What is a potentiometer?
Potentiometer is a manually adjustable electrical resistor that uses three terminals. In many electrical devices, potential output levels are. For example, in the speaker, a potentiometer is used to adjust the volume. In a television file, a computer monitor or a light dimmer, it can be used to control the brightness of the screen or bulb.
How does it work
postntiometers, sometimes called pots, are relatively simple devices. One potentiometer terminal is connected to the energy source and the other is connected to the ground - point without voltage or resistance and which serves as a neutral reference point. The third terminal slips over the strip of resistance material. This resistance strip generally has low resistance at one end and its resistance gradually increases to maximum resistance at the other end. The third terminal serves as a connection between the energy source and the ground and is usually operated by using a knob or lever. The amount of resistance determines how much current flows through the circuit. When used to regulate pThe roudu is limited by the maximum strip resistance.
control voltage
postntiometers can also be used to control potential or voltage difference across circuits. Setting the potentiometer for this purpose is a bit more complicated. It includes two circuits with the first circuit consisting of a cell and a resistor. At one end, the cell is connected in a series with the other circuit and at the other end it is connected to the potentiometer in parallel with the second circuit.
The potentiometer in this arrangement triggers the voltage by the quantity equal to the sepometer between the resistance of the permitted position of the third terminal and the highest possible strip resistance. In other words, if the button controlling the resistance is placed on the exact half of the point on the resistance strip, the output voltage drops by exactly 50 percent, regardless of the input voltage. Unlike electric current control, voltage control is not limited to maximuma strip resistance.
rheostaty
When only two of the three terminals are used, the potentiometer acts as a type of variable resistor called rheostat. One end terminal along with a sliding terminal is used. Rheostats are usually used to process higher current or higher voltage levels than potentiometers. For example, rheostats can be used to control motor in industrial machines.