Potentiometers (results: 1103)

Potentiometers as essential devices in modern electronics

Potentiometer is a commonly used element of electric circuits. It is also defined as a voltage divider or variable resistor. Fundamental construction of potentiometers is usually similar, however they also differ in many aspects. Nowadays, there are numerous kinds of potentiometers classified by diverse criteria. There are every popular resistors available in our offer, which are characterised by precision of workmanship and usage of highest quality materials. 

What are potentiometers and what are they used for?

The purpose of a potentiometer is clear - it serves as a regulator. What is regulated by potentiometer? Well, it can be handy in numerous applications. The most basic purpose of it which we all deal with in everyday life is to adjust the volume in audio or audiovisual devices. Every dial or slider in radio or television is in fact a potentiometer. By variability of the resistance to the current flow, it comes to turning up or down the volume coming from the device. In order to use the potentiometers more comfortably, knobs are placed onto them, which are also available in our store -  https://www.micros.com.pl/en/potentiometers/knobs/.

However, it is worth noting that potentiometers also find other applications. They are used, among others, for motor rotation speed adjustment - e. g. in industrial machines or public transport vehicles, such as trams. 

The base of potentiometer design is a resistive track. It is made from various materials, such as:

• carbon
• plastic
• metal (in a wire form)
• cement

Resistance of the track is fixed and two terminals are connected to it. The third terminal however is connected to the slider which moves along the track through user manipulation. 

Potentiometer - electronic symbol and letter code

Every element of the electric circuit has its own symbol, thanks to which it can be marked on a diagram. When it comes to the potentiometer, it has the same symbol as the resistor. We can see here a rectangle arranged in a horizontal position. At both sides we can notice a line coming out from the centre of the geometrical shape at each side. In the case of the letter code and digital markings, it is a little more complicated. Individual manufacturers use different markings. That is why the issue with selecting a potentiometer is not necessarily the easiest one. One has to check what individual symbols mean in the given manufacturers catalogue. It is also possible to check the product description on our website.

Potentiometers - kinds of devices

Although the overall function of a potentiometer is always the same - it is used to adjust the current flow and hence the operation of a given device - individual variable resistors differ significantly from each other. When listing differentiative characteristics of potentiometers, of course the power of a potentiometer has to be mentioned. It is the power of a potentiometer that is responsible for its capabilities in the scope of adjustment. Our range of products include both standard potentiometers with the power of 0,5W and the models with the power even several times higher. However that is not all. When it comes to potentiometers, their types can be distinguished by various criteria including, among others, by the direct way of adjusting the slider position. In this way we can distinguish following potentiometers:

• rotary
• multi-turn
• linear
• digital

Rotary potentiometers are the ones in which resistance changes along with turning the knob. In most devices, the turning range is limited. It does not apply to multi-turn potentiometers, which allow adjusting the resistance with greater precision. In our offer you will find a vast choice of multi-turn potentiometers from the best manufacturers such as Bochen or Vishay. 

Linear potentiometer features a slider that moves across a straight line, whilst digital potentiometer works thanks to the electric signal. The signal is sent each time the button is pressed or the lever is moved. Every subsequent action causes lowering or increasing the resistance by a certain value.