What is a rotary potentiometer?

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What is a rotary potentiometer?

Rotary potentiometers are adjustable electrical resistors which are used to implement control procedures in electrical and electronic systems , for example for volume control in a radio. Potentiometers consist of a support on which the resistor material is applied.Get more news about rotary potentiometer,you can vist our website!

For rotary potentiometers, the resistance material is usually flat and circular . At both ends there are electrical connections for screwing, plugging or soldering. A sliding contact, the so-called grinder, is moved on the resistor material by means of a rotary axis. Depending on the angular position of the rotating contact to one of the connections, a defined electrical resistance is achieved between the connection and the slider position. The maximum rotation angle is approximately 300 degrees. However, there are also special versions, so-called multi-turn potentiometers, in which the resistance material is arranged in a spiral so that the grinder can perform several revolutions by 360 degrees. Special models are equipped with drive motors that can be used to implement remote control . Depending on the resistor material used, different power ranges are possible. The material used also influences the durability of the rotary potentiometer. For operation, the slider is led out of the potentiometer with an axis. The axle can have different versions so that it can be attached to its control buttons. The axis has a slot/cross for screwdriver for the rarely necessary settings. For simultaneous control processes, several rotary potentiometers can be arranged one after the other and connected to a completed axis. An example is the volume control of a stereo amplifier.

What is a rotary potentiometer

Rotary axis and attachment of rotary potentiometers
In many rotary potentiometers, the rotary axis is surrounded by a threaded piece that allows the potentiometer to be attached to a support such as the implement housing or an installation angle. Most potentiometer models are surrounded by a housing that is either fixed to the thread or can be soldered onto PCBs . Additional elements are often placed on the thread itself or on the housing, with which the entire rotary potentiometer is secured against twisting when reaching the end position.

Resistance values and load capacity
Rotary potentiometers are available in a wide range of resistance values from 4.7 ohms to 4.7 megohm. The load capacity ranges from 0.05 to 170 watts. There are also rotary potentiometers with switch function in one of the end positions of the slider as well as with latching rotary positions.

Notes on manufacturing
In production, manufacturers must comply with limit values for substances that are hazardous to health and that are hazardous to the environment. Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment is in place. The non-official designation is RoHS 2.