Adjustable Power Resistor

Image Part Number Description / PDF Quantity Rfq
D12K7K5E

D12K7K5E

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 7.5K OHM 12W

0

RSSD30250C39R0JB04

RSSD30250C39R0JB04

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 39 OHM 280W CHAS MT

0

D50K100KE

D50K100KE

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 100K OHM 50W

0

RSSD25138C10R0JB04

RSSD25138C10R0JB04

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 10 OHM 140W CHAS MT

0

D12K9K0

D12K9K0

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 9K OHM 12W

0

D100K20RE

D100K20RE

Ohmite

100W 20 OHMS VIT ADJ 10%

7

RSSD50373A47R0JB01

RSSD50373A47R0JB01

Vishay / Sfernice

SFERNICE FIXED RESISTORS

0

D175K75RE

D175K75RE

Ohmite

175W 75 OHMS VIT ADJ 10%

7

RSSD20117A68R0JB00

RSSD20117A68R0JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 68 OHM 100W CHAS MT

0

RSSD50373A6R80KB01

RSSD50373A6R80KB01

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 6.8 OHM 600W CHAS MT

0

E300KR12E

E300KR12E

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 0.12 OHM 300W

0

D12K800E

D12K800E

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 800 OHM 12W

0

D50K2R0E

D50K2R0E

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 2 OHM 50W

0

RSSD25168A15R0JB06

RSSD25168A15R0JB06

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 15 OHM 200W CHAS MT

0

D175K1K0E

D175K1K0E

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 1K OHM 175W

0

RSSD08X34A2R20KS00

RSSD08X34A2R20KS00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 2.2 OHM 16W CHAS MT

0

RSSD25168AR330MB00

RSSD25168AR330MB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 330M OHM 200W CHAS

0

RSSD16X94AR820MB19

RSSD16X94AR820MB19

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 820M OHM 70W CHAS MT

0

RSSD13X70A33R0JB00

RSSD13X70A33R0JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 33 OHM 42W CHAS MT

0

RSSD25168A56R0JB00

RSSD25168A56R0JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 56 OHM 200W CHAS MT

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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