We've had a few queries this week as to why we've supplied pots without dust caps. It's over a year since we did, so I've no idea why the sudden influx, but whatever. Here's why....

Alpha pot dust caps are not RoHS compliant. It's that simple.

We had no idea until a year ago. It seems not many other people are aware of it - we see pedals proudly adorned with 'RoHS' with those very dust caps inside. None of our business of course, we just look after our own.

So how do we know? A little over a year ago we struck up a deal with a UK parts distributor to source our pots from Alpha, rather than go direct and buy in bulk or source them from another outlet such as Tayda. We gave the spec to the supplier who came back to us soon afterwards with a big 'Uh-Urrrh - no can do'. The reason being we'd specified dust caps, and their purchasing department had already been down that road with Alpha and ascertained they contained something deemed incompatible with RoHS regulations. So, wanting to adhere to all that is good and proper, we simply ditched the dusties. We're legit. We would never knowingly flout such a thing.

So here we are.

There's a good 3mm clearance from pot body to PCB when they're mounted, so unless you lump the solder on like granny spreads butter you shouldn't have any issues. We never do.

'Ah, but Tayda stock dust covers - sort it out!' - Indeed they do, but you may notice there's no RoHS statement on them. Go figure...