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

6659 Products showing for Variable Resistors

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151 of 333
In Stock
10 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, T93
  • RS Stock No. 788-5088P
  • Mfr. Part No. T93YA103KT20
Subtotal 5 units (supplied in a tube)
PHP675.35(exc. VAT)
PHP135.07/unit
In Stock
500 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.13 W Top Adjust Vishay, T63
  • RS Stock No. 167-9529
  • Mfr. Part No. T63YB504KT20
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
PHP8,118.00(exc. VAT)
PHP162.36/unit
In Stock
Bourns 3549 100 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-4534
  • Mfr. Part No. 3549S-1AA-104A
Subtotal (1 tray of 5 units)
PHP8,914.15(exc. VAT)
PHP1,782.83/unit
In Stock
Vishay 157 20 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Servo Mount, 157S203MB9002
  • RS Stock No. 173-596
  • Mfr. Part No. 157S203MB9002
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP8,334.68(exc. VAT)
PHP8,334.68/unit
In Stock
2 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Gull Wing 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, SM-42
  • RS Stock No. 602-4759
  • Mfr. Part No. SM-42B 2k Ohm
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
PHP1,476.32(exc. VAT)
PHP295.264/unit
In Stock
Vishay 19 mm Knob Diameter Black Knob for 6 mm Shaft Round Shaft, ACCKMR1916NLT6
  • RS Stock No. 764-310
  • Mfr. Part No. ACCKMR1916NLT6
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP471.16(exc. VAT)
PHP471.16/unit
In Stock
1 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.25 W Top Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 64
  • RS Stock No. 144-2107
  • Mfr. Part No. 64WR1KLF
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
PHP7,510.00(exc. VAT)
PHP150.20/unit
Temporarily out of stock
500 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3296
  • RS Stock No. 521-9574P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3296P-1-501LF
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a tube)
PHP165.13(exc. VAT)
PHP165.13/unit
Temporarily out of stock
1 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.13 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3313
  • RS Stock No. 167-4494
  • Mfr. Part No. 3313J-1-102E
Subtotal (1 reel of 1000 units)
PHP66,424.00(exc. VAT)
PHP66.424/unit
In Stock
50 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Gull Wing 0.25 W Top Adjust Vishay, TS53
  • RS Stock No. 486-7548
  • Mfr. Part No. TS53YL503MR10
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
PHP905.52(exc. VAT)
PHP181.104/unit
In Stock
PIHER SENSORS AND CONTROLS S.S.A PC-16 10 kΩ Trimmer Potentiometer 1-Turns Panel Mount, PTC10LV10-103A1010
  • RS Stock No. 134-935
  • Mfr. Part No. PTC10LV10-103A1010
Subtotal (1 box of 1000 units)
PHP136,439.00(exc. VAT)
PHP136.439/unit
In Stock
RS PRO 19.4 mm Knob Diameter Black Potentiometer Knob for 6.35 mm Shaft Round Shaft
  • RS Stock No. 465-9397
Subtotal (1 pack of 10 units)
PHP822.33(exc. VAT)
PHP82.233/unit
Temporarily out of stock
2 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, SM-43
  • RS Stock No. 602-5409
  • Mfr. Part No. SM-43W 2k Ohm
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
PHP1,791.01(exc. VAT)
PHP358.202/unit
In Stock
Bourns 3310 20 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 2-Gang Panel Mount, Through Hole, 3310H-001-203L
  • RS Stock No. 522-0568
  • Mfr. Part No. 3310H-001-203L
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP587.12(exc. VAT)
PHP587.12/unit
In Stock
RS PRO Potentiometer Knob 16.2 mm 6 mm, Black
  • RS Stock No. 302-676P
Subtotal 20 units (supplied in a bag)
PHP910.12(exc. VAT)
PHP45.506/unit
Last RS stock
Vishay 140 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-9424
  • Mfr. Part No. 140B00102B10
Subtotal (1 box of 10 units)
PHP131,474.57(exc. VAT)
PHP13,147.457/unit
In Stock
Arcol Ohmite 25 W 5 kΩ Linear Rheostat 70mA, RHS5K0E
  • RS Stock No. 144-5530
  • Mfr. Part No. RHS5K0E
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP16,349.78(exc. VAT)
PHP16,349.78/unit
Temporarily out of stock
TE Connectivity M 2.2 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, Through Hole
  • RS Stock No. 135-4424
  • Mfr. Part No. 404802692036
Subtotal (1 box of 50 units)
PHP72,687.55(exc. VAT)
PHP1,453.751/unit
In Stock
Vishay 249 25 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, Through Hole, 249FGJS0XB25253KA
  • RS Stock No. 410-211
  • Mfr. Part No. 249FGJS0XB25253KA
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP986.54(exc. VAT)
PHP986.54/unit
Last RS stock
Vishay P16 47 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, P16WP473MAB15
  • RS Stock No. 249-1502
  • Mfr. Part No. P16WP473MAB15
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP901.10(exc. VAT)
PHP901.10/unit
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