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

6014 Products showing for Variable Resistors

5 of 301
Stock information currently inaccessible
Vishay P16F 100 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, P16FNP104KACV1D
  • RS Stock No. 298-416
  • Mfr. Part No. P16FNP104KACV1D
Subtotal (1 box of 20 units)
PHP31,725.50(exc. VAT)
PHP1,586.275/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Bourns 53 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-3616
  • Mfr. Part No. 53RAA-R25-A15L
Subtotal (1 tray of 45 units)
PHP23,776.965(exc. VAT)
PHP528.377/unit
In Stock
50 kΩ, Surface Mount Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Side Adjust Vishay, TSM4
  • RS Stock No. 162-2404
  • Mfr. Part No. TSM4YJ503KB25
Subtotal (1 box of 50 units)
PHP18,354.00(exc. VAT)
PHP367.08/unit
Stock information currently inaccessible
Vishay P16F 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, P16FNP103KACV1D
  • RS Stock No. 298-410
  • Mfr. Part No. P16FNP103KACV1D
Subtotal (1 box of 20 units)
PHP27,777.52(exc. VAT)
PHP1,388.876/unit
Temporarily out of stock
RS PRO P25 100 Ω Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 173-0761
Subtotal (1 box of 50 units)
PHP39,869.80(exc. VAT)
PHP797.396/unit
In Stock
RS PRO NP23 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 842-7129
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP867.88(exc. VAT)
PHP867.88/unit
In Stock
RS PRO NP23 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 842-7125
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP867.88(exc. VAT)
PHP867.88/unit
In Stock
Schneider Electric Potentiometer Mounting Kit, ZB4BD912 6 mm
  • RS Stock No. 330-9114
  • Mfr. Part No. ZB4BD912
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP6,504.48(exc. VAT)
PHP6,504.48/unit
In Stock
Bourns 6639 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-3590
  • Mfr. Part No. 6639S-1-102
Subtotal (1 tray of 25 units)
PHP27,682.10(exc. VAT)
PHP1,107.284/unit
In Stock
Bourns 6639 20 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-3595
  • Mfr. Part No. 6639S-1-203
Subtotal (1 tray of 25 units)
PHP27,818.30(exc. VAT)
PHP1,112.732/unit
In Stock
RS PRO WR 535 200 Ω Rotary Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Bush
  • RS Stock No. 278-0316
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP1,352.94(exc. VAT)
PHP1,352.94/unit
In Stock
Bourns 54 5 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 161-6908
  • Mfr. Part No. 54CAD-E28-B13/P50L
Subtotal (1 tray of 45 units)
PHP75,666.06(exc. VAT)
PHP1,681.468/unit
Stock information currently inaccessible
Vishay 357 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-9767
  • Mfr. Part No. 357B0103MAB251S22
Subtotal (1 box of 50 units)
PHP97,294.80(exc. VAT)
PHP1,945.896/unit
In Stock
Bourns 3540 50 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-3603
  • Mfr. Part No. 3540S-1-503L
Subtotal (1 tray of 25 units)
PHP49,246.275(exc. VAT)
PHP1,969.851/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Bourns 3852 1 mΩ Linear Potentiometer 1-Gang Bush
  • RS Stock No. 246-3121
  • Mfr. Part No. 3852A-282-502AL
Subtotal (1 tray of 45 units)
PHP24,912.00(exc. VAT)
PHP553.60/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Bourns PSM 10 kΩ Slide Slide Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Surface Mount, PSM60-081A-103B2
  • RS Stock No. 134-8143
  • Mfr. Part No. PSM60-081A-103B2
Subtotal (1 tray of 60 units)
PHP60,138.30(exc. VAT)
PHP1,002.305/unit
In Stock
Vishay P16 47 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, P16RP473MAB15
  • RS Stock No. 249-1495
  • Mfr. Part No. P16RP473MAB15
Subtotal (1 box of 20 units)
PHP18,721.92(exc. VAT)
PHP936.096/unit
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)
PHP4,330.04/unit
In Stock
2000 Ω, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Surface Mount 0.125 W Bourns, 3313
  • RS Stock No. 445-919P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3313J-1-202E
Subtotal 2 units (supplied on a continuous strip)
PHP181.53(exc. VAT)
PHP90.765/unit
In Stock
Bourns 3549 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-5266
  • Mfr. Part No. 3549S-1AG-103A
Subtotal (1 tray of 5 units)
PHP10,423.28(exc. VAT)
PHP2,084.656/unit
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