Build a Pro Decade Resistor Box for Cheap! PCB & 3D Print Files Included

Only $5 for 10 PCBs and every new member get $5 bonus. + Express 24 hour / 48 hour service on www.pcbway.com/ ➠ ➠ ➠ In this video, I present the an improved version of my decade resistor box using inexpensive 11-position rotary switches. These switches are much more robust and, having 11 positions, offer a ‘0’ position on either end, making them more practical to use.
To make this as self-standing a project as possible, I include the entire process, from designing the custom PCB to creating 3D-printed enclosures for two versions of the box: a compact 3-range model and a full 9-range version. I also designed custom knobs for the switches, ensuring both functionality and aesthetics.
The video covers the assembly and testing of the resistor box, demonstrating its practical use and accuracy. For those interested in making their own, I’m providing all the necessary files, including 3D print files, a schematic, a BOM, and Gerbers for the PCB, at the following link below.
Whether you’re a hobbyist or a professional, this affordable and customizable tool could be a great addition to your bench.
Some Links ---
➠PCBWay share:
www.pcbway.com...
➠Schematic, Gerber's and 3D print files:
drive.google.c...
➠Rotary switches used used:
www.aliexpress...
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[@tubeDude48]

Excellent! 👍 To bad something like this hasn't been available. I've never cared for what's available, or the limits and quality. And they are way over priced!! A plus to your boards, is soldering the resistors directly on the PCB- rather then the switches. Makes it easier to replace them if they burn out. 😀

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Much easier. The switch cleaning is also simple.

[@tubeDude48]

@@electronicsoldandnew - That's for sure.

[@VoidElectronics]

Nice project idea! A capacitor decade box would be useful too! 😁

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@bobbysparky4299]

Xraytonyb recommended this channel on one of his videos. I am so glad he did and I am very happy I found this channel. You are, to put it simply, great! I just don't know any other way to describe your willingness to help and your outstanding ability to do so. Please know that in Atlanta, GA USA, you are appreciated by this old, country, Electrical Engineer. Best wishes and best regards. 👍🙏

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Thank you for your kind words. Xraytonyb is someone I respect highly, so his recommendation and your kind words mean a lot to me.

[@Attic-Toy-Design]

Super cool project. Greetings from London-UK.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@EsotericArctos]

Those dip switches are not really designed to be flicked back and forth regularly, so I am guessing they likely degrade quickly. The rotary style switches are definitely easier to use and a lot more reliable. So much easier to maintain :). I remember doing a similar decade box many moons ago using point to point wiring. I like the circuit board option better though. I really appreciate the hard work you put in to these things and to make them free for us to use is just amazing. Not many are willing to share the way you do these days. Thank you!

[@electronicsoldandnew]

My pleasure

[@nickmckeon329]

I've been very interested in trying this project! Seems super useful. 😊

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@mostlyoldthings]

Great design Manuel! Glad to see that your 3D printer is proving useful, I remember when you were first considering getting one. Thanks for you inspirational ideas as always👍

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@Attic-Toy-Design]

Thanks

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Thank you 🙏

[@JonRig]

Very nice! Far superior to a crappy overpriced one I got a while back. I always have a fire extinguisher to hand when I use it! 😂

[@electronicsoldandnew]

That’s always a good idea with this hobby 😊

[@darrenmurphy6251]

great work ,looks like a professional commercial product youd expect of £250-350 or so, i prefer this knob selection type , my box has thumb wheel switches and i always go the wrong way ,so if iam trying values on a live circuit have to be carefull not to overcurrent stuff , with that in mind ive never seen a decade box with current limiting! maybe i could add a selector for several values of ptc to protect those low ohm settings

[@electronicsoldandnew]

That’s a great idea 👍

[@BJcanal270]

Thanks for sharing

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Pleasure

[@HyyskanPolttaja]

Thank you Manuel! This project is just what I need just now. ( Repairing a tube-radio from the '30s and I need to find some resistor values by 'trial an error method'. ) One minor thing: The link for the rotary switches lands on a page where 2P5T is pre-selected. But the correct ones are 1P11T ones, right? So must be careful before hitting that 'buy now' button...

[@electronicsoldandnew]

True. There’s one single landing page for the switches, and then the actual ones must be selected before buying. Cannot actually force the landing page to go to the 1P11T.

[@mackfisher4487]

"Brilliant" design Manuel, A great example I'm form follows function.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Thanks Mack 👍

[@DavidTipton101]

Brilliant, thanks Manuel 👍😃

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Pleasure 👍

[@MarcelHuguenin]

That's a very nice design Manuel, the PCB, the box and everything. I probably missed the episode where you showed off the 3D printer? It's a multi material one, right?

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Yes. And I’ve become addicted 😊 kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaXSl2dqoKmXnNksi=raOlR1FRY_2Kwcr-

[@MarcelHuguenin]

@@electronicsoldandnew Haha, yes I'm hooked too. Love Fusion 360 and I also have a fast enclosed printer (600 mm max). So one spool after another ...It is just great to be able to make stuff yourself.

[@BeetleJuice1980]

Do you have a video showing how you did the white labels? Also that rough plastic surface hows done? Great job!

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Used fusion 360, and 3d print

[@JorgeOliveiraDodo]

Excelente, obrigado por partilhar

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Prazer

[@simonparkinson1053]

Just one question about the switches.... Are they shorting (make before break) or non shorting (break before make) People have asked this on AliExpress and not got an answer. Ideally we don't want open circuit between steps so need the shorting type. Any feedback on this having actually built a functional unit?

[@electronicsoldandnew]

They seem to be make before break. Connected a multimeter and the beep confirms this.

[@simonparkinson1053]

@electronicsoldandnew Excellent thank you!

[@lyntonprescott3412]

Clever man!

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@TheEmbeddedHobbyist]

Are the switches "make before break" or "break before make" i prefer the make before break for this type of project as it means the connection remains made while you change resistance. But this is just my preference, I don't like the issue that when using a decade box to trim say a voltage regulator. You don't want the output jumping to max as the resistor selection becomes open circuit as you rotate the knobs. Nice to make your own had a few in the past at work where the resistors get smoked as no one reads the power ratings printed on the box.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

They seem to be make before break. Did the multimeter beep test 😊

[@TheEmbeddedHobbyist]

@@electronicsoldandnew Happy days then. well in my opinion anyway.

[@renowden2010]

Hi - had you considered removing the stop on the switch rotation so you can wind them right through allowing you to quickly go from, say, 90 to 10?

[@electronicsoldandnew]

I did, but found that I had to really hack the switches, and decided against it as I did not want to damage them.

[@migalito1955]

Ok, as a young man I had plenty of experience as a draftsperson thru being a structural & miscellaneous iron detailer. Later I attended the university, seemingly forever, to become adept in pure mathematics. However, I have no firm idea as to what a Gerber File is. My first thought when I hear Gerber is the baby food manufacturer. This likely is not the case here & my guess is: "a universal language or modeling scheme" for CNC type machines to use as their instructions for producing any part asked of them to produce, right???

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Correct. PCB manufacturers use the gerber files set to produce the boards.

[@jwrtiger]

I have all the parts including the pcb's for the project. I am a novice and have 3d printers. Would you please comment on how you did the white labeling. I am using OrcaSlicer and a single filament Elegoo printer. I do have a Carbon X1 with the 4 filament accessory. I noticed in my slicer it does show a faint outline of the lettering but doesn't look like it will print it. Thanks for any comments you might add and also thank you for posting this project.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

I use a multi-filament printer, the bambu lab A1, and just define different coloured filaments for the respective “objects”

[@jwrtiger]

@@electronicsoldandnew Thank you for the fast response. I do have a Bambu X1 carbon with the multi-filament AMS. Have not tried multi-color so I will need to do some studying and practice. Again thanks for the reply. Really like your channel and I have subscribed.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍 good luck

[@paulperano9236]

I made something similar using the same type of rotary switch. I used PCBWay and made boards I could mount the switch on and resisters - 5 Watt std values, (2.7, 4.7,etc.). Not used often, BUT when you do need it ... 🙂 I'm think of doing the same with capacitors.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@cougar1861]

Is there a 3D printing service for the enclosure like PCBWay for the PCBs?

[@electronicsoldandnew]

PCBWay does that too. Use the stl files that I provided if you like.

[@cougar1861]

@@electronicsoldandnew Thanks for the good news!