Adjustable Power Resistor

Image Part Number Description / PDF Quantity Rfq
D12K5R0E

D12K5R0E

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 5 OHM 12W

0

D225K30R-B

D225K30R-B

Ohmite

225W 30 OHMS VIT 10%

1

RSSD08X34A2R70KS00

RSSD08X34A2R70KS00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 2.7 OHM 16W CHAS MT

0

RSSD25168AR680MB06

RSSD25168AR680MB06

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 680M OHM 200W CHAS

0

RSSD25168A3R90KB06

RSSD25168A3R90KB06

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 3.9 OHM 200W CHAS MT

0

D25K1K5

D25K1K5

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 1.5K OHM 25W

3

D50K2K0E

D50K2K0E

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 2K OHM 50W

0

RSSD13X70A4R70KB19

RSSD13X70A4R70KB19

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 4.7 OHM 42W CHAS MT

0

RSSD25168A82R0JB06

RSSD25168A82R0JB06

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 82 OHM 200W CHAS MT

0

D12K2K5

D12K2K5

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 2.5K OHM 12W

0

RSSD30250C2R50KB00

RSSD30250C2R50KB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 2.5 OHM 280W CHAS MT

0

RSSD25168CR680MB00

RSSD25168CR680MB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 680M OHM 200W CHAS

0

D225K25K

D225K25K

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 25K OHM 225W

0

RSSD20117A3R30KB15

RSSD20117A3R30KB15

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 3.3 OHM 100W CHAS MT

0

RSSD30250A3000JB00

RSSD30250A3000JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 300 OHM 280W CHAS MT

0

RSSD16X94A39R0JB19

RSSD16X94A39R0JB19

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 39 OHM 70W CHAS MT

0

D175K30K

D175K30K

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 30K OHM 175W

0

RSSD50373A1500JB01

RSSD50373A1500JB01

Vishay / Sfernice

SFERNICE FIXED RESISTORS

0

D175K10R

D175K10R

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 10 OHM 175W

0

D50K4R0E

D50K4R0E

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 4 OHM 50W

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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