Building Potentiometers and Resistors

this is a new series of instructables i want to start called (building components)

in this instructable i will be showing you how to build  your own resistors. this is good to know if you need to have a resestor with a specific value that you cant find elsewhere.

it is actually really simple i will show you two basic methods including one where you draw a resistor. so in the next step ill give you a parts list


please visit my website for more information on this project and more at http://www.ljlabs.co.za

Step 1: Parts List

parts list:

       *1x carbon graphite clutch pencil nib
       *1x sheet of paper
       *1x pencil(normal hb)
       * 1x crocodile lead
       * 1x multimeter

Step 2:

first the basic resistor method this involves tacking a piece of carbon graphite and putting leads onto it.

connect the crocodile lead to the end of the pencil nib and the other to one end of the multimeter,

next turn the multimeter to the resistor setting

 and final take the free lead of the multi meter and run it up and down the nib                                          (potentiometer)

to get a constant value take a second crocodile lead and connect it at specific points on the nib          (resistor            )

Step 3: Drawing a Resistor

this involves using the pencil and drawing a rectangle on a pice of paper

first take the pencil  and draw a long rectangle

next color it in with the pencil and try to make it very shiny

then take the croc lead connected to the multimeter (set on resistor)   and clip it onto one side of the rectangle

 finaly take the free lead and run it up and down the rectange and watch the resistence level

to get a constent value do the same as with the previous step

Step 4: Why Does This Happen

in  electronics the resistance of a meterial depends on 3 tngs

                                  the type of matrerial
                                  the tempreture of the material
                                  this size of the material

 and since we are keeping to vairabels constent and controlling the third we can controll the materials resistance.

i chose carbon graphite because carbon is not a metal, which is very condutive. it is a but it is one of the very few non-metals that is partialy conductive and this is what we are using in our favour

Comments

[Magnetron]

Whaaooow it realy work's nice man tanx

[person%]

Nice instructable. I need a 1M ohm resistor, but now I know how to make one. Watch your spelling. Also, resistance depends on but length and width of the material. The longer it is, the more resistive it is. The shorter it is, the less resistance.

[stringstretcher]

I have used this method to make music a long time ago. Here it is also used. What I found is that when you draw on paper and use your fingers to complete the circuit, you erase the graphite line every time you touch it. Spray a little hairspray over the line and you can still use it as a resistor or pot, and it will not disappear!