Rotary Potentiometers, Rheostats21 Products
| Image | Part Number | Manufacturer | Description | Availability | Actions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 3481 | Adafruit Industries LLC | PANEL MOUNT 10K LOG POTENTIOMETE | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote | |
| 3482 | Adafruit Industries LLC | PANEL MOUNT 10K DUAL LOG POTENTI | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote | |
 PDF | 5267 | Adafruit Industries LLC | POT 500K OHM 0.06W LOGARITHMIC | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote | |
 PDF | 5280 | Adafruit Industries LLC | POT 10K OHM 1/8W LINEAR | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote | |
| 3394 | Adafruit Industries LLC | PANEL MOUNT 10K DUAL LOG POTENTI | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote | |
 PDF | 5270 | Adafruit Industries LLC | POT 50K OHM | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote | |
 PDF | 5271 | Adafruit Industries LLC | POT 25K OHM 0.06W LOGARITHMIC | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote | |
| 4133 | Adafruit Industries LLC | POTENTIOMETER WITH BUILT IN KNOB | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote | |
 | 3395 | Adafruit Industries LLC | PANEL MOUNT RIGHT ANGLE 10K LINE | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote | |
| 3393 | Adafruit Industries LLC | PANEL MOUNT 10K DUAL LINEAR POTE | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote | |
| 1789 | Adafruit Industries LLC | PANEL MOUNT 1K POTENTIOMETER (BR | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote | |
 PDF | 5279 | Adafruit Industries LLC | POT 25K OHM 1/8W LINEAR | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote | |
 PDF | 5277 | Adafruit Industries LLC | POT 100K OHM 1/8W LINEAR | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote | |
 PDF | 5266 | Adafruit Industries LLC | POT 1M OHM 0.06W LOGARITHMIC | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote | |
 PDF | 5284 | Adafruit Industries LLC | POT 5K OHM 0.06W LOGARITHMIC | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote | |
 PDF | 5272 | Adafruit Industries LLC | POT 10K OHM 0.06W LOGARITHMIC | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote | |
 PDF | 5269 | Adafruit Industries LLC | POT 100K OHM 0.06W LOGARITHMIC | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote | |
 | 3391 | Adafruit Industries LLC | PANEL MOUNT 10K LOG POTENTIOMETE | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote | |
 PDF | 562 | Adafruit Industries LLC | POT 10K OHM | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote | |
 PDF | 5268 | Adafruit Industries LLC | POT 250K OHM 0.06W LOGARITHMIC | In Stock | MOQ: 1 Hover to quote |
A rheostat is a type of adjustable resistor used to control current flow in an electrical circuit by varying resistance. Often referred to as a variable resistor, a rheostat is typically constructed using a wire-wound resistive element—usually made of materials like nichrome or another high-resistivity alloy—wrapped around a ceramic or insulating core. A sliding contact called a wiper moves along the resistive wire to change the effective resistance between two terminals, allowing more or less current to flow. Rheostats are commonly rotary or linear in design and are manually adjusted using a shaft or slider. Though similar in appearance to a potentiometer, a rheostat is typically used with just two terminals to control current (not voltage division), making it better suited for high-power applications like motor speed control or dimming incandescent lamps. When selecting a rheostat, key factors include resistance range (measured in ohms), power rating (in watts), adjustment type (rotary or linear), and mechanical durability. For high-current applications, look for wire-wound models that can dissipate significant heat. Rheostats are generally used in AC and DC circuits, but they must be rated appropriately for the type and magnitude of the voltage and current involved. It’s important to note that rheostats are not as precise or compact as digital alternatives, and their mechanical nature makes them less suited to automated or embedded systems. However, they remain useful for hands-on control, adjustment during prototyping, and high-power load variation where fine-tuned analog control is necessary. When comparing to potentiometers, remember: all rheostats are variable resistors, but not all variable resistors are rheostats—potentiometers usually act as voltage dividers, while rheostats typically control current directly.