Adjustable Power Resistor

Image Part Number Description / PDF Quantity Rfq
RSSD08X34AR250MS09

RSSD08X34AR250MS09

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 250M OHM 16W CHAS MT

0

RSSD25138A1000JB00

RSSD25138A1000JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 100 OHM 140W CHAS MT

0

D12K10KE

D12K10KE

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 10K OHM 12W

51

RSSD25168A3R90KB00

RSSD25168A3R90KB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 3.9 OHM 200W CHAS MT

0

RSSD20117AR680MB00

RSSD20117AR680MB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 680M OHM 100W CHAS

0

RSSD30250CR270MB04

RSSD30250CR270MB04

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 270M OHM 280W CHAS

0

D225K2K0E

D225K2K0E

Ohmite

225W 2000 OHMS VIT ADJ 10%

5

D75K25KE

D75K25KE

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 25K OHM 75W

0

RSSD25168A4R70KB06

RSSD25168A4R70KB06

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 4.7 OHM 200W CHAS MT

0

D25K5R0

D25K5R0

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 5 OHM 25W

0

RSSD40370C2R20KB00

RSSD40370C2R20KB00

Vishay / Sfernice

SFERNICE FIXED RESISTORS

0

RSSD30250A39R0JB00

RSSD30250A39R0JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 39 OHM 280W CHAS MT

0

E1000K4R0E

E1000K4R0E

Ohmite

1000W 4 OHMS SILI CORRIB 10%

1

D75K100E

D75K100E

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 100 OHM 75W

0

RSSD25168AR470MB00

RSSD25168AR470MB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 470M OHM 200W CHAS

0

D100K2R0

D100K2R0

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 2 OHM 100W

0

RSSD25168A57R0JB00

RSSD25168A57R0JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 57 OHM 200W CHAS MT

0

D75K35KE

D75K35KE

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 35K OHM 75W

0

E750KR55E-6114S

E750KR55E-6114S

Ohmite

750W 0.55 OHMS SILI CORRIB ADJ

2

RSSD40370A56R0JB00

RSSD40370A56R0JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

SFERNICE FIXED RESISTORS

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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