Product Overview
Copal CT-22 Series 500Ω Cermet Trimpot - 22-Turn Side Adjust, Through-Hole, Transparent Window, Unused NOS
Condition
Unused NOS. Visual inspection: excellent condition, nothing out of ordinary. Body markings legible: CT-22 series designation and 500Ω value stamped on casing. Back face stamped 270-XS8784 and 1201. Three through-hole solder lugs intact, no damage observed. Sourced from an electronics distributor consolidating inventory.
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Product Overview
Copal Electronics 270X232A501B1A1 - a 22-turn cermet trimming potentiometer in the CT-22 series, 500Ω nominal resistance, side-adjust configuration, through-hole mounting. Also sold as DigiKey CT2201-ND. Transparent window casing allows visual confirmation of wiper position along the travel track - useful during calibration and troubleshooting. Silver metal housing with brass adjustment screw and amber PCB carrier. Cermet resistive element delivers lower noise and better long-term stability than carbon-composition types.
Key Features
- Nominal resistance: 500Ω
- 22-turn adjustment for fine, repeatable resistance setting
- Resistive element: cermet - stable, low noise
- Tolerance: ±10%
- Power rating: 0.5W at 70°C
- Temperature coefficient: ±100 ppm/°C
- Adjustment type: side-adjust (brass slotted screw)
- Mounting: through-hole, PCB pin termination
- Transparent window casing for visual wiper position identification
- Also known as: Copal CT-22, CT-22EP501, DigiKey CT2201-ND
Applications
- Calibration tech replacing a drifted trimpot in a legacy industrial control board - solders in the replacement, then works through all 22 turns with a small screwdriver and multimeter to bring an offset voltage or gain stage back into spec
- Repair tech fine-tuning output voltage on an older bench power supply or signal generator where a single-turn trimpot cannot reach the required precision
- Audiophile restoring a vintage preamplifier or equalizer - sets gain trim or DC offset with the fine control that cermet multi-turn units provide, without the noise floor penalty of a carbon trimpot
- Radio restoration hobbyist calibrating IF or RF circuits in an antique receiver - the 22-turn range makes it possible to land exactly on frequency rather than hunting back and forth past the target
- Maker or builder adding a precision voltage reference, sensor zero-point adjustment, or oscillator frequency trim to a custom PCB where a panel pot would be overkill
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a top-adjust or side-adjust trimpot?
Side-adjust. The brass slotted adjustment screw is on the side face of the housing. Confirm your PCB layout and enclosure provide access to the side of the component before ordering.
What is the difference between this part and a standard single-turn trimpot?
A single-turn trimpot spans its full resistance range in roughly 270 degrees of rotation. This 22-turn unit distributes the same range across 22 full rotations, so each turn changes resistance by a small fraction of the total - roughly 22.7Ω per turn at nominal value. That granularity is what calibration and precision analog work demands.
Is this part suitable for surface-mount boards?
No. This is a through-hole component with three PCB pins. It is not compatible with surface-mount assembly.
Can this be used as a frequently adjusted user control?
Trimpots are designed for occasional set-and-forget calibration, not repeated end-user adjustment. Mechanical life is limited - plan to set it once (or a small number of times) and leave it in place.
What tools are needed for adjustment?
A small flat-blade or slotted screwdriver sized for the brass adjustment screw. An insulated driver is recommended when adjusting under power.
Twenty-two turns to land exactly where the circuit needs to be - no overshooting, no hunting, just a slow deliberate dial-in. That kind of patience built into a component this small is why engineers still reach for the CT-22 when the calibration has to hold.
