This Product Selection Guide contains information to help select products in the Slide Potentiometers category on DigiKey.com
Slide potentiometers (Pots) employ a resistive element and a sliding contact to form an adjustable voltage divider. If only two terminals are used, one end of the element and the adjustable contact, it acts as a variable resistor or rheostat. Slide potentiometers are selected by the resistance value of the element, travel range, mounting type, power dissipation, adjustment type and dual, motor or standard fader type.
SelectionCharacteristics
Resistance: Characterizes the nominal resistance of a current path through a device.
Power (Watts): Identifies the amount of heat that can be continuously dissipated by the resistive element without damaging the device. Measured in Watts (W) and typically based on the size of the device.
Tolerance: Characterizes the extent of permitted variability of overall device resistance among samples of a given part number, resulting from variations in manufacturing.
Adjustment Type: Defines what orientation the adjuster is placed at.
Fader Type: Enumerates key features of the potentiometer such as channel count, motorized drive function, and illumination.
Travel Range: Indicates the distance a device’s actuator travels when moved between end stops.
Size/Dimension: The physical dimensions of the device. Typically, length, width, and height.
Mounting Type: Indicates how the device is attached.
ProductExamples
| MFR PART # | PS30-10PB1BR10K |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | 987-1400-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | TT Electronics/BI |
| DESCRIPTION | SLIDE POT 10K OHM 0.2W TOP 30MM |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | PSM60-082A-103B2 |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | PSM60-082A-103B2-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Bourns Inc. |
| DESCRIPTION | SLIDE POT 10K OHM 0.5W TOP 60MM |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
SchematicSymbol
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MediaLinks
TechForum
Potentiometer Linearity Tolerance
Overview of Potentiometers and Their Practical Applications