Electronic – arduino – Replace mechanical pot with digital

arduinodigital potentiometer

I have a motor controller board that handles 24v and up to 60a and can be varied via a mechanical pot of 100k ohms. I want to replace it with a digital pot like an MCP41100 and control it with an arduino.

Can I expect the motor circuit with the digital pot inserted to be isolated and separate from the arduino circuit with the control portion of the digital pot?

Bottom line is its not working and I'm trying figure out why. Wondering if the two circuits are really one.

Best Answer

To figure out you should post the scheme. But in general you can replace mechanical potentiometer with digital, if you are sure the voltage and current are within maximum ratings of the latter. Also be sure to protect the digital potentiometer with shottky diodes to prevent voltage spikes, they may be lethal.