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

6649 Products showing for Variable Resistors

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45 of 333
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)
PHP9,930.20(exc. VAT)
PHP9,930.20/unit
Temporarily out of stock
100 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Gull Wing 0.25 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3224
  • RS Stock No. 167-3578
  • Mfr. Part No. 3224G-1-104E
Subtotal (1 reel of 500 units)
PHP72,700.00(exc. VAT)
PHP145.40/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Vishay P11S 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, P11S1V0FGSY00103JA
  • RS Stock No. 733-022
  • Mfr. Part No. P11S1V0FGSY00103JA
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP1,101.84(exc. VAT)
PHP1,101.84/unit
Currently unavailable
Bourns 6637 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Gang Bush, 6637S-1-103
  • RS Stock No. 851-7304
  • Mfr. Part No. 6637S-1-103
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP2,982.96(exc. VAT)
PHP2,982.96/unit
In Stock
Eaton M22 470000 Ω Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, 232236 M22S-R470K
  • RS Stock No. 272-2312
  • Mfr. Part No. 232236 M22S-R470K
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP7,211.67(exc. VAT)
PHP7,211.67/unit
In Stock
Vishay 132 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Bush, 132B20102
  • RS Stock No. 850-9542
  • Mfr. Part No. 132B20102
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP7,552.67(exc. VAT)
PHP7,552.67/unit
Temporarily out of stock
10 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3224
  • RS Stock No. 167-5407
  • Mfr. Part No. 3224X-1-103E
Subtotal (1 reel of 200 units)
PHP32,234.40(exc. VAT)
PHP161.172/unit
Stocked by manufacturer
Sato Parts Potentiometer Knob 12 mm, K-350-BL 6 mm, Blue
  • RS Stock No. 792-587
  • Mfr. Part No. K-350-BL
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP494.95(exc. VAT)
PHP494.95/unit
Currently unavailable
22 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3329
  • RS Stock No. 796-4813P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3329H-1-223LF
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a tube)
PHP179.61(exc. VAT)
PHP179.61/unit
Currently unavailable
1 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.13 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3223
  • RS Stock No. 167-4441
  • Mfr. Part No. 3223J-1-102E
Subtotal (1 reel of 500 units)
PHP95,767.50(exc. VAT)
PHP191.535/unit
Temporarily out of stock
2 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3314
  • RS Stock No. 167-3558
  • Mfr. Part No. 3314J-2-202E
Subtotal (1 reel of 500 units)
PHP28,616.00(exc. VAT)
PHP57.232/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Vishay 157 5 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, 157B502MX9001
  • RS Stock No. 173-754
  • Mfr. Part No. 157B502MX9001
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP3,536.73(exc. VAT)
PHP3,536.73/unit
Temporarily out of stock
50 kΩ, Panel Mount, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust Vishay, 43P
  • RS Stock No. 167-9599
  • Mfr. Part No. M43P503KB30T601
Subtotal (1 box of 100 units)
PHP35,324.50(exc. VAT)
PHP353.245/unit
Currently unavailable
100 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 1 W Top Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 93
  • RS Stock No. 144-2121
  • Mfr. Part No. 93PR100KLF
Subtotal (1 box of 50 units)
PHP8,239.75(exc. VAT)
PHP164.795/unit
In Stock
Bourns PRS14R 500 kΩ Rotary Audio Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang PCB, PRS14R-30120-103A3
  • RS Stock No. 269-2458
  • Mfr. Part No. PRS14R-30120-103A3
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP106.14(exc. VAT)
PHP106.14/unit
Currently unavailable
Alps Alpine RK11K 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Through Hole, RK11K1140A9L
  • RS Stock No. 154-8179
  • Mfr. Part No. RK11K1140A9L
Subtotal (1 bag of 5 units)
PHP864.69(exc. VAT)
PHP172.938/unit
Stocked by manufacturer
Sato Parts Potentiometer Knob 29 mm, K-52-KE-1 6 mm, Black, Silver
  • RS Stock No. 792-570
  • Mfr. Part No. K-52-KE-1
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP1,313.44(exc. VAT)
PHP1,313.44/unit
Currently unavailable
Alps Alpine RK11K 50kΩ Rotary Carbon Film Potentiometer, Panel Mount (Through Hole), RK11K1140ADU
  • RS Stock No. 263-3236
  • Mfr. Part No. RK11K1140ADU
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP274.13(exc. VAT)
PHP274.13/unit
Stocked by manufacturer
Sato Parts Potentiometer Knob 30 mm, K-59-M-AG 6 mm, Black, Silver
  • RS Stock No. 792-603
  • Mfr. Part No. K-59-M-AG
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP1,303.30(exc. VAT)
PHP1,303.30/unit
Currently unavailable
5 mΩ Trimmer Potentiometer 0.5 W Top Adjust Tokyo Cosmos Electric, GF063
  • RS Stock No. 253-7119
  • Mfr. Part No. GF063P B103
Subtotal (1 pack of 10 units)
PHP301.71(exc. VAT)
PHP30.171/unit
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