Adjustable Power Resistor

Image Part Number Description / PDF Quantity Rfq
RSSD16X94A15R0JB19

RSSD16X94A15R0JB19

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 15 OHM 70W CHAS MT

0

D12K25RE

D12K25RE

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 25 OHM 12W

0

RSSD30250C1500JB04

RSSD30250C1500JB04

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 150 OHM 280W CHAS MT

0

RSSD25168C10R0JB04

RSSD25168C10R0JB04

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 10 OHM 200W CHAS MT

0

RSSD25168C4R70KB04

RSSD25168C4R70KB04

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 4.7 OHM 200W CHAS MT

0

E375K20RE

E375K20RE

Ohmite

375W 20 OHMS VIT CORRIB 10%

27

RSSD20117AR470MB15

RSSD20117AR470MB15

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 470M OHM 100W CHAS

0

D100K1R0

D100K1R0

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 1 OHM 100W

0

D25K1R0

D25K1R0

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 1 OHM 25W

0

RSSD25138CR560MB04

RSSD25138CR560MB04

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 560M OHM 140W CHAS

0

D225K40KE

D225K40KE

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 40K OHM 225W

0

D75K2K0

D75K2K0

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 2K OHM 75W

1

D50K750

D50K750

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 750 OHM 50W

0

RSSD08X34AR510MS09

RSSD08X34AR510MS09

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 510M OHM 16W CHAS MT

0

RSSD16X94A22R0JB19

RSSD16X94A22R0JB19

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 22 OHM 70W CHAS MT

0

RSSD30250C2R70KB00

RSSD30250C2R70KB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 2.7 OHM 280W CHAS MT

0

D12K2K0

D12K2K0

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 2K OHM 12W

3

RSSD25168AR220MB00

RSSD25168AR220MB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 220M OHM 200W CHAS

0

D175K25K

D175K25K

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 25K OHM 175W

0

D175K250E

D175K250E

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 250 OHM 175W

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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