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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85 of 327
Currently unavailable
Vishay P13 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-8766
  • Mfr. Part No. P13LFL102MAB10
Subtotal (30 units, in boxes of 30)
Kr. 8 459,19(exc. VAT)
Kr. 281,973/unit
Temporarily out of stock
100 Ω, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3214
  • RS Stock No. 166-9948
  • Mfr. Part No. 3214J-1-101E
Subtotal (500 units, on reels of 500)
Kr. 8 099,50(exc. VAT)
Kr. 16,199/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
Vishay 148 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, Through Hole
  • RS Stock No. 167-9645
  • Mfr. Part No. 14810F0GJSX10102KA
Subtotal (50 units, in boxes of 50)
Kr. 6 301,15(exc. VAT)
Kr. 126,023/unit
In Stock
50 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.25 W Top Adjust Vishay, T63
  • RS Stock No. 169-3141
  • Mfr. Part No. T63YB503KT20
Subtotal (50 units, in tubes of 50)
Kr. 1 427,70(exc. VAT)
Kr. 28,554/unit
In Stock
100 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3296
  • RS Stock No. 167-3403
  • Mfr. Part No. 3296Y-1-101LF
Subtotal (50 units, in tubes of 50)
Kr. 789,35(exc. VAT)
Kr. 15,787/unit
Temporarily out of stock
10 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3386
  • RS Stock No. 167-3449
  • Mfr. Part No. 3386F-1-103LF
Subtotal (50 units, in tubes of 50)
Kr. 528,30(exc. VAT)
Kr. 10,566/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Bourns PDB8 500 kΩ Rotary Audio Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang PCB, PDB081-P10-104B1
  • RS Stock No. 269-2395
  • Mfr. Part No. PDB081-P10-104B1
Subtotal (500 units, in bags of 500)
Kr. 4 077,00(exc. VAT)
Kr. 8,154/unit
In Stock
Elma Potentiometer Knob 10 mm, 020-2320 4 mm, Black
  • RS Stock No. 243-9532
  • Mfr. Part No. 020-2320
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 74,47(exc. VAT)
Kr. 74,47/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Vishay PRV6 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, PRV6SAABJYB25103KA
  • RS Stock No. 167-8843
  • Mfr. Part No. PRV6SAABJYB25103KA
Subtotal (50 units, in boxes of 50)
Kr. 5 971,70(exc. VAT)
Kr. 119,434/unit
Currently unavailable
500 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust Vishay, 64X
  • RS Stock No. 169-3122
  • Mfr. Part No. M64X501KB40
Subtotal (200 units, in boxes of 200)
Kr. 3 811,00(exc. VAT)
Kr. 19,055/unit
In Stock
5 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.25 W Top Adjust Vishay, T63
  • RS Stock No. 167-9526
  • Mfr. Part No. T63YB502KT20
Subtotal (50 units, in tubes of 50)
Kr. 1 414,00(exc. VAT)
Kr. 28,28/unit
Last RS stock
Vishay PE30 1 mΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 162-2395
  • Mfr. Part No. PE30L0FR105KAB
Subtotal (10 units, in boxes of 10)
Kr. 3 950,92(exc. VAT)
Kr. 395,092/unit
Temporarily out of stock
2 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3224
  • RS Stock No. 167-4451
  • Mfr. Part No. 3224J-1-202E
Subtotal (500 units, on reels of 500)
Kr. 12 218,00(exc. VAT)
Kr. 24,436/unit
Last RS stock
1 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Side Adjust Vishay, TSM4
  • RS Stock No. 162-2401
  • Mfr. Part No. TSM4YJ102KB25
Subtotal (50 units, in boxes of 50)
Kr. 4 703,95(exc. VAT)
Kr. 94,079/unit
Last RS stock
Vishay P16 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, P16NM102MAB15
  • RS Stock No. 167-8864
  • Mfr. Part No. P16NM102MAB15
Subtotal (20 units, in boxes of 20)
Kr. 4 826,76(exc. VAT)
Kr. 241,338/unit
Currently unavailable
Vishay 357 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Gang Panel Mount, 357B0102MXB054506
  • RS Stock No. 167-9749
  • Mfr. Part No. 357B0102MXB054506
Subtotal (50 units, in boxes of 50)
Kr. 24 403,60(exc. VAT)
Kr. 488,072/unit
Currently unavailable
500 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, 63M
  • RS Stock No. 167-9665
  • Mfr. Part No. M63M504KB30T607
Subtotal (400 units, in boxes of 400)
Kr. 23 951,60(exc. VAT)
Kr. 59,879/unit
In Stock
100 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3224
  • RS Stock No. 167-3526
  • Mfr. Part No. 3224W-1-104E
Subtotal (250 units, on reels of 250)
Kr. 6 726,75(exc. VAT)
Kr. 26,907/unit
In Stock
1000000 Ω, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Plated 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3386
  • RS Stock No. 445-937P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3386F-1-105TLF
Subtotal (2 units, supplied in a tube)
Kr. 41,07(exc. VAT)
Kr. 20,535/unit
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