Adjustable Power Resistor

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
D100K10RE Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 10 OHM 100W	11
12WA150 NTE Electronics, Inc.	RES-12W 500 OHM 10%	28
AVE030020ER200KE Vishay / Huntington Electric, Inc.	RES ADJ .20 OHM 300W 10%	63
AVT02506E5R000KE Vishay / Huntington Electric, Inc.	RES ADJ 5.0 OHM 25W 10% LUGS	57
AVT10006E1R000KE Vishay / Huntington Electric, Inc.	RES ADJ 1.0 OHM 100W 10% LUGS	18
RSSD25168A1R00KB06 Vishay / Sfernice	ADJ PWR RES 1 OHM 200W CHAS MT	0
AVT02506E100R0KE Vishay / Huntington Electric, Inc.	RES ADJ 100 OHM 25W 10% LUGS	100
50WA210 NTE Electronics, Inc.	RES-50W 1K OHM 10%	8
D25K1R0E Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 1 OHM 25W	0
D50K1K0E Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 1K OHM 50W	3
RSSD25168A2200JB06 Vishay / Sfernice	ADJ PWR RES 220 OHM 200W CHAS MT	0
RSSD20117A22R0JB15 Vishay / Sfernice	ADJ PWR RES 22 OHM 100W CHAS MT	11
300WA050 NTE Electronics, Inc.	RES-300W 50 OHM 10%	0
100WA250 NTE Electronics, Inc.	RES-100W 5K OHM 10%	12
D50K3R0E Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 3 OHM 50W	0
12WA010 NTE Electronics, Inc.	RES-12W 10 OHM 10%	74
D50K10RE Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 10 OHM 50W	25
300WA1D0 NTE Electronics, Inc.	RES-300W 1 OHM 10%	31
AVT05006E5R000KE Vishay / Huntington Electric, Inc.	RES ADJ 5.0 OHM 50W 10% LUGS	279
AVT05006E25R00KE Vishay / Huntington Electric, Inc.	RES ADJ 25 OHM 50W 10% LUGS	63

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

Type	Functional Characteristics	Application Examples
Wirewound Potentiometer	High precision, high-temperature tolerance, durable	Power supply calibration, industrial motor control
Carbon Composition Potentiometer	Low cost, moderate noise, compact size	Audio volume control, consumer electronics
Digital Potentiometer	Digital interface, programmable resistance, no moving parts	Smart thermostats, IoT devices, medical equipment
Cermet Potentiometer	Stable resistance, low temperature coefficient	Aerospace systems, precision instrumentation
Adjustable Power Resistor	High power dissipation (up to 1000W), robust heat management	Electric 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

Parameter	Description	Importance
Resistance Range	Typically 10 to 10M for potentiometers, up to 100k for power resistors	Determines adjustability range
Power Rating	0.1W to 1000W depending on construction	Defines maximum power handling
Resolution	Analog: 0.1% step; Digital: 8-16 bit precision	Controls tuning accuracy
Temperature Coefficient	50-500 ppm/ C	Measures stability under thermal stress
Life Cycle	10,000-100,000 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

Manufacturer	Product Series	Key Features
Bourns Inc.	3382P Series	Miniature trimmer potentiometer with 0.1% resolution
Vishay Precision Group	DHP10 Series	High-power wirewound resistor (1000W, 0.25% tolerance)
TE Connectivity	Precision Potentiometers	Military-grade cermet resistors (MIL-PRF-39023 qualified)
Analog Devices	AD5293 Digital Potentiometer	1024-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