Just a random question that popped into my head while looking at a schematic yesterday.

I notice a lot of times pins 1 and 2 on a pot are tied together , like in a 555 circuit.

What is the reason for this? why not just use the wiper and the pin that's needed?

is it a failsafe thing, so if the wiper failed the circuit would still run?

 

is it a failsafe thing

Usually. Wiper contact can go intermittent.

 

I agree. It reduces the impact of the wiper going open occasionally. Resistance jumps to the nominal ohms of the VR instead of infinity. It's good form. Not always necessary but never (?) the wrong thing to do.