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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

6510 Products showing for Variable Resistors

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304 of 326
In Stock
20 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.75 W Side Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 89
  • RS Stock No. 144-2250
  • Mfr. Part No. 89PR20KLFTB
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
£7.19(exc. VAT)
£1.438/unit
Currently unavailable
1 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 1 W Top Adjust TE Connectivity, PC910
  • RS Stock No. 161-5566
  • Mfr. Part No. PC910 1K RS
Subtotal (1 box of 100 units)
£552.00(exc. VAT)
£5.52/unit
In Stock
1 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.75 W Side Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 90
  • RS Stock No. 144-2212
  • Mfr. Part No. 90PR1KLFTB
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
£12.37(exc. VAT)
£2.474/unit
Currently unavailable
100 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 67
  • RS Stock No. 144-2206
  • Mfr. Part No. 67XR100KLF
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
£7.61(exc. VAT)
£1.522/unit
In Stock
200 Ω, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J Lead 0.25 W Top Adjust Vishay, TSM41
  • RS Stock No. 653-021
  • Mfr. Part No. TSM41YJ201KR05
Subtotal (1 tape of 1 unit)
£3.33(exc. VAT)
£3.33/tape
Last RS stock
5 kΩ, Through Hole, Terminal Pure Sn (Code E3) 500 mW Side Adjust Vishay, M64
  • RS Stock No. 607-355
  • Mfr. Part No. M64Z502KB40
Subtotal (1 box of 200 units)
£300.00(exc. VAT)
£1.50/unit
In Stock
20 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, TS7
  • RS Stock No. 425-356
  • Mfr. Part No. TS7Y203KR32
Subtotal (1 tape of 1 unit)
£2.13(exc. VAT)
£2.13/tape
Currently unavailable
10 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 67
  • RS Stock No. 144-2087
  • Mfr. Part No. 67PR10KLF
Subtotal (1 box of 50 units)
£73.50(exc. VAT)
£1.47/unit
Currently unavailable
10 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 67
  • RS Stock No. 144-2221
  • Mfr. Part No. 67XR10KLF
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
£7.01(exc. VAT)
£1.402/unit
Currently unavailable
500 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.75 W Side Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 89
  • RS Stock No. 144-2120
  • Mfr. Part No. 89PR500KLFTB
Subtotal (1 tube of 25 units)
£36.725(exc. VAT)
£1.469/unit
In Stock
250 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3386
  • RS Stock No. 161-7014
  • Mfr. Part No. 3386P-1-251LF
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
£50.85(exc. VAT)
£1.017/unit
In Stock
1.2 mΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3296
  • RS Stock No. 161-6983
  • Mfr. Part No. 3296W-1-125LF
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
£71.20(exc. VAT)
£1.424/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. 144-2248
  • Mfr. Part No. 72PTR100KLF
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
£12.88(exc. VAT)
£2.576/unit
Temporarily out of stock
200 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.75 W Side Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 89
  • RS Stock No. 144-2238
  • Mfr. Part No. 89PR200KLFTB
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
£9.12(exc. VAT)
£1.824/unit
Currently unavailable
10 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 67
  • RS Stock No. 144-2232
  • Mfr. Part No. 67PR10KLF
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
£7.99(exc. VAT)
£1.598/unit
In Stock
100 kΩ, Through Hole Through Hole Trimmer Resistor, Solder Pin 250 mW Top Adjust PIHER SENSORS AND CONTROLS S.S.A, PT-15
  • RS Stock No. 640-718
  • Mfr. Part No. PT15NV17104A2020IPMS
Subtotal (1 unit)
£0.44(exc. VAT)
£0.44/unit
In Stock
22 kΩ, Through Hole Through Hole Trimmer Resistor, Solder Pin 250 mW Side Adjust PIHER SENSORS AND CONTROLS S.S.A, PT-15
  • RS Stock No. 640-778
  • Mfr. Part No. PT15NH05223A2020IPMS
Subtotal (1 unit)
£0.44(exc. VAT)
£0.44/unit
In Stock
22 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3386
  • RS Stock No. 161-7018
  • Mfr. Part No. 3386X-1-223LF
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
£45.00(exc. VAT)
£0.90/unit
In Stock
200 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3386
  • RS Stock No. 161-7076
  • Mfr. Part No. 3386F-1-204LF
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
£39.60(exc. VAT)
£0.792/unit
In Stock
5 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3386
  • RS Stock No. 161-7084
  • Mfr. Part No. 3386G-1-502LF
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
£47.60(exc. VAT)
£0.952/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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