25 Pilot (or spigot) diameter run-out .53
4.26 Shaft end play .54
4.27 Backlash .55
4.28 Dither .57
4.29 Output smoothness .58
4.30 Robustness of terminals .59
4.31 Sealing.60
4.32 Solderability .61
4.33 Resistance to soldering heat .61
4.34 Change of temperature.62

60393-1 © IEC:2008(E) – 3 –
4.35 Vibration.63
4.36 Bump .64
4.37 Shock.64
4.38 Climatic sequence .65
4.39 Damp heat, steady state.67
4.40 Mechanical endurance (potentiometers) .68
4.41 AC endurance testing of mains switches on capacitive loads.71
4.42 DC endurance testing of switches .73
4.43 Electrical endurance.74
4.44 Component solvent resistance.78
4.45 Solvent resistance of the marking.78
4.46 Microlinearity.79
4.47 Mounting (for surface mount potentiometers).81
4.48 Shear (adhesion) test .83
4.49 Substrate bending test (formerly bond strength of the end face plating).83
4.50 Solderability (for surface mount potentiometers).83
4.51 Resistance to soldering heat (for surface mount potentiometers).83

Annex A (normative) Rules for the preparation of detail specifications for capacitors
and resistors for electronic equipment .84
Annex B (normative) Interpretation of sampling plans and procedures as described in
IEC 60410 for use within the IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic
Components .85
Annex C (normative) Measuring methods for rotational noise.86
Annex D (normative) Apparatus for measuring mechanical accuracy .89
Annex E (normative) Measuring method for microlinearity.90
Annex F (normative) Preferred dimensions of shaft ends, bushes and for the mounting
hole, bush-mounted, shaft-operated electronic components .92
Annex G (informative) Example of common potentiometer’s law .93
Annex H (normative) Quality assessment procedures .95

Figure 1 – Shaft-sealed potentiometer .14
Figure 2 – Shaft- and panel-sealed potentiometer.14
Figure 3 – Fully sealed potentiometer .14
Figure 4 – Linear law .16
Figure 5 – Logarithmic law.16
Figure 6 – Inverse logarithmic law.16
Figure 7 – Output ratio.17
Figure 8 – Loading error .18
Figure 9 – Total mechanical travel (or angle of rotation) .18
Figure 10 – Conformity .20
Figure 11 – Absolute conformity.20
Figure 12 – Linearity.21
Figure 13 – Independent linearity.22
Figure 14 – Zero-based linearity .23
Figure 15 – Absolute linearity .24

– 4 – 60393-1 © IEC:2008(E)
Figure 16 – Terminal based linearity .25
Figure 17 – Effective tap width.25
Figure 18 – Backlash .27
Figure 19 – Example of insulation resistance and voltage proof test jig for surface
mount potentiometers .39
Figure 20 – Test circuit contact resistance .45
Figure 21 – Measuring circuit for setting ability (as divider).46
Figure 22 – Measuring circuit for setting ability (as current controller).47
Figure 23 – Shaft run-out .52
Figure 24 – Lateral run-out .53
Figure 25 – Pilot (spigot) diameter run-out .
...

IEC 60393-1 ®
Edition 3.0 2008-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Potentiometers for use in electronic equipment –
Part 1: Generic specification
Potentiomètres utilisés dans les équipements électroniques –
Partie 1: Spécification générique

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester. If you have any questions about IEC
copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or
your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

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International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

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latest edition, a corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.

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IEC 60393-1 ®
Edition 3.0 2008-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Potentiometers for use in electronic equipment –

Part 1: Generic specification
Potentiomètres utilisés dans les équipements électroniques –

Partie 1: Spécification générique

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 31.040.20 ISBN 978-2-8322-3379-5

– 2 – IEC 60393-1:2008  IEC 2008
CONTENTS
FOREWORD. 6

1 General . 8
1.1 Scope. 8
1.2 Normative references . 8
2 Technical data . 10
2.1 Units and symbols . 10
2.2 Terms and definitions . 10
2.3 Preferred values . 28
2.4 Marking . 28
3 Assessment procedures . 28
4 Test and measurement procedures . 28
4.1 General . 28
4.2 Standard atmospheric conditions . 29
4.3 Drying . 30
4.4 Visual examination and check of dimensions . 30
4.5 Continuity (except for continuously rotating potentiometers) . 32
4.6 Element resistance . 32
4.7 Terminal resistance . 33
4.8 Maximum attenuation . 33
4.9 Resistance law (conformity) . 33
4.10 Matching of the resistance law (for ganged potentiometers only). 34
4.11 Switch contact resistance (when appropriate) . 34
4.12 Voltage proof (insulated styles only) . 38
4.13 Insulation resistance (insulated styles only) . 39
4.14 Variation of resistance with temperature . 40
4.15 Rotational noise. 42
4.16 Contact resistance at low-voltage levels . 44
4.17 Setting ability (adjustability) and setting stability . 45
4.18 Starting torque . 49
4.19 Switch torque . 49
4.20 End stop torque . 50
4.21 Locking torque . 50
4.22 Thrust and pull on shaft . 51
4.23 Shaft run-out . 52
4.24 Lateral run-out . 53
4.25 Pilot (or spigot) diameter run-out . 53
4.26 Shaft end play . 54
4.27 Backlash . 55
4.28 Dither . 57
4.29 Output smoothness . 58
4.30 Robustness of terminals . 59
4.31 Sealing . 60
4.32 Solderability . 61
4.33 Resistance to soldering heat . 61
4.34 Change of temperature . 62

4.35 Vibration. 63
4.36 Bump . 64
4.37 Shock . 64
4.38 Climatic sequence . 65
4.39 Damp heat, steady state . 67
4.40 Mechanical endurance (potentiometers) . 68
4.41 AC endurance testing of mains switches on capacitive loads . 71
4.42 DC endurance testing of switches . 73
4.43 Electrical endurance . 74
4.44 Component solvent resistance . 78
4.45 Solvent resistance of the marking . 78
4.46 Microlinearity . 79
4.47 Mounting (for surface mount potentiometers) . 81
4.48 Shear (adhesion) test . 83
4.49 Substrate bending test (formerly bond strength of the end face plating) . 83
4.50 Solderability (for surface mount potentiometers) . 83
4.51 Resistance to soldering heat (for surface mount potentiometers) . 83

Annex A (normative) Rules for the preparation of detail specifications for capacitors
and resistors for electronic equipment . 84
Annex B (normative) Interpretation of sampling plans and procedures as described in
IEC 60410 for use within the IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic
Components . 85
Annex C (normative) Measuring methods for rotational noise . 86
Annex D (normative) Apparatus for measuring mechanical a
...