Potentiometers (POTs/Potmeter)

1. What is a potentiometer and what is it used for?

• These are resistors where the resistor value can be controlled by a knob. These are commonly used to control electrical devices such as volume controls on audio equipment.

2. What is the difference between a potentiometer and rheostat?

• A potmeter is a three terminal variable resistor, but a rheostat is a two terminal variable resistor. Rheostats are commonly used to handle higher voltages and currents. These are often used to vary voltage, as it acts like a voltage divider circuit while rheostat is mainly used to vary current.

3. Where can I buy potentiometers online?

• These can be bought from online electronic components stores such as Robocraze 

4. Where can I buy potentiometers at a shop near me?

• These are available in almost all electronics hardware stores and electronic components shops.

5. How to choose the best potentiometers online?

• Make sure the pot you get varies from 0 to the ohms you require it to be. For example, there’s 1k pot, 10k pot, 100k pot, higher the value, less the precision of the reading

6. What are the types of potentiometers?

• These are of two types. The difference between the two is purely mechanical construction of the device.
  • Linear - Consist of a slide to vary resistance.
  • Rotary - Consist of a knob that varies resistance