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Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals

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On Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:21:51 -0800, Christopher Howard
<christopher@librehacker.com> wrote:

>In my analog computer setup, a very common thing is to use
>potentiometers as coefficients, i.e., as voltage dividers that attenuate
>an input signal. But something wasteful about this is that sometimes
>multiple different signals have to be divided by the same coefficient —
>for example, dividing various forces by the mass of the object. So, I
>have to use multiple potentiometers for that, and I have to keep them
>set to the same value.
>
>So, I was wondering what would be the simplest analog approach to get
>around this problem, without having to use expensive
>multiplier/dividers. Maybe just have one potentiometer connected to a
>bunch of cheap transistors? 

If you use a real pot in an analog computer, how do you set the
coefficients?

You could remove it from the circuit, turn and measure, and put it
back.

Or use a classic 10-turn pot with an indicator knob.

Or use a bunch of relays to switch one pot at a time out to a
measuring thing.

Why not use Spice? I know people who are afraid to use Spice. LT Spice
is free and I teach people to use it in 10 minutes.


John Larkin
Highland Tech Glen Canyon Design Center
Lunatic Fringe Electronics

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one potentiometer dividing multiple signals Christopher Howard <christopher@librehacker.com> - 2026-03-16 07:21 -0800
  Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals Martin Brown <'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk> - 2026-03-16 15:45 +0000
  Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals "Edward Rawde" <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-16 11:50 -0400
  Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-03-16 09:42 -0700
  Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2026-03-16 09:54 -0700
  Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) - 2026-03-16 20:03 +0000
    Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) - 2026-03-19 10:01 +0000
  Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2026-03-17 21:28 +0000
    Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals Christopher Howard <christopher@librehacker.com> - 2026-03-18 08:25 -0800
      Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals John R Walliker <jrwalliker@gmail.com> - 2026-03-18 16:34 +0000
      Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals Martin Brown <'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk> - 2026-03-19 12:42 +0000
        Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals Christopher Howard <christopher@librehacker.com> - 2026-03-19 11:51 -0800
          Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-03-19 13:16 -0700
          Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) - 2026-03-19 22:18 +0000
          Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals Jasen Betts <usenet@revmaps.no-ip.org> - 2026-03-20 07:29 +0000
          Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) - 2026-03-20 09:05 +0000
      Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals Jasen Betts <usenet@revmaps.no-ip.org> - 2026-03-20 07:25 +0000
        Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) - 2026-03-20 09:05 +0000
  Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals someone <cffbf4deb9142bce48974efc0e64dede@example.com> - 2026-03-17 22:30 +0000
  Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) - 2026-03-19 18:44 +0000
  Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals Jasen Betts <usenet@revmaps.no-ip.org> - 2026-03-20 07:12 +0000
  Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-03-20 09:08 -0700
    Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals Ross Finlayson <ross.a.finlayson@gmail.com> - 2026-03-20 11:52 -0700
    Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals Christopher Howard <christopher@librehacker.com> - 2026-03-23 09:09 -0800
      Re: one potentiometer dividing multiple signals piglet <erichpwagner@hotmail.com> - 2026-03-24 08:48 +0000

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