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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.

Take a look at our voltage divider calculator to work out the output voltage of a resistor divider circuit for a given set of resistor values and source voltage in seconds.

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.

Check out our Ohm’s Law calculator to accurately calculate Ohm’s Law and determine the Voltage, resistance, or current value you require for your installation.

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

6430 Products showing for Variable Resistors

288 of 322
In Stock
10 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer 0.5 W Side Adjust Vishay, TS7
  • RS Stock No. 425-371
  • Mfr. Part No. TS7X103KR10
Subtotal (1 tape of 1 unit)
£2.68(exc. VAT)
£2.68/tape
Temporarily out of stock
Vishay PRV6 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, PRV6SAABGYB25103KA
  • RS Stock No. 733-013
  • Mfr. Part No. PRV6SAABGYB25103KA
Subtotal (1 unit)
£10.11(exc. VAT)
£10.11/unit
Temporarily out of stock
2 mΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust Nidec Components, CT-94
  • RS Stock No. 244-3671
  • Mfr. Part No. CT-94EX501
Subtotal (1 pack of 2 units)
£2.36(exc. VAT)
£1.18/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Vishay P16 1 kΩ Knob Potentiometer Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, P16NM102KAB15
  • RS Stock No. 732-980
  • Mfr. Part No. P16NM102KAB15
Subtotal (1 unit)
£23.65(exc. VAT)
£23.65/unit
Currently unavailable
100 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.2 W Top Adjust TE Connectivity, 416
  • RS Stock No. 652-4259
  • Mfr. Part No. 416PA101M
Subtotal (1 pack of 10 units)
£7.31(exc. VAT)
£0.731/unit
Being discontinued
100 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.2 W Top Adjust TE Connectivity, 416
  • RS Stock No. 652-4906P
  • Mfr. Part No. 416MA101P
Subtotal 10 units (supplied in a box)
£2.73(exc. VAT)
£0.273/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Vishay P16 220 Ω Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, P16NP221MAB15
  • RS Stock No. 790-4160
  • Mfr. Part No. P16NP221MAB15
Subtotal (1 unit)
£15.73(exc. VAT)
£15.73/unit
Last RS stock
5 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.25 W Side Adjust Vishay, T63
  • RS Stock No. 167-9532
  • Mfr. Part No. T63XB502KT20
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
£51.15(exc. VAT)
£1.023/unit
In Stock
2 mΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, ST4
  • RS Stock No. 244-4409P
  • Mfr. Part No. ST-4ETA204
Subtotal 5 units (supplied on a continuous strip)
£2.75(exc. VAT)
£0.55/unit
In Stock
Vishay 534 200 Ω Rotary Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 486-7100P
  • Mfr. Part No. 534B1201JC8872
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a box)
£27.94(exc. VAT)
£27.94/unit
Currently unavailable
2 mΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Gull Wing 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, ST5
  • RS Stock No. 244-4454
  • Mfr. Part No. ST-5ETW501
Subtotal (1 reel of 500 units)
£869.00(exc. VAT)
£1.738/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)
£0.98(exc. VAT)
£0.98/unit
In Stock
Vishay P10 500 Ω Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-8937
  • Mfr. Part No. P10XXAI501KB30
Subtotal (1 box of 100 units)
£827.50(exc. VAT)
£8.275/unit
Currently unavailable
20 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Tab 0.05 W Top Adjust TE Connectivity, 3203
  • RS Stock No. 135-8479
  • Mfr. Part No. 3203X203P
Subtotal (1 reel of 500 units)
£565.50(exc. VAT)
£1.131/unit
In Stock
2 mΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, ST4
  • RS Stock No. 244-4417P
  • Mfr. Part No. ST-4ETA503
Subtotal 5 units (supplied on a continuous strip)
£2.75(exc. VAT)
£0.55/unit
In Stock
2 mΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, CT-94
  • RS Stock No. 244-3656
  • Mfr. Part No. CT-94EW203
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
£3.46(exc. VAT)
£0.692/unit
Last RS stock
Vishay 357 Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel, 357B0103MXB251S22
  • RS Stock No. 283-5521
  • Mfr. Part No. 357B0103MXB251S22
Subtotal (1 unit)
£33.47(exc. VAT)
£33.47/unit
Currently unavailable
2 mΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, ST-42
  • RS Stock No. 244-4379
  • Mfr. Part No. ST-4 2ETA104
Subtotal (1 reel of 500 units)
£219.50(exc. VAT)
£0.439/unit
In Stock
2.2 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3386
  • RS Stock No. 161-7027
  • Mfr. Part No. 3386F-1-222LF
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
£39.60(exc. VAT)
£0.792/unit
In Stock
2 mΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Gull Wing 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, ST5
  • RS Stock No. 244-4450
  • Mfr. Part No. ST-5ETW202
Subtotal (1 unit)
£2.19(exc. VAT)
£2.19/unit
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Guides & Articles

Variable Resistors Guide
From types to applications, discover all you need to know about variable resistors in our handy guide.
Read More
Potentiometers Guide
Our potentiometers guide will help you understand their uses, how they work, the various types and characteristics.
Read more
Rheostats Guide
Our rheostats guide explains their uses, how they work, the different types, and how they differ from potentiometers.
Read more

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