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

93 of 323
Currently unavailable
20 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.75 W Side Adjust VPG Foil Resistors, 1280 g
  • RS Stock No. 173-2942
  • Mfr. Part No. Y005620K0000K0L
Subtotal (1 box of 100 units)
Kr. 19 112,50(exc. VAT)
Kr. 191,125/unit
In Stock
Bourns 91 5 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 789-9431P
  • Mfr. Part No. 91A1A-C28-B13L
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a bag)
Kr. 71,27(exc. VAT)
Kr. 71,27/unit
Temporarily out of stock
10 kΩ, Panel Mount Trimmer Potentiometer, Through Hole 0.2 W Vertical PIHER SENSORS AND CONTROLS S.S.A, PC-16
  • RS Stock No. 134-961
  • Mfr. Part No. PT10MV10-103A2020-PM-S
Subtotal (1 box of 1000 units)
Kr. 2 828,00(exc. VAT)
Kr. 2,828/unit
In Stock
10 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3386
  • RS Stock No. 522-2485P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3386G-1-103LF
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a tube)
Kr. 17,91(exc. VAT)
Kr. 17,91/unit
In Stock
1 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.75 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3006
  • RS Stock No. 743-2243
  • Mfr. Part No. 3006P-7-102LF
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 32,03(exc. VAT)
Kr. 32,03/unit
In Stock
OKW Beach Potentiometer Knob Round Shaft, A1101004
  • RS Stock No. 283-2015
  • Mfr. Part No. A1101004
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 16,70(exc. VAT)
Kr. 16,70/unit
In Stock
TE Connectivity M 22 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 135-4427
  • Mfr. Part No. 404802692039
Subtotal (1 box of 50 units)
Kr. 12 117,00(exc. VAT)
Kr. 242,34/unit
In Stock
1 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.25 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3266
  • RS Stock No. 167-3489
  • Mfr. Part No. 3266X-1-102LF
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
Kr. 1 304,15(exc. VAT)
Kr. 26,083/unit
Stock information currently inaccessible
Vishay 20 mm Knob Diameter Black Potentiometer Knob for 6 mm Shaft Round Shaft, ACCKIS2012NLD6
  • RS Stock No. 425-010
  • Mfr. Part No. ACCKIS2012NLD6
Subtotal (1 box of 200 units)
Kr. 3 449,60(exc. VAT)
Kr. 17,248/unit
In Stock
50000 Ω, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Surface Mount 0.125 W Bourns, 3313
  • RS Stock No. 445-924
  • Mfr. Part No. 3313J-1-503E
Subtotal (1 bag of 2 units)
Kr. 39,01(exc. VAT)
Kr. 19,505/unit
Temporarily out of stock
RS PRO 28 mm Knob Diameter Black Potentiometer Knob for 6.35 mm Shaft Circular
  • RS Stock No. 259-7001
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
Kr. 171,49(exc. VAT)
Kr. 34,298/unit
In Stock
50 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, T93
  • RS Stock No. 167-9964
  • Mfr. Part No. T93YB503KT20
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
Kr. 720,70(exc. VAT)
Kr. 14,414/unit
Stock information currently inaccessible
200 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, 64W
  • RS Stock No. 169-3083
  • Mfr. Part No. M64W204KB40
Subtotal (1 box of 200 units)
Kr. 4 640,00(exc. VAT)
Kr. 23,20/unit
In Stock
TE Connectivity 27 100 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 2-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 168-386P
  • Mfr. Part No. 27ESA104MMF50N
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a box)
Kr. 139,68(exc. VAT)
Kr. 139,68/unit
In Stock
500 Ω, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Gull Wing 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3314
  • RS Stock No. 100-1127
  • Mfr. Part No. 3314G-1-501E
Subtotal (1 pack of 10 units)
Kr. 137,28(exc. VAT)
Kr. 13,728/unit
Stock information currently inaccessible
Vishay 357 20 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-9750
  • Mfr. Part No. 357B0203MAB251S22
Subtotal (1 box of 50 units)
Kr. 21 568,85(exc. VAT)
Kr. 431,377/unit
In Stock
100 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3386
  • RS Stock No. 161-7077
  • Mfr. Part No. 3386G-1-104LF
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
Kr. 655,05(exc. VAT)
Kr. 13,101/unit
Stock information currently inaccessible
1 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, 64W
  • RS Stock No. 169-3076
  • Mfr. Part No. M64W102KB40
Subtotal (1 box of 200 units)
Kr. 4 255,60(exc. VAT)
Kr. 21,278/unit
In Stock
Bourns 3680 5 kΩ Digital Display Potentiometer 10-Turns 2-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 248-6743P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3682S-1-502L
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a bag)
Kr. 457,14(exc. VAT)
Kr. 457,14/unit
Stocked by manufacturer
1 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer 0.2 W Top Adjust TE Connectivity, Citec
  • RS Stock No. 475-152
  • Mfr. Part No. 1623894-2
Subtotal (1 pack of 400 units)
Kr. 2 306,40(exc. VAT)
Kr. 5,766/unit
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