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    Variable Resistors

    Browse our wide range of variable resistors including potentiometers, rheostats and thermistors from market leading electronics brands including Vishay, Bourns, EPCOS and RS Pro.

    What are variable resistors and how do they work?

    Variable resistors are electrical components that give you control over the current flow through an electric circuit. Variable resistors can be used in a variety of different types of devices, including the volume and gain control on electric instruments such as guitars and basses. The Variable resistors have a maximum and minimum value which can alter the current. Variable resistors are extremely important, without them you cannot control your circuit.

    What does a variable resistor do in a circuit?

    A variable resistor's role in a circuit is to allow the amount of resistance to be changed. When resistance decreases the flow of the current increases. There are different types of variable resistors that can be used for different functions and environments.

    Types of resistors

    The three most common types of variable resistors are:

    • Potentiometers The most common type of variable resistor is the potentiometers. The potentiometer can be used as a voltage regulator by introducing a variable amount of resistance into a circuit or as a means of adjusting the power in a circuit. Potentiometers can also be known as "pot" or, more specifically, slider pot, trimmer pot or thumbwheel pot.
    • Rheostat A rheostat is a variable resistor which is used to control current within an electrical circuit. They can control the resistance without interrupting it. Unlike the Potentiometer the Rheostat only uses 2 leads. A connection is made to one end of the resistive element and the other connection is made to the wiper end of the variable resistor. Rheostats are commonly used in motor control.
    • Trimmer Resistors Unlike other resistors, a trimmer resistor is a smaller component that is used to be placed within your circuit and not adjusted again. They are also known as trimpots.

    Other types of variable resistors

    include:

    • Ceramic Transient Voltage Suppressors
    • Metal Oxide Varistors
    • Potentiometer Accessories
    • Potentiometer Knob
    • Potentiometer Mounting Nuts
    • Rheostat Dials
    • Thermistors
    • Trimmer Resistor Adjustment Tools
    • Trimmer Resistor Mount Adapters
    Potentiometer Accessories
    Potentiometer Accessories
    Potentiometer Knobs
    Potentiometer Knobs
    Potentiometers
    Potentiometers
    Rheostat Accessories
    Rheostat Accessories
    Rheostats
    Rheostats
    Trimmer Potentiometer Accessories
    Trimmer Potentiometer Accessories
    Trimmer Potentiometers
    Trimmer Potentiometers

    6416 Products showing for Variable Resistors

    308 of 321
    10kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer 0.5W Side Adjust Bourns, 3299
    • RS Stock No. 796-4995
    • Mfr. Part No. 3299P-1-103LF
    Each
    TWD102.00
    500Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer 0.5W Top Adjust Bourns, 3386
    • RS Stock No. 522-2766P
    • Mfr. Part No. 3386P-1-501LF
    Each (Supplied in a Tube)
    TWD44.00
    10kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer 0.5W Top Adjust Vishay, 63S
    • RS Stock No. 169-3121
    • Mfr. Part No. M63S103KB40
    Each (In a Box of 200)
    TWD92.40
    10kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer 0.2W Top Adjust TE Connectivity, 416
    • RS Stock No. 652-4170
    • Mfr. Part No. 416MA103P
    Each (In a Pack of 10)
    TWD15.70
    200kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer 0.5W Top Adjust Bourns, 3362
    • RS Stock No. 167-3260
    • Mfr. Part No. 3362P-1-204LF
    Each (In a Tube of 50)
    TWD22.10
    SMD Trimmer Potentiometer 0.25W Top Adjust NIDEC COPAL ELECTRONICS GMBH
    • RS Stock No. 244-4406
    • Mfr. Part No. ST-4ETA202
    Each (On a Reel of 500)
    TWD25.30
    30kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer 0.5W Top Adjust Bourns, 3362
    • RS Stock No. 787-0575P
    • Mfr. Part No. 3362P-1-303LF
    Each (Supplied in a Tube)
    TWD28.00
    25Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer 0.5W Top Adjust Bourns, 3296
    • RS Stock No. 785-9733P
    • Mfr. Part No. 3296W-1-250LF
    Each (Supplied in a Tube)
    TWD58.00
    Vishay 22mm Black Potentiometer Knob for 13.5mm Shaft Splined, PA16FNP222MA
    • RS Stock No. 277-630
    • Mfr. Part No. PA16FNP222MA
    Each (In a Box of 20)
    TWD449.10
    Vishay 64X Series 19 (Electrical), 22 (Mechanical)-Turn Through Hole Trimmer Resistor with Pin Terminations, 5kΩ ±10%
    • RS Stock No. 154-2230P
    • Mfr. Part No. M64X502KB40
    Each (Supplied in a Bag)
    TWD100.00
    10kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer 0.5W Top Adjust Bourns, 3339
    • RS Stock No. 691-7632P
    • Mfr. Part No. 3339P-1-103LF
    Each (Supplied in a Tube)
    TWD163.00
    50Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer 0.5W Top Adjust Bourns, 3299
    • RS Stock No. 522-0372
    • Mfr. Part No. 3299W-1-500LF
    Each
    TWD92.00
    Vishay P13SM 4.7kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Gang Panel Mount, P13SMNFLS472MA
    • RS Stock No. 753-7293
    • Mfr. Part No. P13SMNFLS472MA
    Each
    TWD2,938.00
    22kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer 0.5W Side Adjust Bourns, 3386
    • RS Stock No. 785-9581
    • Mfr. Part No. 3386X-1-223LF
    Each
    TWD43.00
    Bourns 3382 100kΩ Potentiometer SMD, 3382G-2-104G
    • RS Stock No. 770-3157P
    • Mfr. Part No. 3382G-2-104G
    Each (Supplied on a Reel)
    TWD34.00
    Vishay Rotary Potentiometer 1-Gang Panel Mount, P16FNP103KACV1D
    • RS Stock No. 298-411
    • Mfr. Part No. P16FNP103KACV1D
    Each
    TWD1,025.00
    Vishay 249 100kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Gang, Panel Mount (Through Hole), 249FGJS0XB25104KA
    • RS Stock No. 410-233P
    • Mfr. Part No. 249FGJS0XB25104KA
    Each (Supplied in a Box)
    TWD427.00
    25kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer 0.5W Top Adjust Bourns, 3386
    • RS Stock No. 743-2454
    • Mfr. Part No. 3386P-1-253LF
    Each
    TWD44.00
    2kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer 0.2W Side Adjust Bourns, 3306
    • RS Stock No. 161-6780
    • Mfr. Part No. 3306W-1-202
    Each (In a Bag of 200)
    TWD9.30
    100kΩ, SMD Trimmer Potentiometer 0.25W Side Adjust Vishay, TSM4
    • RS Stock No. 162-2405
    • Mfr. Part No. TSM4YJ104KR05
    Each (In a Box of 50)
    TWD184.40
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