Adjustable Power Resistor

Image Part Number Description / PDF Quantity Rfq
RSSD25138C1500JB04

RSSD25138C1500JB04

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 150 OHM 140W CHAS MT

0

D25K4K0E

D25K4K0E

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 4K OHM 25W

2

D500K1R0E

D500K1R0E

Ohmite

500W 1 OHMS SILI 10%

1

RSSD25138CR100MB00

RSSD25138CR100MB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 100M OHM 140W CHAS

0

D25K7R5E

D25K7R5E

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 7.5 OHM 25W

0

RSSD25168AR820MB00

RSSD25168AR820MB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 820M OHM 200W CHAS

0

D25K75RE

D25K75RE

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 75 OHM 25W

0

D12K7K0E

D12K7K0E

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 7K OHM 12W

0

D12K1R0

D12K1R0

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 1 OHM 12W

2

RSSD10X50AR500MS00

RSSD10X50AR500MS00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 500M OHM 25W CHAS MT

0

D25K1K0

D25K1K0

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 1K OHM 25W

5

RSSD30250A2R40KB00

RSSD30250A2R40KB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 2.4 OHM 280W CHAS MT

0

RSSD50373C47R0JB01

RSSD50373C47R0JB01

Vishay / Sfernice

SFERNICE FIXED RESISTORS

0

RSSD10X50AR120MS06

RSSD10X50AR120MS06

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 120M OHM 25W CHAS MT

0

D175K150E

D175K150E

Ohmite

175W 150 OHMS VIT ADJ 10%

18

RSSD13X70A4R70KB00

RSSD13X70A4R70KB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 4.7 OHM 42W CHAS MT

0

E300KR12

E300KR12

Ohmite

RESISTOR POWER ADJ 0.12 OHM 300W

0

RSSD30250C2700JB04

RSSD30250C2700JB04

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 270 OHM 280W CHAS MT

0

RSSD25168A56R0JB06

RSSD25168A56R0JB06

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 56 OHM 200W CHAS MT

0

RSSD30250A1000JB00

RSSD30250A1000JB00

Vishay / Sfernice

ADJ PWR RES 100 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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