Potentiometers
Potentiometers are basic devices used to regulate potentials. In practice, the above names are more complicated than the process itself. However, one thing is certain - if you run your own workshop, love programmable electronics, automation and are a DIY fan, then you should have a potentiometer in your toolbox!
A potentiometer is a type of resistor with a sliding or rotating center tapping that creates an adjustable voltage divider. If only two pins are used - one end and the center tap, which slide over the resistive surface in the component, it acts as a variable resistor. Potentiometers are commonly used to control electrical devices such as volume control in audio equipment, rotational speed in electrical equipment. If you turn up the volume on the audio speakers at your desk, in the stereo in the living room, or in the car, you just use the knobs.
Potentiometers operated by more complex mechanisms can be used as, for example, position transducers in a joystick. Potentiometers are rarely used for direct control of significant power (more than a watt) as the power dissipated in the potentiometer would be comparable to the power in the controlled load. See our offer of potentiometers below and choose the devices that will suit you best!
DFRobot Gravity - rotary potentiometer 300 degrees
Rotary potentiometer for Arduino and Raspberry Pi, the rotation angle is 300 degrees. The Gravity interface supports the Plug & Play function. Working voltage is from 3.3 V to...Potentiometer knob gray - 4/17,5mm
Knob for rotation potentiometer on axis of 4 mm. The height is 17.5 mm and the outer diameter is 12 mm.DFRobot Gravity - 5.4kΩ slide potentiometer
Slide linear potentiometer with the resistance of 5.4 kΩ. It is equipped with two 3-pin connectors that enable the direct connection of the module to the development board IO...Potentiometer knob GC16 red - 6/16 mm - 5pcs
Knob for rotation potentiometer on axis of 6 mm. The height is 14.6 mm and the outer diameter is 16 mm.Potentiometer knob GCL15 silver - 6/15mm - 5 pcs.
Knob for rotation potentiometer on axis of 6 mm. The height is 17 mm and the outer diameter is 14.7 mm.Potencjometr leżący 3x3mm - 50k Ohm
Lying linear potentiometer with the dimensions of 3 x 3 mm with a resistance of 50 kΩ. Price is for 5 pieces.Set of assembly potentiometers E52 - 50 pcs.
Set includes 50 pieces of potentiometers of 10 different values, 5 PCs. of each. All is closed in a little organizer.Rotary potentiometer 2x 500kΩ linear 1/8W - 5pcs.
Rotary linear potentiometer of 2 x 500 kΩ with the 1/8 W power. Pins' pitch is 5 mm which allows you to attach the device to the breadboard.Set of potentiometers - 100pcs
Set includes 100 pieces of potentiometers with 10 different values 10 PCs of each. All is closed in a little organizer.Potencjometr leżący 3x3mm - 500 Ohm
Lying linear potentiometer with the dimensions of 3 x 3 mm with a resistance of 500 Ω. Price is for 5 pieces.Potencjometr leżący 3x3mm - 100k Ohm
Lying linear potentiometer with the dimensions of 3 x 3 mm with a resistance of 50 kΩ. Price is for 5 pieces.Potentiometer knob GC20 black - 6 / 20mm - 5pcs
Set containing 5 knobs for rotation potentiometer on axis of 6 mm. The height is 15 mm and the outer diameter is 20 mm.Rotary linear potentiometer 500k with switch - 5pcs.
500 kΩ linear potentiometer with 1/8 W power switch at the end of rotation. Outputs have a 5mm output roaster, which allows the device to be plugged into a contact plate.Grove - 10kΩ linear rotary potentiometer - top connector
Potentiometer 10 kOhm with linear rotary. It as a 300° range of rotation. It h as a 4-pin Grove connector on the side of the handle.Grove - 10kΩ rotary potentiometer linear lower connector
Potentiometer 10 kOhm with linear rotary. It has a 300° range of rotation. It has a 4-pin Grove connector on the other side of the handle. The kit includes a cable adapted...Grove - 10kΩ linear sliding potentiometer
Sliding linear potentiometer with a resistance of 10 ohms. Itas a 4-pin Grove connector. The kit includes a cable adapted to Seeedstudio Base Shield v2.0.DFRobot - dual digital potentiometer 100 kΩ
The digital potentiometer is a type of mixed IC signal which is able to dynamically change the internal resistors via MCU. It can be used for applications such as dimming of...Mounting potentiometer 47kΩ - 5pcs
Horizontal mounting potentiometer RM-065 in the through hole case with a resistance of 47 kΩ. Price is for 5 pieces.Potentiometer mounting lying 200Ω - 5pcs
Mounting horizontal potentiometer RM-065 in the through hole case with a resistance of 200 Ω. Price is for 5 pieces.DFRobot Gravity - module with multiturn potentiometer 10kΩ / 10obr.
The DFRobot module with 10-turn potentiometer with the resistance of 10 kΩ. The kit also includes a cable with a female connector, pitch of 2.54 mm.Slide Pot - Motorized - SparkFun COM-10976
The slide is driven by a small motor with a strap. The slide contains two separate tapered potentiometers of 10kΩ size so you can use one feedback servo to read information...Potentiometer knob GS18 gray-red - 6/18mm - 5pcs.
Knob for rotation potentiometer on axis of 6 mm. The height is 12.5 mm and an external diameter is 18 mm.Potentiometer knob RCL14 green - 6 / 14mm
Knob for rotation potentiometer on axis of 6 mm. The height is 20 mm and the outer diameter is 14 mm.Potentiometers – adjustable resistors for many applications
Variable resistance devices are often used to control electrical and electronic devices. Such subassemblies allow the conversion of rotary or reciprocating motion and the change of resistance in the range from zero to 100% of the nominal resistance of this element. If you use the potentiometer as a voltage divider, using all three pins, then - after connecting a constant voltage and ground to the extreme pins - a voltage proportional to the position of the potentiometer slider will be present on the middle lead of the potentiometer.
In addition to the three terminals - pins - the potentiometer has a resistance path, a slide and an insulator. Modern potentiometers are very small due to the global minimalistic tendency, but it is possible to find out some bigger ones.
Construction of potentiometers – details
As we said, each potentiometer consists of a resistive element and a sliding contact that moves along that element. In addition, this element has a mechanical system that moves the middle contact. Many potentiometers are constructed with an arc-shaped resistor, usually slightly less than a full turn, and a contact that travels over the resistor during rotation to create electrical contact. In panel potentiometers, the slider is usually the middle terminal of the three pins. The situation is completely different in the case of single-turn potentiometers. In such devices, the contact may make one revolution about the axis (often incomplete). In the case of multi-turn potentiometers, mechanical elements are added to move the contact. Of course, the type of movement that the potentiometer makes is directly determined by the specificity of the resistor. Much depends on the type of device. In the described slide potentiometers, the voltage changes with a sliding movement on the vertical or horizontal axis. In the case of a rotary potentiometer - as the suggest - the rotary movement is done by turning the potentiometer knob.
How to choose a potentiometer?
The main parameter characterizing the potentiometer is the maximum nominal resistance. The second important parameter is resistance changes. Important concepts related to potentiometers include linear characteristic and logarithmic characteristic. When choosing a potentiometer, also pay attention to the permissible power. The choice of device largely depends on its application. Different potentiometers may fit the audio system, different car.
Of course, we wouldn't be ourselves if we didn't mention that the potentiometers will be useful for your DIY! If you are doing a DIY project, constructing your own robot or creating some home temperature control systems and other projects, then such potentiometers can be useful to you! You can use the products presented here for many various projects! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us!