Adjustable Power Resistor

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
50WA050 NTE Electronics, Inc.	RES-50W 50 OHM 10%	66
D25K3R0E Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 3 OHM 25W	23
225WA050 NTE Electronics, Inc.	RES-225W 50 OHM 10%	40
AVE030020E20R0KE Vishay / Huntington Electric, Inc.	RES ADJ 20 OHM 300W 10%	83
AVT20020E500R0KE Vishay / Huntington Electric, Inc.	RES ADJ 500 OHM 225W 10% LUGS	81
AVT20020E50R00KE Vishay / Huntington Electric, Inc.	RES ADJ 50 OHM 225W 10% LUGS	114
300WA020 NTE Electronics, Inc.	RES-300W 20 OHM 10%	8
100WA010 NTE Electronics, Inc.	RES-100W 10 OHM 10%	12
D100K250E Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 250 OHM 100W	41
RSSD30250A3R30KB06 Vishay / Sfernice	ADJ PWR RES 3.3 OHM 280W CHAS MT	0
RSSD20117A3R90KB00 Vishay / Sfernice	ADJ PWR RES 3.9 OHM 100W CHAS MT	0
D50K4K5E Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 4.5K OHM 50W	0
RSSD16X94A22R0JB00 Vishay / Sfernice	ADJ PWR RES 22 OHM 70W CHAS MT	0
E300K6R3E Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 6.3 OHM 300W	0
D25K7K5 Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 7.5K OHM 25W	0
RSSD25168A20R0JB00 Vishay / Sfernice	ADJ PWR RES 20 OHM 200W CHAS MT	0
E300K20R Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 20 OHM 300W	0
RSSD30250A2R20KB06 Vishay / Sfernice	ADJ PWR RES 2.2 OHM 280W CHAS MT	0
D100K50R Ohmite	RESISTOR POWER ADJ 50 OHM 100W	0
RSSD25168A2R20KB06 Vishay / Sfernice	ADJ PWR RES 2.2 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

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