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

6409 Products showing for Variable Resistors

9 of 321
Temporarily out of stock
Bourns PDB241-GTR 250 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, PDB241-GTR02-254A2
  • RS Stock No. 692-8632
  • Mfr. Part No. PDB241-GTR02-254A2
Subtotal (1 unit)
HK$27.30
In Stock
47 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, T7
  • RS Stock No. 374-6800
  • Mfr. Part No. T7YA473MT20
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
HK$127.10
In Stock
Bourns 3590S 10 kΩ Linear Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 181-4447
  • Mfr. Part No. 3590S-1-103L
Subtotal (1 unit)
HK$126.50
In Stock
Vishay P13SM 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 168-0031
  • Mfr. Part No. P13SMNFGS103MA
Subtotal (1 box of 10 units)
HK$6,291.80
Temporarily out of stock
250 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3386
  • RS Stock No. 785-9604
  • Mfr. Part No. 3386X-1-254LF
Subtotal (1 unit)
HK$17.30
In Stock
1 kΩ, Surface Mount Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, PVG5
  • RS Stock No. 167-4759
  • Mfr. Part No. PVG5A102C03R00
Subtotal (1 reel of 250 units)
HK$5,633.00
In Stock
Vishay 157 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, 157B103MX9001
  • RS Stock No. 173-760
  • Mfr. Part No. 157B103MX9001
Subtotal (1 unit)
HK$444.30
In Stock
Vishay 157 20 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, 157B203MX9001
  • RS Stock No. 173-776
  • Mfr. Part No. 157B203MX9001
Subtotal (1 unit)
HK$298.00
Currently unavailable
Bourns 91 500 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel, 91A1A-B28-A23L
  • RS Stock No. 851-7408
  • Mfr. Part No. 91A1A-B28-A23L
Subtotal (1 unit)
HK$58.70
In Stock
Vishay P10 200 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, P10XXAI204KB30
  • RS Stock No. 790-4246
  • Mfr. Part No. P10XXAI204KB30
Subtotal (1 unit)
HK$112.70
In Stock
Bourns 91 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, Through Hole
  • RS Stock No. 167-3569
  • Mfr. Part No. 91A1A-B28-E15L
Subtotal (1 tray of 45 units)
HK$2,196.495
Limited stock
Bourns 91 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-4736
  • Mfr. Part No. 91R1A-J22-B15L
Subtotal (1 tray of 45 units)
HK$2,887.29
In Stock
Bourns 91 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, 91R1A-J22-B15L
  • RS Stock No. 737-7688
  • Mfr. Part No. 91R1A-J22-B15L
Subtotal (1 unit)
HK$74.90
In Stock
Vishay 357 2 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-9768
  • Mfr. Part No. 357B0202MAB251S22
Subtotal (1 box of 50 units)
HK$12,853.30
In Stock
Nidec Components JP-30 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel, JP-30 10K
  • RS Stock No. 182-5683
  • Mfr. Part No. JP-30 10K
Subtotal (1 unit)
HK$406.00
In Stock
Nidec Components JC10 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang, JC10-000-502N
  • RS Stock No. 244-4017
  • Mfr. Part No. JC10-000-502N
Subtotal (1 unit)
HK$110.90
Temporarily out of stock
Nidec Components JT22 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang
  • RS Stock No. 244-4021
  • Mfr. Part No. JT22-120-C00
Subtotal (1 unit)
HK$789.50
In Stock
Bourns 95 100 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, 95A1A-B24-A20L
  • RS Stock No. 789-9475
  • Mfr. Part No. 95A1A-B24-A20L
Subtotal (1 unit)
HK$65.60
In Stock
Nidec Components CRV16 5 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel
  • RS Stock No. 202-4416
  • Mfr. Part No. CRV16-00-502
Subtotal (1 unit)
HK$92.40
In Stock
1 kΩ, Surface Mount Trimmer Potentiometer, Gull Wing 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, SM-42
  • RS Stock No. 602-4967
  • Mfr. Part No. SM-42X 1k Ohm
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
HK$185.40
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