Skip to main content

What is potentiometers How a Potentiometer Works?


Potentiometers
A potentiometer is simply a variable resistor that can be controlled by the user. Potentiometers accomplish this by having three terminal resistors forming and a load that connect the potentiometer and the voltage source in one loop and the potentiometer and the load in another. Potentiometers have a wide range of uses, ranging from CD players to Servo mechanisms.

How Does a Potentiometer Work?
A potentiometer has 3 pins. Two terminals (the blue and green) are connected to a resistive element and the third terminal (the black one) is connected to an adjustable wiper. The potentiometer will work as a rheostat (variable resistor) or as a voltage divider.

Rheostat
To use the potentiometer as a rheostat, only two pins are used: one outside pin and the center pin. The position of the wiper determines what quantity resistance the potentiometer is imposing to the circuit, as the figure demonstrates:
If we have a 10kΩ potentiometer, it means that the maximum resistance of the variable resistor is 10kΩ and the minimum is 0Ω. This means that by changing the wiper position, you get a value between 0Ω and 10kΩ.

Voltage Divider
Potentiometers can be used as voltage dividers. To use the potentiometer as a voltage divider, all the 3 pins ar connected. One of the outer pins is connected to the GND, the other to Vcc and the middle pin is the voltage output.
When the potentiometer is employed as a voltage divider, the wiper position determines the output voltage. When you have the potentiometer connected this way, you have the following circuit:
Basically, the voltage divider is employed to show an oversized voltage into a smaller one.
                                        
Potentiometer Taper
One main thought related to potentiometers is that the taper. The taper is the relationship between the position and the resistance of the potentiometer. The most common types are linear and logarithmic tapers.
Linear potentiometers
The most common form is the simple linear taper. In a linear taper, the relationship between the resistance and the potentiometer position is linear. This means that if the knob of the potentiometer is at the medium position, the output voltage is half of the voltage through the potentiometer.
Logarithmic potentiometers
Non-linear tapers are specially used in audio control applications, namely logarithmic tapers (there are also inverse-logarithmic tapers).

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is Solar Panels? How Does a Solar Panel Work?

Solar Panels Photovoltaic (PV) is the term identified with the change of light into power utilizing semiconducting materials that display the photovoltaic impact. A typical use of this technology is solar panels which comprise of solar cells that generate solar power. They can be installed on south-facing roofs, walls or on the ground, and can be fixed or have a solar tracker that follows the sun across the sky. The installation of solar panels is very beneficial for both private and commercial users because the solar power became electricity will be sold to the energy supplier. The feed-in tariff can reduce energy bills and price of solar panel installation. The advantage of this type of energy source is that it is clean energy, so generates no pollution and no greenhouse gas emissions. It is however dependent on direct sunlight so around 10% to 25% is lost when a tracking system is not used. How Does a Solar Panel Work? The solar cells within a solar array produce DC elect...
Post a Comment
Read more

Different types of Limit Switches

Rotary Geared Limit Switches The operating of the Limit Switch is to prevent the mechanism or drive at the intense forward/reverse positions. The Limit Switches are significantly suited to use on reversing drives like a hoist, winches, rolling mills and various other mechanisms used in steel plants such as coke ovens, feeding machinery, valve drives etc. The contacts of Limit Switches are forty amps rated ceaselessly at 500 Volts A. C. The Limit switch is often supplied with two NC contacts or four NC contacts or (2 NO + two NC) contacts as per the need. For Series Limit Switches are shields are provided. The frequency of switching of each contact is suitable for a maximum of 720 operations per hour. The speed of the driving shaft rotation shouldn't be over 60 rpm. Features:- High durable standards Optimum performance Easy to install Counter Weight Limit Switches A metal structure offers the required stability to Counter Weight Limit Switches that job on heavy c...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is TVS Diodes: - Types, Working and Advantages & Disadvantages

TVS Diodes Transient voltage suppressor diodes, more commonly referred to as TVS diodes  are wont to protect integrated circuits (ICs). TVS diodes ensure semiconductors and delicate parts against high transient voltage spikes (overvoltage). TVS diodes are offered in both through-hole and surface mount bundles. They can be unidirectional or bidirectional. Unidirectional TVS diodes will only allow positive or negative voltage whereas bidirectional diodes can operate at both positive and negative voltages. TVS diodes are able to conduct large currents to the ground due to their construction. They feature a way larger p-n junction cross-sectional area than standard diodes. Types of TVS Diode Transient Voltage Suppressor Diodes can be grouped into two kinds. One is Unidirectional , and the other is Bidirectional . A unidirectional Transient Voltage Suppressor Diode fills in as a rectifier in a circuit the forward way like some other avalanche diode, and this unidi...
Post a Comment
Read more