Adjustable Power Resistor

Image Part Number Description / PDF Quantity Rfq
RSSD25168A47R0JB00

RSSD25168A47R0JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 47 OHM 200W CHAS MT

0

D12K2R0E

D12K2R0E

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 2 OHM 12W

0

RSSD30250CR220MB00

RSSD30250CR220MB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 220M OHM 280W CHAS

0

E300K10RE

E300K10RE

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 10 OHM 300W

0

D12K2K0E

D12K2K0E

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 2K OHM 12W

0

RSSD30250A1500JB00

RSSD30250A1500JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 150 OHM 280W CHAS MT

0

RSSD20117A56R0JB00

RSSD20117A56R0JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 56 OHM 100W CHAS MT

0

E300K2R5

E300K2R5

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 2.5 OHM 300W

0

RSSD16X94A36R0JB00

RSSD16X94A36R0JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 36 OHM 70W CHAS MT

0

RSSD13X70AR470MB00

RSSD13X70AR470MB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 470M OHM 42W CHAS MT

0

D75K50R

D75K50R

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 50 OHM 75W

0

RSSD20117A39R0JB00

RSSD20117A39R0JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 39 OHM 100W CHAS MT

0

D1000K3R0

D1000K3R0

Ohmite

1000W 3 OHMS SILI 10%

1

RSSD25168C60R0JB00

RSSD25168C60R0JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 60 OHM 200W CHAS MT

0

D25K20R

D25K20R

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 20 OHM 25W

0

RSSD30250C15R0JB00

RSSD30250C15R0JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 15 OHM 280W CHAS MT

0

D25K800E

D25K800E

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 800 OHM 25W

5

RSSD25138A47R0JB00

RSSD25138A47R0JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 47 OHM 140W CHAS MT

0

D50K750E

D50K750E

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 750 OHM 50W

0

D175K1K0

D175K1K0

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 1K 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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