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

6320 Products showing for Variable Resistors

314 of 316
Temporarily out of stock
1 kΩ, Surface Mount Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.25 W Top Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 44
  • RS Stock No. 144-2095
  • Mfr. Part No. 44WR1KLFT7
Subtotal (1 reel of 250 units)
£778.75(exc. VAT)
Currently unavailable
1 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.25 W Top Adjust VPG Foil Resistors, 1240
  • RS Stock No. 173-3001
  • Mfr. Part No. Y40531K00000J0L
Subtotal (1 box of 25 units)
£1,722.975(exc. VAT)
Temporarily out of stock
200 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.25 W Side Adjust Vishay, T63
  • RS Stock No. 374-7162P
  • Mfr. Part No. T63XB201KT20
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a tube)
£3.21(exc. VAT)
Stock information currently inaccessible
Vishay P10 200 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-8941
  • Mfr. Part No. P10XXAI204KB30
Subtotal (1 box of 100 units)
£1,052.60(exc. VAT)
In Stock
500 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, T93
  • RS Stock No. 167-9957
  • Mfr. Part No. T93YB501KT20
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
£78.10(exc. VAT)
Currently unavailable
Vishay P11H 4.7 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 239-8249
  • Mfr. Part No. P11H1F0GHFY00472MA
Subtotal (1 unit)
£7.43(exc. VAT)
Stock information currently inaccessible
Vishay P16F 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, P16FNP103MACV1D
  • RS Stock No. 298-413
  • Mfr. Part No. P16FNP103MACV1D
Subtotal (1 box of 20 units)
£288.00(exc. VAT)
Stock information currently inaccessible
20 kΩ, Surface Mount Trimmer Potentiometer 0.125 W Side Adjust Vishay, TSM3
  • RS Stock No. 425-340
  • Mfr. Part No. TSM3ZJ203MR10
Subtotal (1 reel of 500 units)
£1,455.00(exc. VAT)
Stock information currently inaccessible
Vishay PE30 2.2 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS Stock No. 167-8692
  • Mfr. Part No. PE30L0AP222KABG044
Subtotal (1 box of 10 units)
£308.25(exc. VAT)
Stock information currently inaccessible
Vishay P16F 100 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, P16FNP104MACV1D
  • RS Stock No. 298-419
  • Mfr. Part No. P16FNP104MACV1D
Subtotal (1 box of 20 units)
£230.40(exc. VAT)
Temporarily out of stock
Elma Potentiometer Knob 21 mm, 020 4525 0.25 in, Black
  • RS Stock No. 243-9529
  • Mfr. Part No. 020 4525
Subtotal (1 box of 100 units)
£371.90(exc. VAT)
Temporarily out of stock
100 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, T93
  • RS Stock No. 788-5101P
  • Mfr. Part No. T93YB101KT20
Subtotal 5 units (supplied in a tube)
£9.06(exc. VAT)
In Stock
2 kΩ, Panel Mount, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust Vishay, 43P
  • RS Stock No. 294-3555P
  • Mfr. Part No. M43P202KB30T601
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a box)
£8.39(exc. VAT)
Temporarily out of stock
1 kΩ, Surface Mount Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.125 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3223
  • RS Stock No. 691-2448P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3223J-1-102E
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied on a continuous strip)
£3.27(exc. VAT)
In Stock
500 kΩ, Surface Mount Trimmer Potentiometer 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, TS7
  • RS Stock No. 425-363
  • Mfr. Part No. TS7Y504KR32
Subtotal (1 tape of 1 unit)
£2.17(exc. VAT)
In Stock
200 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3386
  • RS Stock No. 167-3473
  • Mfr. Part No. 3386P-1-201LF
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
£38.40(exc. VAT)
In Stock
10000 Ω, Surface Mount Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Plated 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3266
  • RS Stock No. 445-913P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3266Y-1-103LF
Subtotal 2 units (supplied in a tube)
£4.46(exc. VAT)
Temporarily out of stock
200 kΩ, Surface Mount Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.125 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3313
  • RS Stock No. 167-4499
  • Mfr. Part No. 3313J-1-204E
Subtotal (1 reel of 1000 units)
£576.00(exc. VAT)
In Stock
100 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, T7
  • RS Stock No. 167-9360
  • Mfr. Part No. T7YA101MT20
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
£119.35(exc. VAT)
In Stock
1 kΩ, Surface Mount Trimmer Potentiometer 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, TS7
  • RS Stock No. 425-350P
  • Mfr. Part No. TS7Y102KR32
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied on a continuous strip)
£2.17(exc. VAT)
1
314
315
316
Results per page

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

Related links