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

6791 Products showing for Variable Resistors

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70 of 340
Temporarily out of stock
RS PRO 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Bush
  • RS Stock No. 842-7113
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP957.65(exc. VAT)
PHP957.65/unit
In Stock
2000 Ω, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Surface Mount 0.13 W Bourns, 3313
  • RS Stock No. 445-919
  • Mfr. Part No. 3313J-1-202E
Subtotal (1 bag of 2 units)
PHP209.20(exc. VAT)
PHP104.60/unit
In Stock
Vishay 860 2 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, 860B1202
  • RS Stock No. 294-3741
  • Mfr. Part No. 860B1202
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP17,939.09(exc. VAT)
PHP17,939.09/unit
In Stock
OKW Grey Potentiometer Knob Round Shaft, A4213008
  • RS Stock No. 283-2073
  • Mfr. Part No. A4213008
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP48.06(exc. VAT)
PHP48.06/unit
In Stock
Alps Alpine RK11K 50 kΩ Rotary Carbon Film Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, Through Hole, RK11K1140A63
  • RS Stock No. 172-7610
  • Mfr. Part No. RK11K1140A63
Subtotal (1 tray of 80 units)
PHP8,123.20(exc. VAT)
PHP101.54/unit
In Stock
2 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, RJ-5
  • RS Stock No. 474-7258
  • Mfr. Part No. RJ-5EW 2k Ohm
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP385.47(exc. VAT)
PHP385.47/unit
In Stock
Vishay 357 20 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, 357B2203MAB251S22
  • RS Stock No. 460-7469
  • Mfr. Part No. 357B2203MAB251S22
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP2,064.17(exc. VAT)
PHP2,064.17/unit
In Stock
RS Better World
Schneider Electric Harmony 100 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Gang Panel Mount, XB5AD912R100K
  • RS Stock No. 125-4405
  • Mfr. Part No. XB5AD912R100K
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP6,360.14(exc. VAT)
PHP6,360.14/unit
In Stock
50 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.13 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, ST-32
  • RS Stock No. 896-7131
  • Mfr. Part No. ST-32EA 50kR
Subtotal (1 bag of 5 units)
PHP472.83(exc. VAT)
PHP94.566/unit
In Stock
Vishay 249 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, Through Hole, 249FGJS0XB25103KA
  • RS Stock No. 410-205
  • Mfr. Part No. 249FGJS0XB25103KA
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP1,112.40(exc. VAT)
PHP1,112.40/unit
Last RS stock
470 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, T7
  • RS Stock No. 167-9362
  • Mfr. Part No. T7YA471MT20
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
PHP8,019.00(exc. VAT)
PHP160.38/unit
In Stock
10 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.25 W Top Adjust Vishay, T63
  • RS Stock No. 374-7077
  • Mfr. Part No. T63YB103KT20
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP213.61(exc. VAT)
PHP213.61/unit
In Stock
RS PRO Potentiometer Knob 16.2 mm 6 mm, Black
  • RS Stock No. 302-682
Subtotal (1 pack of 20 units)
PHP1,001.12(exc. VAT)
PHP50.056/unit
In Stock
25 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3296
  • RS Stock No. 161-6984
  • Mfr. Part No. 3296W-1-250LF
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
PHP4,793.70(exc. VAT)
PHP95.874/unit
In Stock
Vishay 19.05 mm Knob Diameter Black Potentiometer Knob for 6.35 mm Shaft Round Shaft, ACCKMR1922NLPDF
  • RS Stock No. 807-251
  • Mfr. Part No. ACCKMR1922NLPDF
Subtotal (1 unit)
PHP1,133.18(exc. VAT)
PHP1,133.18/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Vishay 17.7 mm Knob Diameter Black Potentiometer Knob for 6.35 mm Shaft Circular
  • RS Stock No. 167-9602
  • Mfr. Part No. 15A31B10
Subtotal (1 box of 10 units)
PHP39,473.10(exc. VAT)
PHP3,947.31/unit
Currently unavailable
50 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust TE Connectivity, 409
  • RS Stock No. 168-0398
  • Mfr. Part No. 409VA503M
Subtotal (1 reel of 1000 units)
PHP92,678.00(exc. VAT)
PHP92.678/unit
In Stock
Bourns PRS14R 500 kΩ Rotary Audio Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang PCB, PRS14R-10115-103A3
  • RS Stock No. 269-2449
  • Mfr. Part No. PRS14R-10115-103A3
Subtotal (1 tray of 100 units)
PHP7,439.20(exc. VAT)
PHP74.392/unit
Temporarily out of stock
500 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.2 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3306
  • RS Stock No. 161-6781
  • Mfr. Part No. 3306W-1-504
Subtotal (1 bag of 200 units)
PHP3,957.20(exc. VAT)
PHP19.786/unit
In Stock
Bourns 3590 5 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, 3590S-6-502L
  • RS Stock No. 167-5359
  • Mfr. Part No. 3590S-6-502L
Subtotal (1 tray of 25 units)
PHP20,672.475(exc. VAT)
PHP826.899/unit
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