Potentiometer is also called adjustable resistor or variable resistor in foreign countries. In China, adjustable power resistor is distinguished from potentiometer. In terms of structure and working principle of adjustable resistor, potentiometer and adjustable resistor are basically similar, but not exactly the same, so there are differences and similarities between them. So what is the difference between potentiometer and adjustable resistor?

1. Control handle: the potentiometer has a handle, while the adjustable power resistor has no handle.
2. Resistance Distribution Characteristics: The output characteristics of potentiometers have many functional characteristics, and the distribution characteristics of resistors of different potentiometers are different, while the distribution characteristics of resistors of adjustable resistors are the same.
3. Couplet: Potentiometers have dual potentiometers, and the adjustable resistors are not.
4. Volume: potentiometer has large volume, strong structure and long service life. The adjustable resistor has small volume and short service life.
5. Anti-interference performance: the metal shell of potentiometer is grounded in the circuit (the control handle is connected with the shell), so that the interference of the potentiometer is relatively small, so as to achieve the purpose of suppressing interference; and the adjustable resistance has no grounding pin, and the adjustment will be interfered by human body induction.
6. Installation Position and Frequency of Use: Potentiometer is mounted on the circuit board or casing, no matter which installation method is adopted, its control handle needs to be extended out of the casing for easy adjustment. The machine often adjusts the potentiometer in the course of use, while the adjustable power resistor is mounted on the circuit board, usually not adjusted in the course of use, only in case of malfunction. Adjust the resistance value during maintenance.
7. Service life: potentiometer structure is strong, long service life. But because the potentiometer is frequently used, plus it has mechanical movement, so in the same machine often potentiometer will be damaged in front of the adjustable resistance; and the adjustable resistance structure is simple, improper adjustment is easy to damage, shorter life, but because of the use of low frequency, so did not show his shortcomings of short life.

Potentiometer plays a very wide role in the circuit. It can not only be used alone in the circuit, but also in many cases with other electronic components to form a circuit with various functions.

The fundamental function of trimmer potentiometer in circuit is to provide a resistance for the circuit, and resistance is a physical quantity.

What is a trimmer potentiometer? Usually it is also called a resistor. Popularly speaking, a potentiometer acts as a resistance in a circuit as in a flow of water.

For conductors, the existence of trimmer potentiometer in the use of current flow encountered resistance, the specific performance is that resistance consumes electrical energy, obviously in this sense, potentiometers play a negative role. However, in the circuit, using the characteristic of potentiometer, many specific circuit functions can be realized.