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

6382 Products showing for Variable Resistors

271 of 320
In Stock
Vishay 860 5 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, 860B1502
  • RS stock no. 294-3757
  • Mfr. Part No. 860B1502
Subtotal (1 unit)
R 3 972,88(exc. VAT)
R 3 972,88/unit
In Stock
Vishay 860 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS stock no. 294-3735P
  • Mfr. Part No. 860B1102
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a box)
R 3 966,75(exc. VAT)
R 3 966,75/unit
In Stock
Bourns 3540 50 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS stock no. 522-3034P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3540S-1-503L
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a bag)
R 481,88(exc. VAT)
R 481,88/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Bourns 3310 100 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel
  • RS stock no. 167-3507
  • Mfr. Part No. 3310C-001-104L
Subtotal (1 tube of 50 units)
R 2 123,25(exc. VAT)
R 42,465/unit
Temporarily out of stock
2 mΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, Gull Wing 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, ST5
  • RS stock no. 244-4459
  • Mfr. Part No. ST-5ETW503
Subtotal (1 unit)
R 51,42(exc. VAT)
R 51,42/unit
In Stock
5 kΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Side Adjust Vishay, TSM4
  • RS stock no. 486-7245
  • Mfr. Part No. TSM4YJ502KB25
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
R 808,84(exc. VAT)
R 161,768/unit
In Stock
Bourns 3590 50 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS stock no. 107-0808P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3590S-2-503L
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a bag)
R 440,86(exc. VAT)
R 440,86/unit
Limited stock
Bourns 91 25 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount, Through Hole
  • RS stock no. 522-5232P
  • Mfr. Part No. 91A1A-B28-E17L
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a bag)
R 151,06(exc. VAT)
R 151,06/unit
In Stock
Vishay M61 10 kΩ Trimmer Potentiometer 1-Turns Panel Mount, M61P103KT20
  • RS stock no. 653-028
  • Mfr. Part No. M61P103KT20
Subtotal (1 unit)
R 19,85(exc. VAT)
R 19,85/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Bourns PTA 10 kΩ Slide Slide Potentiometer 1-Gang Through Hole
  • RS stock no. 161-6902
  • Mfr. Part No. PTA6043-2015DPA103
Subtotal (1 tray of 100 units)
R 2 437,30(exc. VAT)
R 24,373/unit
In Stock
470 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Side Adjust Bourns, 3386
  • RS stock no. 785-9714
  • Mfr. Part No. 3386H-1-474LF
Subtotal (1 unit)
R 25,30(exc. VAT)
R 25,30/unit
Temporarily out of stock
500 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3386
  • RS stock no. 522-2384
  • Mfr. Part No. 3386F-1-501LF
Subtotal (1 unit)
R 24,40(exc. VAT)
R 24,40/unit
In Stock
RS PRO P25 1 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS stock no. 842-7037P
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a bag)
R 145,87(exc. VAT)
R 145,87/unit
In Stock
47 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Vishay, T7
  • RS stock no. 374-6800
  • Mfr. Part No. T7YA473MT20
Subtotal (1 pack of 5 units)
R 313,63(exc. VAT)
R 62,726/unit
Temporarily out of stock
TE Connectivity M 10 kΩ Rotary Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang Panel Mount
  • RS stock no. 135-4426
  • Mfr. Part No. 404802696038
Subtotal (1 box of 50 units)
R 20 867,85(exc. VAT)
R 417,357/unit
Temporarily out of stock
Bourns PRS11R 10 kΩ Rotary Audio Potentiometer 1-Turns 1-Gang PCB, PRS11R-225F-S103B1
  • RS stock no. 269-2430
  • Mfr. Part No. PRS11R-225F-S103B1
Subtotal (1 tray of 100 units)
R 4 213,10(exc. VAT)
R 42,131/unit
In Stock
Vishay 100 Ω Rotary Potentiometer 10-Turns 1-Gang Panel, 534B1101JC
  • RS stock no. 607-323
  • Mfr. Part No. 534B1101JC
Subtotal (1 box of 10 units)
R 6 286,13(exc. VAT)
R 628,613/unit
In Stock
1 kΩ, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Solder Pin 0.5 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, CT6
  • RS stock no. 896-7144
  • Mfr. Part No. CT-6EV 1kR
Subtotal (1 bag of 5 units)
R 105,75(exc. VAT)
R 21,15/unit
In Stock
200 Ω, Through Hole Trimmer Potentiometer, Pin 0.25 W Top Adjust Bourns, 3266
  • RS stock no. 521-9221P
  • Mfr. Part No. 3266W-1-201LF
Subtotal 1 unit (supplied in a tube)
R 48,99(exc. VAT)
R 48,99/unit
Currently unavailable
2 mΩ, Surface Trimmer Potentiometer, J-Hook 0.25 W Top Adjust Nidec Components, SM-4
  • RS stock no. 244-4324
  • Mfr. Part No. SM-43TW203
Subtotal (1 reel of 250 units)
R 6 511,00(exc. VAT)
R 26,044/unit
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