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

6510 Products showing for Variable Resistors

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20 of 326
In Stock
5 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.25 W Top Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 64
  • RS Stock No. 144-2240
  • Mfr. Part No. 64WR5KLF
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
Kr. 126,07(exc. VAT)
Kr. 25,214/unit
In Stock
Bourns 82 500 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 770-3191P
  • Mfr. Part No. 82A1D-A24-BA0/186L
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a bag)
Kr. 562,05(exc. VAT)
Kr. 562,05/unit
In Stock
RS PRO 50WW 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Servo Mount
  • RS Stock No. 842-7153P
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a bag)
Kr. 819,99(exc. VAT)
Kr. 819,99/unit
In Stock
RS PRO P25 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 842-7037P
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a bag)
Kr. 82,84(exc. VAT)
Kr. 82,84/unit
In Stock
Alps Alpine RK11K 50 kΩ Rotary Carbon Film Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, Through Hole
  • RS Stock No. 263-3208
  • Mfr. Part No. RK11K1140A63
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 38,21(exc. VAT)
Kr. 38,21/unit
In Stock
RS PRO P25 50 Ω Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 842-7074
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 90,03(exc. VAT)
Kr. 90,03/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Elma Potentiometer Knob 10 mm 4 mm, Black
  • RS Stock No. 243-9534
  • Mfr. Part No. 020-2325
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 64,69(exc. VAT)
Kr. 64,69/unit
In Stock
RS PRO Potentiometer Knob 16.2 mm 6 mm, Black
  • RS Stock No. 302-692
Subtotal (1 pack of 20 units)
Kr. 145,40(exc. VAT)
Kr. 7,27/unit
In Stock
1 mΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.2 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3306
  • RS Stock No. 488-5401
  • Mfr. Part No. 3306P-1-105
Subtotal (1 pack of 10 units)
Kr. 29,74(exc. VAT)
Kr. 2,974/unit
In Stock
2 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3362
  • RS Stock No. 522-0934
  • Mfr. Part No. 3362P-1-202LF
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 11,78(exc. VAT)
Kr. 11,78/unit
In Stock
2 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, PV36
  • RS Stock No. 769-2176
  • Mfr. Part No. PV36W202C01B00
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 15,79(exc. VAT)
Kr. 15,79/unit
Temporarily out of stock
500 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.2 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3306
  • RS Stock No. 748-1352
  • Mfr. Part No. 3306W-1-504
Subtotal (1 pack of 10 units)
Kr. 37,87(exc. VAT)
Kr. 3,787/unit
In Stock
100 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, PV36
  • RS Stock No. 769-2154
  • Mfr. Part No. PV36W101C01B00
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 15,79(exc. VAT)
Kr. 15,79/unit
In Stock
2.5 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3296
  • RS Stock No. 785-9742
  • Mfr. Part No. 3296W-1-252LF
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 21,16(exc. VAT)
Kr. 21,16/unit
In Stock
50 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, CT6
  • RS Stock No. 896-7178
  • Mfr. Part No. CT-6EV 50kR
Subtotal (1 bag of 5 units)
Kr. 56,97(exc. VAT)
Kr. 11,394/unit
In Stock
10 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.75 W Side Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 89
  • RS Stock No. 144-2228
  • Mfr. Part No. 89PR10KLFTB
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
Kr. 125,15(exc. VAT)
Kr. 25,03/unit
In Stock
3 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3362
  • RS Stock No. 161-6960
  • Mfr. Part No. 3362P-1-302LF
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
Kr. 349,40(exc. VAT)
Kr. 6,988/unit
In Stock
10 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3296
  • RS Stock No. 167-3405
  • Mfr. Part No. 3296Y-1-103LF
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
Kr. 830,55(exc. VAT)
Kr. 16,611/unit
Temporarily out of stock
5 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3329
  • RS Stock No. 167-3433
  • Mfr. Part No. 3329H-1-502LF
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
Kr. 1 077,20(exc. VAT)
Kr. 21,544/unit
In Stock
500 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, T93
  • RS Stock No. 167-9946
  • Mfr. Part No. T93YA501KT20
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
Kr. 912,90(exc. VAT)
Kr. 18,258/unit
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