What is a Potentiometer Used For?
Potentiometers are one form of electrical resistors. While not designed to carry a great deal of electrical current, the potentiometer is often ideal for small jobs. A potentiometer is helpful in such common tasks as adjusting the volume level on a radio, or changing channels on some types of television sets. In construction, a potentiometer uses either a two or three terminal configuration. A slide-wire contact is used to create a voltage divider that can be adjusted to different settings as needed. It is this ability to make an adjustment in position that makes it possible for the potentiometer to be useful in simple management tasks associated with the operation of small electrical devices. The amount of power controlled by a potentiometer is very small. In most cases, the voltage output and input is no more than a single watt. However, this is enough power to allow simple manipulation of many electrical devices. Along with the volume control on a radio, a potentiometer provides eno
