Adjustable Power Resistor

Image Part Number Description / PDF Quantity Rfq
E1500K3R0

E1500K3R0

Ohmite

1500W 3 OHMS SILI CORRIB 10%

1

D12K10K

D12K10K

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 10K OHM 12W

0

RSSD30250C27R0JB00

RSSD30250C27R0JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 27 OHM 280W CHAS MT

0

RSSD30250A15R0JB06

RSSD30250A15R0JB06

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 15 OHM 280W CHAS MT

0

RSSD08X34A3R30KS09

RSSD08X34A3R30KS09

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 3.3 OHM 16W CHAS MT

0

RSSD08X34A4R00KS00

RSSD08X34A4R00KS00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 4 OHM 16W CHAS MT

0

RSSD20117A3R00KB00

RSSD20117A3R00KB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 3 OHM 100W CHAS MT

0

D175K20K

D175K20K

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 20K OHM 175W

0

RSSD25138A1R00KB00

RSSD25138A1R00KB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 1 OHM 140W CHAS MT

0

D12K8K0

D12K8K0

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 8K OHM 12W

0

D75K250E

D75K250E

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 250 OHM 75W

0

RSSD13X70A22R0JB00

RSSD13X70A22R0JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 22 OHM 42W CHAS MT

0

RSSD25168CR470MB00

RSSD25168CR470MB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 470M OHM 200W CHAS

0

RSSD30250C5R00KB00

RSSD30250C5R00KB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 5 OHM 280W CHAS MT

0

RSSD20117A2R70KB00

RSSD20117A2R70KB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 2.7 OHM 100W CHAS MT

0

D100K10KE

D100K10KE

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 10K OHM 100W

0

RSSD30250C47R0JB00

RSSD30250C47R0JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 47 OHM 280W CHAS MT

0

D25K75R

D25K75R

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 75 OHM 25W

0

RSSD13X70AR330MB00

RSSD13X70AR330MB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 330M OHM 42W CHAS MT

0

RSSD10X50A1R00KS06

RSSD10X50A1R00KS06

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 1 OHM 25W CHAS MT

0

Adjustable Power Resistor

1. Overview

Potentiometers, variable resistors, and adjustable power resistors are three-terminal devices that allow manual or automated adjustment of electrical resistance. These components play a critical role in controlling voltage, current, and power in electronic circuits. Their ability to provide precise resistance tuning makes them essential in applications ranging from consumer electronics to industrial automation. Adjustable power resistors specifically handle high-power loads while maintaining stable performance.

2. Main Types and Functional Classification

TypeFunctional CharacteristicsApplication Examples
Wirewound PotentiometerHigh precision, high-temperature tolerance, durablePower supply calibration, industrial motor control
Carbon Composition PotentiometerLow cost, moderate noise, compact sizeAudio volume control, consumer electronics
Digital PotentiometerDigital interface, programmable resistance, no moving partsSmart thermostats, IoT devices, medical equipment
Cermet PotentiometerStable resistance, low temperature coefficientAerospace systems, precision instrumentation
Adjustable Power ResistorHigh power dissipation (up to 1000W), robust heat managementElectric vehicle charging, industrial heating systems

3. Structure and Composition

Typical components include:
- Resistive Element: Wirewound (nickel-chromium alloy), carbon film, or conductive plastic
- Wiper Contact: Gold-plated bronze or phosphor bronze for low contact resistance
- Housing: Flame-retardant plastic or metal casing for thermal protection
- Adjustment Mechanism: Rotary knob, linear slider, or digital control interface
- Terminals: Copper or brass terminals with solderable coatings

4. Key Technical Specifications

ParameterDescriptionImportance
Resistance RangeTypically 10 to 10M for potentiometers, up to 100k for power resistorsDetermines adjustability range
Power Rating0.1W to 1000W depending on constructionDefines maximum power handling
ResolutionAnalog: 0.1% step; Digital: 8-16 bit precisionControls tuning accuracy
Temperature Coefficient50-500 ppm/ CMeasures stability under thermal stress
Life Cycle10,000-100,000 rotations (mechanical)Determines durability

5. Application Fields

  • Consumer Electronics: Audio equipment (volume control), gaming controllers
  • Industrial: CNC machine calibration, process control systems
  • Automotive: Electric vehicle battery management, throttle position sensors
  • Medical: MRI machine parameter adjustment, infusion pump control
  • Renewable Energy: Solar inverter power optimization, wind turbine pitch control

6. Leading Manufacturers and Representative Products

ManufacturerProduct SeriesKey Features
Bourns Inc.3382P SeriesMiniature trimmer potentiometer with 0.1% resolution
Vishay Precision GroupDHP10 SeriesHigh-power wirewound resistor (1000W, 0.25% tolerance)
TE ConnectivityPrecision PotentiometersMilitary-grade cermet resistors (MIL-PRF-39023 qualified)
Analog DevicesAD5293 Digital Potentiometer1024-position I C-controlled resistor ( 1% end-to-end tolerance)

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations:
- Power Requirements: Select resistors with 20% higher power rating than maximum load
- Environmental Conditions: Choose sealed enclosures for high-humidity environments
- Precision Needs: Use digital potentiometers for sub-1% accuracy requirements
- Cost Optimization: Balance wirewound (high cost, high durability) vs. carbon film (lower cost, shorter lifespan)
- Mounting Style: Through-hole for high vibration environments, surface-mount for PCB integration

8. Industry Trends

Future developments include:
- Miniaturization: 0402 package digital potentiometers entering mass production
- Smart Integration: IoT-enabled resistors with real-time resistance monitoring
- Material Innovation: Graphene-based resistive elements improving thermal stability by 40%
- Automated Adjustment: AI-controlled power resistors for dynamic load balancing
- Environmental Compliance: RoHS-compliant conductive plastics replacing cadmium-based compounds

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