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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81 of 327
Last RS stock
100 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Vishay, TS53
  • RS Stock No. 167-9445
  • Mfr. Part No. TS53YJ104MR10
Subtotal (500 units, on reels of 500)
Kr. 7 893,50(exc. VAT)
Kr. 15,787/unit
In Stock
Bourns 3540 100 Ω Rotary Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, 3540S-1-101L
  • RS Stock No. 167-3597
  • Mfr. Part No. 3540S-1-101L
Subtotal (25 units, in trays of 25)
Kr. 6 259,75(exc. VAT)
Kr. 250,39/unit
In Stock
50 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3296
  • RS Stock No. 167-3364
  • Mfr. Part No. 3296W-1-503LF
Subtotal (50 units, in tubes of 50)
Kr. 789,35(exc. VAT)
Kr. 15,787/unit
Currently unavailable
Vishay 249 5 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, Through Hole
  • RS Stock No. 167-9625
  • Mfr. Part No. 249BBHS0XB25502KA
Subtotal (50 units, in boxes of 50)
Kr. 6 596,30(exc. VAT)
Kr. 131,926/unit
Temporarily out of stock
1 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3214
  • RS Stock No. 166-9937
  • Mfr. Part No. 3214J-1-102E
Subtotal (500 units, on reels of 500)
Kr. 7 893,50(exc. VAT)
Kr. 15,787/unit
In Stock
Vishay P10 500 Ω Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, P10XXAI501KB30
  • RS Stock No. 167-8937
  • Mfr. Part No. P10XXAI501KB30
Subtotal (100 units, in boxes of 100)
Kr. 11 359,60(exc. VAT)
Kr. 113,596/unit
Currently unavailable
Vishay P11S 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-8943
  • Mfr. Part No. P11S2V0FLSY00D0047
Subtotal (100 units, in boxes of 100)
Kr. 18 505,30(exc. VAT)
Kr. 185,053/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Vishay 25 W 10 Ω Wirewound Rheostat 1580A, RT025AS10R0KB
  • RS Stock No. 168-0119
  • Mfr. Part No. RT025AS10R0KB
Subtotal (25 units, in packs of 25)
Kr. 83 054,40(exc. VAT)
Kr. 3 322,176/unit
In Stock
Bourns 3590 500 Ω Rotary Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, 3590S-2-501L
  • RS Stock No. 167-3581
  • Mfr. Part No. 3590S-2-501L
Subtotal (25 units, in trays of 25)
Kr. 3 356,50(exc. VAT)
Kr. 134,26/unit
Temporarily out of stock
1 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Gull Wing 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3314
  • RS Stock No. 167-3335
  • Mfr. Part No. 3314G-1-102E
Subtotal (500 units, on reels of 500)
Kr. 4 914,50(exc. VAT)
Kr. 9,829/unit
Currently unavailable
Vishay 157 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Servo Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-9473
  • Mfr. Part No. 157S103MX
Subtotal (10 units, in boxes of 10)
Kr. 5 884,39(exc. VAT)
Kr. 588,439/unit
Last RS stock
Vishay 149 100 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, Through Hole
  • RS Stock No. 167-9637
  • Mfr. Part No. 14910F0GJSX10104KA
Subtotal (50 units, in boxes of 50)
Kr. 7 543,55(exc. VAT)
Kr. 150,871/unit
In Stock
500 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3296
  • RS Stock No. 167-3398
  • Mfr. Part No. 3296X-1-504LF
Subtotal (50 units, in tubes of 50)
Kr. 926,65(exc. VAT)
Kr. 18,533/unit
Currently unavailable
5 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, 63P
  • RS Stock No. 167-9653
  • Mfr. Part No. M63P502KB40
Subtotal (400 units, in boxes of 400)
Kr. 7 318,80(exc. VAT)
Kr. 18,297/unit
In Stock
Bourns 93 100 Ω Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, Through Hole, 93R1A-R22-A05L
  • RS Stock No. 167-3619
  • Mfr. Part No. 93R1A-R22-A05L
Subtotal (45 units, in trays of 45)
Kr. 2 569,095(exc. VAT)
Kr. 57,091/unit
Currently unavailable
1 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Vishay, TS53
  • RS Stock No. 167-9439
  • Mfr. Part No. TS53YJ102MR10
Subtotal (500 units, on reels of 500)
Kr. 8 031,00(exc. VAT)
Kr. 16,062/unit
In Stock
Bourns PDB8 500 kΩ Rotary Audio Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang PCB
  • RS Stock No. 269-2404
  • Mfr. Part No. PDB082-P10-503A3
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 13,54(exc. VAT)
Kr. 13,54/unit
Last RS stock
10 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, T7
  • RS Stock No. 167-9366
  • Mfr. Part No. T7YA103MT20
Subtotal (50 units, in tubes of 50)
Kr. 1 963,10(exc. VAT)
Kr. 39,262/unit
Temporarily out of stock
100 Ω, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3224
  • RS Stock No. 167-3328
  • Mfr. Part No. 3224W-1-101E
Subtotal (250 units, on reels of 250)
Kr. 6 246,25(exc. VAT)
Kr. 24,985/unit
Temporarily out of stock
200 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3214
  • RS Stock No. 167-3535
  • Mfr. Part No. 3214W-1-204E
Subtotal (250 units, on reels of 250)
Kr. 3 878,25(exc. VAT)
Kr. 15,513/unit
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