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

98 of 323
In Stock
Bourns PRS12R 10 kΩ Rotary Audio Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang PCB
  • RS Stock No. 269-2446
  • Mfr. Part No. PRS12R-4025S-103B1
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 25,40(exc. VAT)
Kr. 25,40/unit
Stocked by manufacturer
TE Connectivity Citec 4.7 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 2-Gang Panel Mount, 1624178-2
  • RS Stock No. 471-217
  • Mfr. Part No. 1624178-2
Subtotal (1 reel of 25 units)
Kr. 2 167,775(exc. VAT)
Kr. 86,711/unit
In Stock
PIHER SENSORS AND CONTROLS S.S.A PS-10 10 kΩ Trimmer Potentiometer 1-Turns Surface, PSC10KV50-103A0505
  • RS Stock No. 134-928
  • Mfr. Part No. PSC10KV50-103A0505
Subtotal (1 box of 1000 units)
Kr. 33 689,00(exc. VAT)
Kr. 33,689/unit
In Stock
Vishay P16F 1 mΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 329-043
  • Mfr. Part No. P16FNP102MARSD
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 251,34(exc. VAT)
Kr. 251,34/unit
In Stock
10 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust Bourns, PV36
  • RS Stock No. 167-5328
  • Mfr. Part No. PV36X103C01B00
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
Kr. 729,75(exc. VAT)
Kr. 14,595/unit
In Stock
Vishay 357 5 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Gang Panel Mount, 357B0502MAB251S22
  • RS Stock No. 460-2076
  • Mfr. Part No. 357B0502MAB251S22
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 258,09(exc. VAT)
Kr. 258,09/unit
In Stock
Bourns 3310 2 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, Through Hole
  • RS Stock No. 522-0653P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3310Y-001-202L
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a tube)
Kr. 34,55(exc. VAT)
Kr. 34,55/unit
Currently unavailable
10 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.1 W Top Adjust TE Connectivity, 3204
  • RS Stock No. 164-8610
  • Mfr. Part No. 3204X103P
Subtotal (1 reel of 500 units)
Kr. 6 909,00(exc. VAT)
Kr. 13,818/unit
In Stock
25 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3296
  • RS Stock No. 785-9733P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3296W-1-250LF
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a tube)
Kr. 19,45(exc. VAT)
Kr. 19,45/unit
In Stock
5 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3224
  • RS Stock No. 167-3530
  • Mfr. Part No. 3224W-1-502E
Subtotal (1 reel of 250 units)
Kr. 6 417,75(exc. VAT)
Kr. 25,671/unit
Stock information currently inaccessible
Vishay P11S 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-8849
  • Mfr. Part No. P11S1V0APSY00T0127
Subtotal (1 box of 50 units)
Kr. 5 816,55(exc. VAT)
Kr. 116,331/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Bourns 3500 Rotary Potentiometer 2-Gang Bush
  • RS Stock No. 161-6917
  • Mfr. Part No. 3500S-2-102L
Subtotal (1 tray of 5 units)
Kr. 4 953,98(exc. VAT)
Kr. 990,796/unit
Currently unavailable
1 mΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3224
  • RS Stock No. 167-3231
  • Mfr. Part No. 3224W-1-105E
Subtotal (1 reel of 250 units)
Kr. 6 349,25(exc. VAT)
Kr. 25,397/unit
In Stock
10 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3296
  • RS Stock No. 167-3405
  • Mfr. Part No. 3296Y-1-103LF
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
Kr. 830,55(exc. VAT)
Kr. 16,611/unit
Currently unavailable
100 kΩ, Through Hole, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust, Top Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 72
  • RS Stock No. 144-2068
  • Mfr. Part No. 72PTR100KLF
Subtotal (1 box of 100 units)
Kr. 2 522,00(exc. VAT)
Kr. 25,22/unit
In Stock
100 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, T93
  • RS Stock No. 788-5069P
  • Mfr. Part No. T93YA101KT20
Subtotal 5 units (supplied in a tube)
Kr. 123,55(exc. VAT)
Kr. 24,71/unit
In Stock
Vishay PE30 22 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-8687
  • Mfr. Part No. PE30L0FR223KAB
Subtotal (1 box of 10 units)
Kr. 3 950,92(exc. VAT)
Kr. 395,092/unit
In Stock
10 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3296
  • RS Stock No. 521-9833P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3296X-1-100LF
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a tube)
Kr. 25,28(exc. VAT)
Kr. 25,28/unit
Last RS stock
TE Connectivity 27 47 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 2-Gang Panel Mount, 27ESB473MMF50NF
  • RS Stock No. 745-6804
  • Mfr. Part No. 27ESB473MMF50NF
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 71,52(exc. VAT)
Kr. 71,52/unit
In Stock
OKW 20 mm Knob Diameter Black Potentiometer Knob for 6 mm Shaft Round Shaft, A1317860
  • RS Stock No. 283-2021
  • Mfr. Part No. A1317860
Subtotal (1 unit)
Kr. 96,74(exc. VAT)
Kr. 96,74/unit
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