This article is about the electrical component. For the measuring instrument, see Potentiometer (measuring instrument).
Potentiometer
A typical single-turn potentiometer
Type
Passive
Electronic symbol
(IEC Standard) (ANSI Standard)
A potentiometer is a three-terminal resistor with a sliding or rotating contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider.[1] If only two terminals are used, one end and the wiper, it acts as a variable resistor or rheostat.
The measuring instrument called a potentiometer is essentially a voltage divider used for measuring electric potential (voltage); the component is an implementation of the same principle, hence its name.
Potentiometers are commonly used to control electrical devices such as volume controls on audio equipment. It is also used in speed control of fans. Potentiometers operated by a mechanism can be used as position transducers, for example, in a joystick. Potentiometers are rarely used to directly control significant power (more than a watt), since the power dissipated in the potentiometer would be comparable to the power in the controlled load.
^The Authoritative Dictionary of IEEE Standards Terms (IEEE 100) (seventh ed.). Piscataway, New Jersey: IEEE Press. 2000. ISBN 0-7381-2601-2.
A potentiometer is a three-terminal resistor with a sliding or rotating contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider. If only two terminals are used...
A digital potentiometer (also called a resistive digital-to-analog converter, or informally a digipot) is a digitally-controlled electronic component...
A motorized potentiometer combines a potentiometer with an electric motor. Motorized potentiometers can be found in audio/video equipment, specifically...
A string potentiometer is a transducer used to detect and measure linear position and velocity using a flexible cable and spring-loaded spool. Other common...
ANSI-style: (a) resistor, (b) rheostat (variable resistor), and (c) potentiometer IEC resistor symbol The notation to state a resistor's value in a circuit...
Linear encoder Rotary encoder Potentiometer Proximity sensor (optical) String potentiometer (also known as a string potentiometer, string encoder or cable...
rotary encoder or a potentiometer to form a servomechanism. This assembly may in turn form part of another servomechanism. A potentiometer provides a simple...
5200 console. POKEY combines functions for reading paddle controllers (potentiometers) and computer keyboards as well as sound generation and a source for...
Racing wheels started off as simple plastic wheels hooked up to a rotary potentiometer, which were sprung by springs or bungees. These spring-based wheels...
control in an audio device is a common application of a potentiometer. A typical low power potentiometer (see drawing) is constructed of a flat resistance element...
the dashboard The sending unit usually uses a float connected to a potentiometer, typically printed ink design in a modern automobile. As the tank empties...
amount of bend it is used as goniometer, and often called flexible potentiometer. Conductive ink based flex sensor Fibre optic flex sensor Capacitive...
variable resistor (potentiometer). The vane moves in proportion to the momentum of the airflow. A voltage is applied to the potentiometer and a voltage appears...
a transformer or inductor, or along the element of a resistor or a potentiometer. Taps are sometimes used on inductors for the coupling of signals, and...
phase. Instruments for measuring voltages include the voltmeter, the potentiometer, and the oscilloscope. Analog voltmeters, such as moving-coil instruments...
stopping the motor. Simple servomotors use position-only sensing via a potentiometer and bang-bang control of their motor; the motor only rotates at full...
Throttle Position Sensor (TPS): a potentiometer or a non-contact sensor Hall Effect sensor (magnetic device). A potentiometer is a satisfactory way for non-critical...
commonly used involves a potentiometer (variable resistor) as one of the resistive elements. When the shaft of the potentiometer is rotated the resistance...
a simple voltage divider). Its operation is similar to the original potentiometer. The Wheatstone bridge was invented by Samuel Hunter Christie (sometimes...
selection. At their simplest, these consist of passive components, such as potentiometers and capacitors, but may also include specialized integrated circuits...
one-shot trigger switch, closed position is active. R1 a one megohm linear potentiometer sets the actual one-shot timing (in series with fixed 27k resistor R2)...
Global Information
(IEC Standard)
(ANSI Standard)