code: def _evaluatePotentials(Pot,R,z,phi=None,t=0.,dR=0,dphi=0):
      
      nonAxi= _isNonAxi(Pot)
      if nonAxi and phi is None:
          raise PotentialError("The (list of) Potential instances is non-axisymmetric, but you did not provide phi")
      isList= isinstance(Pot,list)
      if isList:
          sum= 0.
          for pot in Pot:
              if not isinstance(pot,DissipativeForce):
                  sum+= pot._call_nodecorator(R,z,phi=phi,t=t,dR=dR,dphi=dphi)
          return sum
      elif isinstance(Pot,Potential):
          return Pot._call_nodecorator(R,z,phi=phi,t=t,dR=dR,dphi=dphi)
      else: #pragma: no cover 
          raise PotentialError("Input to 'evaluatePotentials' is neither a Potential-instance or a list of such instances")
docs: Raw, undecorated function for internal use