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

6459 Products showing for Variable Resistors

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231 of 323
Temporarily out of stock
500 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3386
  • RS stock no. 743-2435P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3386G-1-501LF
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a tube)
R 29,72(exc. VAT)
R 29,72/unit
In Stock
500 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3296
  • RS stock no. 522-0013P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3296X-1-504LF
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a tube)
R 42,83(exc. VAT)
R 42,83/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Vishay 55 W 4.7 kΩ Wirewound Rheostat 160mA
  • RS stock no. 788-7712
  • Mfr. Part No. RT055AS4701KB
Subtotal (1 unit)
R 20 687,11(exc. VAT)
R 20 687,11/unit
In Stock
500 Ω, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Surface Mount 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, PVG5
  • RS stock no. 445-962
  • Mfr. Part No. PVG5A501C03R00
Subtotal (1 bag of 2 units)
R 84,37(exc. VAT)
R 42,185/unit
Temporarily out of stock
20 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, CT6
  • RS stock no. 896-7169
  • Mfr. Part No. CT-6EV 20kR
Subtotal (1 bag of 5 units)
R 96,71(exc. VAT)
R 19,342/unit
In Stock
200 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3299
  • RS stock no. 522-0322
  • Mfr. Part No. 3299W-1-201LF
Subtotal (1 unit)
R 49,07(exc. VAT)
R 49,07/unit
Temporarily out of stock
20 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust TT Electronics/BI, 67
  • RS stock no. 144-2065
  • Mfr. Part No. 67XR20KLF
Subtotal (1 box of 50 units)
R 1 351,70(exc. VAT)
R 27,034/unit
Currently unavailable
100 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.2 W Top Adjust TE Connectivity, 416
  • RS stock no. 168-0369
  • Mfr. Part No. 416PA101M
Subtotal (1 reel of 1000 units)
R 6 818,00(exc. VAT)
R 6,818/unit
Temporarily out of stock
2 mΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, ST4
  • RS stock no. 244-4404
  • Mfr. Part No. ST-4ETA201
Subtotal (1 reel of 500 units)
R 16 985,50(exc. VAT)
R 33,971/unit
In Stock
500 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3296
  • RS stock no. 521-9782
  • Mfr. Part No. 3296W-1-501LF
Subtotal (1 unit)
R 35,63(exc. VAT)
R 35,63/unit
In Stock
500 Ω, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3314
  • RS stock no. 691-7418P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3314J-1-501E
Subtotal 5 units (supplied on a continuous strip)
R 128,77(exc. VAT)
R 25,754/unit
In Stock
100 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Vishay, TS53
  • RS stock no. 486-7661P
  • Mfr. Part No. TS53YJ104MR10
Subtotal 5 units (supplied on a continuous strip)
R 211,56(exc. VAT)
R 42,312/unit
Temporarily out of stock
10 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.75 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3006
  • RS stock no. 167-5203
  • Mfr. Part No. 3006P-7-103LF
Subtotal (1 tube of 25 units)
R 715,325(exc. VAT)
R 28,613/unit
In Stock
20 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.25 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3266
  • RS stock no. 521-9388P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3266X-1-203LF
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a tube)
R 57,05(exc. VAT)
R 57,05/unit
In Stock
Vishay 25 W 4.7 kΩ Wirewound Rheostat 73mA
  • RS stock no. 788-7823
  • Mfr. Part No. RT025AS4701KB
Subtotal (1 unit)
R 5 561,99(exc. VAT)
R 5 561,99/unit
In Stock
47 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, T7
  • RS stock no. 162-2467
  • Mfr. Part No. T7YB473MT20
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
R 3 309,20(exc. VAT)
R 66,184/unit
In Stock
100 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Side Adjust Vishay, TSM4
  • RS stock no. 486-7289P
  • Mfr. Part No. TSM4YJ104KR05
Subtotal 5 units (supplied on a continuous strip)
R 827,22(exc. VAT)
R 165,444/unit
Temporarily out of stock
2 mΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Gull Wing 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, ST5
  • RS stock no. 244-4447
  • Mfr. Part No. ST-5ETW104
Subtotal (1 reel of 500 units)
R 70 243,00(exc. VAT)
R 140,486/unit
In Stock
1 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, PVG5
  • RS stock no. 669-6685P
  • Mfr. Part No. PVG5A102C03R00
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied on a continuous strip)
R 52,47(exc. VAT)
R 52,47/unit
In Stock
10 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Vishay, TS53
  • RS stock no. 167-9442
  • Mfr. Part No. TS53YJ103MR10
Subtotal (1 reel of 500 units)
R 16 127,00(exc. VAT)
R 32,254/unit
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