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

6380 Products showing for Variable Resistors

32 of 319
In Stock
Bourns 93 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-5474
  • Mfr. Part No. 93A1A-B28-A15L
Subtotal (1 tray of 45 units)
PHP14,629.05(exc. VAT)
In Stock
Bourns PRS14R 500 kΩ Rotary Audio Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang PCB
  • RS Stock No. 269-2452
  • Mfr. Part No. PRS14R-20022-103A3
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP97.42(exc. VAT)
In Stock
500 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.13 W Top Adjust Vishay, T63
  • RS Stock No. 374-7134
  • Mfr. Part No. T63YB504KT20
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP255.19(exc. VAT)
In Stock
Nidec Components M 5 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 5-Turns 1-Gang Panel, M-1305 5K
  • RS Stock No. 182-5656
  • Mfr. Part No. M-1305 5K
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP1,445.82(exc. VAT)
In Stock
10 kΩ, Surface Mount Trimmer Potentiometer 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, PVG3
  • RS Stock No. 445-952
  • Mfr. Part No. PVG3A202C01R00
Subtotal (1 bag of 2 units)
PHP116.08(exc. VAT)
Temporarily out of stock
1 kΩ, Surface Mount Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.25 W Top Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 44
  • RS Stock No. 144-2095
  • Mfr. Part No. 44WR1KLFT7
Subtotal (1 reel of 250 units)
PHP57,468.75(exc. VAT)
In Stock
10 kΩ, Surface Mount Trimmer Potentiometer, Gull Wing 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3269
  • RS Stock No. 691-2552
  • Mfr. Part No. 3269W-1-103LF
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP264.21(exc. VAT)
In Stock
Vishay P16F 1 mΩ Linear Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, P16FNP105MA
  • RS Stock No. 652-962
  • Mfr. Part No. P16FNP105MA
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP1,486.69(exc. VAT)
In Stock
Bourns 6639 20 kΩ Precision Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel
  • RS Stock No. 222-6945
  • Mfr. Part No. 6639S-5-203
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP2,370.36(exc. VAT)
In Stock
100 kΩ, Surface Mount Trimmer Potentiometer, Gull Wing 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3269
  • RS Stock No. 691-2564P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3269W-1-104LF
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied on a continuous strip)
PHP270.87(exc. VAT)
In Stock
500 Ω, Surface Mount Trimmer Potentiometer, Gull Wing 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3224
  • RS Stock No. 167-0116
  • Mfr. Part No. 3224X-1-501E
Subtotal (1 reel of 200 units)
PHP31,124.80(exc. VAT)
In Stock
TE Connectivity 24.9 mm Knob Diameter Black Potentiometer Knob for 6.35 mm Shaft Circular, PKA70B1/4
  • RS Stock No. 783-0145
  • Mfr. Part No. PKA70B1/4
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP177.97(exc. VAT)
Last RS stock
Vishay Trimmer Adjustment Tool 127 mm, For Use With Trimmers Of All Sizes
  • RS Stock No. 852-4614
  • Mfr. Part No. 008T290
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP639.88(exc. VAT)
In Stock
2 mΩ, Surface Mount Trimmer Potentiometer, Gull Wing 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, ST4
  • RS Stock No. 244-4432
  • Mfr. Part No. ST-4ETB201
Subtotal (1 tape of 5 units)
PHP317.79(exc. VAT)
In Stock
TE Connectivity 23 22 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, 1624156-2
  • RS Stock No. 387-802
  • Mfr. Part No. 1624156-2
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP402.94(exc. VAT)
Currently unavailable
100 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.25 W Top Adjust VPG Foil Resistors, 1240
  • RS Stock No. 173-3002
  • Mfr. Part No. Y4053100R000J0L
Subtotal (1 box of 25 units)
PHP188,497.325(exc. VAT)
In Stock
20 kΩ, Surface Mount Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3224
  • RS Stock No. 743-2300
  • Mfr. Part No. 3224X-1-203E
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP200.01(exc. VAT)
In Stock
Bourns 6639 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-5479
  • Mfr. Part No. 6639S-301-103
Subtotal (1 tray of 25 units)
PHP27,453.725(exc. VAT)
In Stock
20 kΩ, Surface Mount Trimmer Potentiometer, J Lead 0.25 W Top Adjust Vishay, TSM41
  • RS Stock No. 653-018
  • Mfr. Part No. TSM41YJ203KR05
Subtotal (1 tape of 1 unit)
PHP306.21(exc. VAT)
Temporarily out of stock
RS PRO 40WW 1 kΩ Rotary Wirewound Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Servo Mount
  • RS Stock No. 842-7150
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP4,330.04(exc. VAT)
1
32
319
Results per page