Adjustable Power Resistor

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
RSSD25168C33R0JB04 Vishay / Sfernice	ADJ PWR RES 33 OHM 200W CHAS MT	0
RSSD25168A1200JB00 Vishay / Sfernice	ADJ PWR RES 120 OHM 200W CHAS MT	0
RSSD10X50AR300MS00 Vishay / Sfernice	ADJ PWR RES 300M OHM 25W CHAS MT	0
E1000K50RE Ohmite	1000W 50 OHMS SILI CORRIB 10%	3
D50K400E Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 400 OHM 50W	0
RSSD30250A47R0JB00 Vishay / Sfernice	ADJ PWR RES 47 OHM 280W CHAS MT	0
RSSD08X34AR150MS09 Vishay / Sfernice	ADJ PWR RES 150M OHM 16W CHAS MT	0
D50K800E Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 800 OHM 50W	5
RSSD25168C2R20KB00 Vishay / Sfernice	ADJ PWR RES 2.2 OHM 200W CHAS MT	0
RSSD30250A6R80KB06 Vishay / Sfernice	ADJ PWR RES 6.8 OHM 280W CHAS MT	0
D50K5K0 Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 5K OHM 50W	4
D50K250E Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 250 OHM 50W	0
RSSD20117A33R0JB15 Vishay / Sfernice	ADJ PWR RES 33 OHM 100W CHAS MT	0
D75K100KE Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 100K OHM 75W	0
D100K20KE Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 20K OHM 100W	0
D225K5K0 Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 5K OHM 225W	0
RSSD20117AR330MB15 Vishay / Sfernice	ADJ PWR RES 330M OHM 100W CHAS	0
RSSD16X94A2R40KB00 Vishay / Sfernice	ADJ PWR RES 2.4 OHM 70W CHAS MT	0
D50K9K0E Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 9K OHM 50W	0
D25K6K0 Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 6K OHM 25W	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

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