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

6537 Products showing for Variable Resistors

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26 of 327
Temporarily out of stock
Nidec Components M-1303 10 kΩ Rotary Wirewound Potentiometer 3-Turns 1-Gang, M-1303 5K
  • RS Stock No. 244-4026
  • Mfr. Part No. M-1303 5K
Subtotal (5 units, in trays of 5)
Kr. 1 014,65(exc. VAT)
Kr. 202,93/unit
Temporarily out of stock
2 mΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, ST4
  • RS Stock No. 244-4396P
  • Mfr. Part No. ST-4ETA102
Subtotal (5 units, supplied on a continuous strip)
Kr. 28,52(exc. VAT)
Kr. 5,704/unit
In Stock
Vishay P11P 100 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 743-5728P
  • Mfr. Part No. P11P1F0GGSY00104KA
Subtotal (1 unit, supplied in a box)
Kr. 208,55(exc. VAT)
Kr. 208,55/unit
Currently unavailable
2 mΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, ST-42
  • RS Stock No. 244-4380
  • Mfr. Part No. ST-4 2ETA104
Subtotal (5 units, on tapes of 5)
Kr. 35,70(exc. VAT)
Kr. 7,14/unit
In Stock
5 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3362
  • RS Stock No. 743-2429
  • Mfr. Part No. 3362X-1-502LF
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 13,73(exc. VAT)
Kr. 13,73/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Nidec Components M-22E10 10 kΩ Rotary Wirewound Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang
  • RS Stock No. 244-4045
  • Mfr. Part No. M-22E10 5K
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 143,99(exc. VAT)
Kr. 143,99/unit
In Stock
2 mΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.13 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, ST-32
  • RS Stock No. 244-4365
  • Mfr. Part No. ST-32ETA203
Subtotal (500 units, on reels of 500)
Kr. 13 320,50(exc. VAT)
Kr. 26,641/unit
Temporarily out of stock
2 mΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, ST4
  • RS Stock No. 244-4420P
  • Mfr. Part No. ST-4ETA504
Subtotal (5 units, supplied on a continuous strip)
Kr. 35,70(exc. VAT)
Kr. 7,14/unit
In Stock
Bourns PDB183-GTR 250 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, PDB183-GTR01-254A2
  • RS Stock No. 161-6774
  • Mfr. Part No. PDB183-GTR01-254A2
Subtotal (100 units, in bags of 100)
Kr. 3 898,80(exc. VAT)
Kr. 38,988/unit
In Stock
2 mΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, SM-4
  • RS Stock No. 244-4300
  • Mfr. Part No. SM-42TW102
Subtotal (250 units, on reels of 250)
Kr. 2 923,25(exc. VAT)
Kr. 11,693/unit
In Stock
Nidec Components JT22 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang, JT22-120-500
  • RS Stock No. 244-4019
  • Mfr. Part No. JT22-120-500
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 1 039,63(exc. VAT)
Kr. 1 039,63/unit
In Stock
2 mΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, SM-4
  • RS Stock No. 244-4309
  • Mfr. Part No. SM-42TW202
Subtotal (2 units, on tapes of 2)
Kr. 34,52(exc. VAT)
Kr. 17,26/unit
Currently unavailable
Bourns 96 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 161-6889
  • Mfr. Part No. 96A1D-G28-S15L
Subtotal (45 units, in trays of 45)
Kr. 6 356,745(exc. VAT)
Kr. 141,261/unit
In Stock
2 mΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, FT-63
  • RS Stock No. 244-3730
  • Mfr. Part No. FT-63ETP201
Subtotal (10 units, in packs of 10)
Kr. 29,22(exc. VAT)
Kr. 2,922/unit
Temporarily out of stock
2 mΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, FT-63
  • RS Stock No. 244-3725
  • Mfr. Part No. FT-63ETP103
Subtotal (1000 units, on tapes of 1000)
Kr. 2 322,00(exc. VAT)
Kr. 2,322/unit
Temporarily out of stock
2 mΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, ST-42
  • RS Stock No. 244-4377
  • Mfr. Part No. ST-4 2ETA103
Subtotal (500 units, on reels of 500)
Kr. 3 562,50(exc. VAT)
Kr. 7,125/unit
Temporarily out of stock
TE Connectivity 23 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, 23ESB102MMF50NF
  • RS Stock No. 161-5115
  • Mfr. Part No. 23ESB102MMF50NF
Subtotal (200 units, in boxes of 200)
Kr. 11 861,40(exc. VAT)
Kr. 59,307/unit
In Stock
2 mΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust Nidec Components, CT-94
  • RS Stock No. 244-3666
  • Mfr. Part No. CT-94EX104
Subtotal (5 units, in packs of 5)
Kr. 62,92(exc. VAT)
Kr. 12,584/unit
Last RS stock
2 mΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, SM-4
  • RS Stock No. 244-4325
  • Mfr. Part No. SM-43TW203
Subtotal (2 units, on tapes of 2)
Kr. 41,12(exc. VAT)
Kr. 20,56/unit
Temporarily out of stock
2 mΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust Nidec Components, FT-63
  • RS Stock No. 244-3987
  • Mfr. Part No. FT-63ETS503
Subtotal (1000 units, on tapes of 1000)
Kr. 7 313,00(exc. VAT)
Kr. 7,313/unit
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