Potentiometer Various Types B1K to B500K

FAQ

What is the difference between linear and logarithmic potentiometers?

A linear potentiometer (B) changes resistance uniformly with shaft rotation. A logarithmic potentiometer (C) has a characteristic adapted to human perception — used for sound volume or brightness, where perception is not linear.

Which resistance should I choose for my project?

The choice depends on circuit impedance and output voltage. Lower resistances (B1K, B10K) are used in low-impedance circuits with high current. Higher resistances (B100K, B500K) in high-impedance applications. Typically B10K or B100K is used in Arduino projects.

Can a potentiometer be connected directly to Arduino?

Yes. The outer terminals are connected to the supply voltage (5V) and ground, the middle terminal to an analog input (A0–A5). Arduino then reads the value 0–1023 through the analogRead() function.

What is the maximum current through a potentiometer?

A potentiometer is a pure resistor without active components. Maximum current depends on the application — typically calculated using Ohm’s law (I = U/R) and is not precisely specified without a specific datasheet. During normal operation in Arduino projects, the current is minimal (tens of μA).

Can I use a potentiometer in digital circuits?

No — a potentiometer is purely an analog component. If you need a digital output, you must use an ADC converter (analog-to-digital converter) on the microcontroller or an external chip.

What if the potentiometer starts crackling or shows jumps in value?

Crackling and jumps usually indicate contamination of the contact track or mechanical wear. A short-term solution is to rotate the shaft multiple times in both directions. For long-term applications, consider replacement.