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

3591 Products showing for Variable Resistors

1 of 180
In Stock
RS PRO P40 2 kΩ Linear Wirewound Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 842-7028
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP676.22(exc. VAT)
PHP676.22/unit
In Stock
RS PRO WR 535 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Bush
  • RS Stock No. 278-0314
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP956.56(exc. VAT)
PHP956.56/unit
Last RS stock
Tokyo Cosmos Electric 2 mΩ Linear Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang, RV24YN20S B205
  • RS Stock No. 252-0623
  • Mfr. Part No. RV24YN20S B205
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP379.88(exc. VAT)
PHP379.88/unit
In Stock
Vishay 357 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, 357B2103MAB251S22
  • RS Stock No. 460-7447
  • Mfr. Part No. 357B2103MAB251S22
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP2,058.39(exc. VAT)
PHP2,058.39/unit
Last RS stock
Tokyo Cosmos Electric 20 kΩ Rotary Carbon Film Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang, RV16YP15S B203
  • RS Stock No. 253-7758
  • Mfr. Part No. RV16YP15S B203
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP379.88(exc. VAT)
PHP379.88/unit
In Stock
RS PRO P25 5 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 842-7024
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP379.93(exc. VAT)
PHP379.93/unit
In Stock
Vishay 860 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, 860B1103
  • RS Stock No. 294-3763
  • Mfr. Part No. 860B1103
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP16,781.55(exc. VAT)
PHP16,781.55/unit
In Stock
500 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 67
  • RS Stock No. 144-2201
  • Mfr. Part No. 67WR500LF
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
PHP555.00(exc. VAT)
PHP111.00/unit
In Stock
RS PRO WR 3540 2 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Bush
  • RS Stock No. 278-0300
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP1,391.12(exc. VAT)
PHP1,391.12/unit
Last RS stock
Tokyo Cosmos Electric Linear Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang, RV30YN20S B302
  • RS Stock No. 252-0382
  • Mfr. Part No. RV30YN20S B302
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP519.49(exc. VAT)
PHP519.49/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Vishay 55 W 4.7 kΩ Wirewound Rheostat 0.16A
  • RS Stock No. 788-7712
  • Mfr. Part No. RT055AS4701KB
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP53,998.48(exc. VAT)
PHP53,998.48/unit
In Stock
Better World
Schneider Electric Harmony XB4 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Gang Panel Mount, XB4BD912R1K
  • RS Stock No. 125-4401
  • Mfr. Part No. XB4BD912R1K
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP5,570.22(exc. VAT)
PHP5,570.22/unit
In Stock
Eaton RMQ-Titan 4.7 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer Front, 232232 M22S-R4K7
  • RS Stock No. 110-4564
  • Mfr. Part No. 232232 M22S-R4K7
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP8,902.63(exc. VAT)
PHP8,902.63/unit
In Stock
Vishay PE30 2.2 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 790-4463
  • Mfr. Part No. PE30L0FL222KAB
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP2,704.87(exc. VAT)
PHP2,704.87/unit
In Stock
Vishay 534 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, 534B1102JC8872
  • RS Stock No. 486-7087
  • Mfr. Part No. 534B1102JC8872
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP1,734.00(exc. VAT)
PHP1,734.00/unit
In Stock
TE Connectivity SM2 10 kΩ Precision Potentiometer Bracket Mount, SM2-25
  • RS Stock No. 212-687
  • Mfr. Part No. SM2-25
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP38,380.62(exc. VAT)
PHP38,380.62/unit
In Stock
Nidec Components M-22E10 1 kΩ Rotary Wirewound Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, M-22E10-050 1K
  • RS Stock No. 475-6038
  • Mfr. Part No. M-22E10-050 1K
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP1,028.93(exc. VAT)
PHP1,028.93/unit
Last RS stock
Tokyo Cosmos Electric 2 mΩ Linear Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang, RV24YN20S B500
  • RS Stock No. 252-0628
  • Mfr. Part No. RV24YN20S B500
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP433.38(exc. VAT)
PHP433.38/unit
In Stock
Bourns 3590 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, 3590S-2-103L
  • RS Stock No. 107-0785
  • Mfr. Part No. 3590S-2-103L
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP1,048.98(exc. VAT)
PHP1,048.98/unit
Last RS stock
2 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.25 W Top Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 64
  • RS Stock No. 144-2199
  • Mfr. Part No. 64WR2KLF
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
PHP740.01(exc. VAT)
PHP148.002/unit
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