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

5809 Products showing for Variable Resistors

102 of 291
In Stock
Alps Alpine RK09K 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Through Hole, RK09K1130A5R
  • RS Stock No. 154-8162
  • Mfr. Part No. RK09K1130A5R
Subtotal (1 bag of 10 units)
PHP829.40(exc. VAT)
PHP82.94/unit
Stock information currently inaccessible
4.7 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, T7
  • RS Stock No. 167-9365
  • Mfr. Part No. T7YA472MT20
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
PHP9,288.60(exc. VAT)
PHP185.772/unit
In Stock
5 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer 0.5 W Side Adjust Vishay, TS7
  • RS Stock No. 425-368
  • Mfr. Part No. TS7X502KR10
Subtotal (1 tape of 1 unit)
PHP224.30(exc. VAT)
PHP224.30/tape
Stock information currently inaccessible
20 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, 64W
  • RS Stock No. 169-3071
  • Mfr. Part No. M64W200KB40
Subtotal (1 box of 200 units)
PHP21,475.00(exc. VAT)
PHP107.375/unit
In Stock
2 mΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Gull Wing 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, ST5
  • RS Stock No. 244-4446
  • Mfr. Part No. ST-5ETW103
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP215.99(exc. VAT)
PHP215.99/unit
In Stock
Sifam 15.5 mm Knob Diameter Black Potentiometer Knob for 3.2 mm Shaft Circular, S151 125BK
  • RS Stock No. 111-0928
  • Mfr. Part No. S151 125BK
Subtotal (1 pack of 10 units)
PHP2,540.07(exc. VAT)
PHP254.007/unit
In Stock
Alps Alpine RK11K 50 kΩ Rotary Carbon Film Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, Through Hole
  • RS Stock No. 263-3208
  • Mfr. Part No. RK11K1140A63
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP133.20(exc. VAT)
PHP133.20/unit
In Stock
Bourns 3310 500 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Gang Bush, 3310Y-001-504L
  • RS Stock No. 522-0704
  • Mfr. Part No. 3310Y-001-504L
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP186.76(exc. VAT)
PHP186.76/unit
In Stock
TE Connectivity 23 220 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 164-3562
  • Mfr. Part No. 23ESB224MMF50NF
Subtotal (1 box of 200 units)
PHP77,101.00(exc. VAT)
PHP385.505/unit
In Stock
Vishay 157 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Servo Mount, 157S102MB9002
  • RS Stock No. 173-552
  • Mfr. Part No. 157S102MB9002
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP5,799.42(exc. VAT)
PHP5,799.42/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Elma Potentiometer Knob 21 mm, 020-4510 6 mm, Grey
  • RS Stock No. 243-9546
  • Mfr. Part No. 020-4510
Subtotal (1 box of 100 units)
PHP34,292.70(exc. VAT)
PHP342.927/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Vishay P16 22 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, P16RP223MAB15
  • RS Stock No. 249-1490
  • Mfr. Part No. P16RP223MAB15
Subtotal (1 box of 20 units)
PHP19,802.68(exc. VAT)
PHP990.134/unit
In Stock
5 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.25 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3266
  • RS Stock No. 521-9423
  • Mfr. Part No. 3266X-1-502LF
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP198.94(exc. VAT)
PHP198.94/unit
Currently unavailable
10 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 67
  • RS Stock No. 144-2087
  • Mfr. Part No. 67PR10KLF
Subtotal (1 box of 50 units)
PHP4,214.00(exc. VAT)
PHP84.28/unit
In Stock
100 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.75 W Side Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 89
  • RS Stock No. 144-2236
  • Mfr. Part No. 89PR100KLFTB
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
PHP787.84(exc. VAT)
PHP157.568/unit
In Stock
50 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3386
  • RS Stock No. 522-2924P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3386W-1-503LF
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a tube)
PHP77.87(exc. VAT)
PHP77.87/unit
In Stock
Eaton M30C 470 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel, 187045 M30C-FR470K-BLANK
  • RS Stock No. 274-1155
  • Mfr. Part No. 187045 M30C-FR470K-BLANK
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP5,550.86(exc. VAT)
PHP5,550.86/unit
In Stock
TE Connectivity 23 100 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 161-4615
  • Mfr. Part No. 1624203-2
Subtotal (1 bag of 100 units)
PHP42,120.00(exc. VAT)
PHP421.20/unit
Temporarily out of stock
500 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, PV37
  • RS Stock No. 167-5333
  • Mfr. Part No. PV37W501C01B00
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
PHP6,091.70(exc. VAT)
PHP121.834/unit
In Stock
OKW 33 mm Knob Diameter Grey Potentiometer Knob for 0.25 in Shaft Round Shaft, B8633108
  • RS Stock No. 283-2144
  • Mfr. Part No. B8633108
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP372.56(exc. VAT)
PHP372.56/unit
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