Potentiometers, Rheostats, and Trimmers Specifications

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General Specifications

	Potentiometer Type
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	Standard Potentiometer		Standard potentiometers are mechanical devices in which the output resistance is set by a shaft.
	Digital Potentiometer		Digital potentiometers are three-terminal resistors with an adjustable center connection. To set the output resistance, a digital signal is sent through an electrical interface.
	Rheostat		Rheostats are potentiometers in which a third, "wiper" terminal is shorted to one of two fixed terminals. This wiper terminal has a resistance which varies with its position. The two fixed terminals are connected by a fixed resistance.
	Trimmer		Trimmer-style potentiometers are factory-set devices that require infrequent adjustments. They feature a slotted, actuator style and can be adjusted with a special tool or screwdriver.
	Other		Other unlisted or proprietary potentiometers.
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	Potentiometer Category
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	Industrial Grade (Enclosed)		The potentiometer is protected by an enclosure, usually one that is NEMA-rated. Most industrial-grade potentiometers are gear-driven and have connector outputs. They resist the ingress of dirt and dust, and last longer than unenclosed potentiometers.
	Discrete Board Component		Devices are discrete, board-level components.
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	Actuator Configuration:
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	Single Turn		The shaft rotation is limited to less than or equal to 360 degrees.
	Multiturn		The shaft can be rotated multiple times. Some have as many as 15 or 20 turns from stop to stop.
	Slide		Instead of rotating a knob, the user moves a handle, sliding the internal-contact mechanism linearly along the length of the potentiometer.
	Other		Other unspecified configurations.
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	Resistance Taper
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	Linear		Potentiometers with a linear taper provide an equal change in resistance per unit of rotation.
	Log / Audio		Potentiometers with a log or audio taper provide a logarithmic change in resistance per unit of rotation.
	Other		Other unlisted taper types.
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Physical Specifications

	Technology / Construction
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	Ceramic Composition		Ceramic-composition resistors are solid-body devices made of a high-temperature, ceramic resistive material. They have bonded metal contacts. The construction of ceramic-composition resistors concentrates nearly all of the component mass into the resistive element, resulting in a rugged device with high-energy capacity.
	Carbon Composition		Carbon-composition resistors consist of powdered carbon, an insulating material, and a resin binder. Their resistance value is determined by the ratio of powdered carbon to insulating material. Carbon-composition resistors usually have a precision of no greater than 5%. This means that a 100-ohm resistor can range from 95 to 105 ohms in actual value.
	Carbon Film		Carbon-film resistors are relatively inexpensive and readily available. They have resistance values within ±10% or ±5% of their marked or nominal value.
	Cermet		Cermet devices are made of cermet, a composite that consists of ceramic and metallic materials. They are often used in high-temperature applications.
	Thick Film		Thick-film resistors are made by stenciling a resistive metallic paste or ink onto a base in a process similar to silk screening. Usually, this resistive material is considered to be proprietary.
	Thin Film		Thin-film resistors are formed by vapor-deposition of a thin layer of resistive material onto a base. They are trimmed to a specific value by lasering or sandblasting.
	Metal Alloy		Metal-alloy resistors contain metallic elements. Varying these elements can alter the alloy's properties.
	Metal Film		Metal-film resistors are produced by depositing a resistive element on a high-grade, ceramic rod. The metal film’s resistive element may be carbon, nickel chromium; or a mixture of metal and glass, or metal and metal oxide. The precise resistance is achieved by removing part of the metal film in a spiral pattern around the rod. Typically, the tolerance is within ±2% or ±1% of the nominal value. When a tolerance of 1% is achieved, a 100-ohm, 1% resistor falls in the range of 99 to 101 ohms.
	Metal Foil		Resistors are made of metal foil.
	Metal Oxide		Metal-oxide resistors are similar to metal-film resistors. Although there are some differences between these resistor types, none affect their use in simple circuits.
	Wirewound Resistor		Wirewound resistors are made by winding thin wire onto a ceramic rod. Highly-accurate devices are used in multimeter, oscilloscopes and other measuring equipment. Wirewound resistors that can pass large currents without overheating are used in power supplies and other high-current circuits.
	Other		Other unlisted, specialized, or proprietary configurations.
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	Mounting / Packaging
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	Surface Mount (SMT / SMD)		Surface mount technology (SMT) adds components to a printed circuit board (PCB) by soldering component leads or terminals to the top surface of the board. SMT devices (SMD) have a flat surface that is soldered to a flat pad on the face of the PCB. Typically, the PCB pad is coated with a paste-like formulation of solder and flux. With careful placement, SMT components on solder paste remain in position until elevated temperatures, usually from an infrared oven, melt the paste and solder the component leads to the PCB pads.
	Bolt-on (Chassis)		Chassis mounted devices bolt onto or within a structure’s supporting frame, typically in a metal-to-metal configuration for better heat dissipation. Some chassis types are designed to be mounted within a rack.
	Panel Mount		Panel-mounted devices have a threaded bushing which surrounds the shaft.
	Through Hole		Through hole technology (THT) mounts components on a printed circuit board (PCB) by inserting component leads through holes in the board and then soldering the leads in place on the opposite side of the board.
	Axial Leads		Axial leads extend from the ends and along the axis of the resistor. They do not extend from the sides.
	Gull Wing Leads		Gull-wing leads are used widely because they are relatively inexpensive to mold and form. Gull wings are flexible and can withstand thermal expansion and contraction. It is easy to inspect the integrity of gull-wing leads to circuit-board solder connections.
	J-leads		J-leads are popular because they use less PCB real estate than gull wing leads; however, the J-lead to board solder connections are hidden from inspection and the leads are more difficult to form.
	Radial Leads		Radial leads extend from the sides instead of from the ends.
	Screw Terminals		Terminals are designed for screw mounting on a circuit board.
	Tab Terminals		Terminals are designed for direct mounting on a circuit board.
	Other		Other unlisted, specialized, or proprietary configurations.
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Performance Specifications

	Resistance Range		The device's resistance range.
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	Tolerance		Resistance tolerance is usually expressed as a percentage.
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	Operating DC Voltage		The device's maximum operating direct current (DC) voltage.
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	Operating AC Voltage		The device's maximum operating alternating current (AC) voltage.
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	Operating Temperature		This is the full-required range of ambient operating temperature.
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Standards and Features

	Standard and Compliances
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	RoHS Compliant		Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) is a European Union (EU) directive that requires all manufacturers of electronic and electrical equipment sold in Europe to demonstrate that their products contain only minimal levels of the following hazardous substances: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl and polybrominated diphenyl ether.
	ELV Directive		End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) is a European Union (EU) directive that requires manufacturers of automotive products sold in Europe to demonstrate that their products contain only minimal levels of mercury, cadmium and lead. Lead can still be used as an alloying additive in copper, steel and aluminum.
	UL		Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is a non-profit organization that tests components, systems, and materials according to its published standards for safety. Products that receive UL approval bear a UL Mark.
	CSA		Products that bear a CSA Mark have been tested by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and meet applicable standards for safety and/or performance. These standards are written and administered by organizations such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and CSA International. CSA Marks may appear alone or with indicators. CSA Marks that appear alone are used with products certified primarily for the Canadian market, to the applicable Canadian standards. CSA Marks that appear with the indicators “C” and “US” or “NRTL/C” are used with products certified for both the U.S. and Canadian markets, to the applicable U.S. and Canadian standards.
	IEC		The International Electro technical Commission (IEC) is a global, non-profit organization that develops and maintains voluntary quality, safety, and performance standards for electrical materials, products, and systems The IEC also publishes standards for the electronics and telecommunications industries. The IEC’s membership consists of the electro technical standards organizations from each of its 51 member nations. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) represents the United States.
	WEEE Compliant		Waste Electrical and Electronics Equipment (WEEE) is a European Union (EU) directive designed to encourage the reuse, recycling and recovery of electrical and electronic equipment. WEEE is also designed to improve the environmental impact and performance of this equipment. The WEEE directive establishes requirements and criteria for the collection, treatment, recycling and recovery of electrical and electronic equipment. It also makes producers responsible for financing these activities. Retailers and distributors must provide a way for consumers to return used or obsolete equipment without charge.
	Other		Other unlisted standards.
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	Features
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	Heat Sink		The device uses a heat sink to dissipate heat.
	Non-Inductive		The device is non-inductive.
	Air Cooled		The device is air cooled.
	Water Cooled		The device is water cooled.
	Non-Flame Coating		The device has a coating which provides protection against flames.
	Fireproof Case		The device is fireproof.
	Electrically Isolated Case		The device is covered by an electrically-isolated case.
	ESD Protection		The device is protected against electrostatic discharge (ESD).
	NEMA Enclosure		The device is encased in a NEMA enclosure. NEMA enclosures are rated by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and designed for hazardous or non-hazardous locations and indoor or outdoor use.
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