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

6445 Products showing for Variable Resistors

59 of 323
In Stock
TE Connectivity 27 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 2-Gang Panel Mount, 27ESB103MMF50N
  • RS Stock No. 168-320
  • Mfr. Part No. 27ESB103MMF50N
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 95,64(exc. VAT)
Kr. 95,64/unit
In Stock
10 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.25 W Top Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 64
  • RS Stock No. 144-2073
  • Mfr. Part No. 64WR10KLF
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
Kr. 1 270,30(exc. VAT)
Kr. 25,406/unit
Temporarily out of stock
1 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3224
  • RS Stock No. 743-2303
  • Mfr. Part No. 3224X-1-102E
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 40,50(exc. VAT)
Kr. 40,50/unit
In Stock
100 Ω, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Gull Wing 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3314
  • RS Stock No. 100-1105P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3314G-1-101E
Subtotal 10 units (supplied on a continuous strip)
Kr. 122,18(exc. VAT)
Kr. 12,218/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Vishay P16 1 kΩ Knob Potentiometer Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, P16NP102MAB15F1
  • RS Stock No. 733-004
  • Mfr. Part No. P16NP102MAB15F1
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 178,46(exc. VAT)
Kr. 178,46/unit
Temporarily out of stock
1 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Soldering connection 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, PVG3
  • RS Stock No. 246-3265
  • Mfr. Part No. PVG3A102C01R00
Subtotal (1 reel of 1000 units)
Kr. 6 658,00(exc. VAT)
Kr. 6,658/unit
In Stock
1000 Ω, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Plated 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3362
  • RS Stock No. 445-931P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3362R-1-102LF
Subtotal 2 units (supplied in a tube)
Kr. 20,13(exc. VAT)
Kr. 10,065/unit
In Stock
Vishay P16 100 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-8739
  • Mfr. Part No. P16NM104MAB15
Subtotal (1 box of 20 units)
Kr. 5 230,38(exc. VAT)
Kr. 261,519/unit
In Stock
Vishay P16 4.7 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-8737
  • Mfr. Part No. P16NM472MAB15
Subtotal (1 box of 20 units)
Kr. 4 294,12(exc. VAT)
Kr. 214,706/unit
In Stock
RS PRO WR 535 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 3-Turns 1-Gang Bush
  • RS Stock No. 278-0311
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 301,65(exc. VAT)
Kr. 301,65/unit
In Stock
TE Connectivity 27 4.7 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 2-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 745-6797P
  • Mfr. Part No. 27ESA472MMF50NF
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a bag)
Kr. 105,34(exc. VAT)
Kr. 105,34/unit
Stock information currently inaccessible
Vishay 860 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-9345
  • Mfr. Part No. 860B1102
Subtotal (1 box of 10 units)
Kr. 23 850,46(exc. VAT)
Kr. 2 385,046/unit
In Stock
RS PRO 11 mm Knob Diameter Black Potentiometer Knob for 4 mm Shaft Wedge Shaped
  • RS Stock No. 467-6077
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
Kr. 58,57(exc. VAT)
Kr. 11,714/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Vishay P11H 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, Through Hole, P11H1F0GHFW10102KA
  • RS Stock No. 239-8226
  • Mfr. Part No. P11H1F0GHFW10102KA
Subtotal (1 box of 15 units)
Kr. 4 052,505(exc. VAT)
Kr. 270,167/unit
In Stock
50 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3214
  • RS Stock No. 240-1590
  • Mfr. Part No. 3214W-1-503E
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
Kr. 124,24(exc. VAT)
Kr. 24,848/unit
Temporarily out of stock
50 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.25 W Top Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 64
  • RS Stock No. 144-2109
  • Mfr. Part No. 64YR50KLF
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
Kr. 1 564,40(exc. VAT)
Kr. 31,288/unit
In Stock
500 Ω, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3224
  • RS Stock No. 743-2293
  • Mfr. Part No. 3224J-1-501E
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 37,87(exc. VAT)
Kr. 37,87/unit
In Stock
100 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3296
  • RS Stock No. 522-0041
  • Mfr. Part No. 3296Y-1-101LF
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 21,05(exc. VAT)
Kr. 21,05/unit
Last RS stock
Vishay ACCSUIPMWIPERKB435 Wiper Membrane
  • RS Stock No. 250-5054
  • Mfr. Part No. ACCSUIPMWIPERKB435
Subtotal (1 box of 10 units)
Kr. 1 950,75(exc. VAT)
Kr. 195,075/unit
Limited stock
2 mΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3386
  • RS Stock No. 785-9506P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3386P-1-205LF
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a tube)
Kr. 13,96(exc. VAT)
Kr. 13,96/unit
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