Potentiometer Guide - Revision history

Mparadis at 21:54, 11 July 2023

2023-07-11T21:54:42Z

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	{{#seo:\|description=Potentiometers are used as a user input or feedback device in the form of a slider or dial. Learn more here.}}		{{#seo:\|description=Potentiometers are used as a user input or feedback device in the form of a slider or dial. Learn more here.}}
	{{#seo:\|keywords=voltage ratio input}}		{{#seo:\|keywords=voltage ratio input}}
	~~[[Category:IntroGuide]]~~
	==Introduction==		==Introduction==
	[[File:1112.jpg\|link=\|right\|400px]]		[[File:1112.jpg\|link=\|right\|400px]]

Lmpacent at 20:06, 26 June 2023

2023-06-26T20:06:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:06, 26 June 2023
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	{{#seo:\|description=Potentiometers are used as a user input or feedback device in the form of a slider or dial. Learn more here.}}		{{#seo:\|description=Potentiometers are used as a user input or feedback device in the form of a slider or dial. Learn more here.}}
			{{#seo:\|keywords=voltage ratio input}}
	[[Category:IntroGuide]]		[[Category:IntroGuide]]
	==Introduction==		==Introduction==

Mparadis at 17:04, 1 June 2023

2023-06-01T17:04:36Z

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	===Taper===		===Taper===
	The taper of a potentiometer refers to the relationship between the wiper terminal's voltage and the wiper's position. By changing the characteristics of the resistive material the taper can be adjusted. The two most common forms of taper are linear taper and logarithmic taper. In linear taper, the voltage changes linearly with position. Linear tapers are often found in dials on analog equipment, and as feedback devices on linear actuators or [[Servo Motor and Controller ~~Primer~~\|servo motors]]. It then follows that in a logarithmic taper, the voltage varies logarithmically with position. Logarithmic tapers are primarily used in audio equipment since human perception of volume is logarithmic.		The taper of a potentiometer refers to the relationship between the wiper terminal's voltage and the wiper's position. By changing the characteristics of the resistive material the taper can be adjusted. The two most common forms of taper are linear taper and logarithmic taper. In linear taper, the voltage changes linearly with position. Linear tapers are often found in dials on analog equipment, and as feedback devices on linear actuators or [[Servo Motor and Controller Guide\|servo motors]]. It then follows that in a logarithmic taper, the voltage varies logarithmically with position. Logarithmic tapers are primarily used in audio equipment since human perception of volume is logarithmic.

	===Using a Potentiometer as a Rheostat===		===Using a Potentiometer as a Rheostat===
	One of the nice things about potentiometers is that they can double as a rheostat (a variable resistor). All you need to do is leave one of the reference terminals unconnected. Now you can adjust the resistance between the 2 terminals you ''are'' using by moving the wiper. This can be useful if you want to have an adjustable power sink.		One of the nice things about potentiometers is that they can double as a rheostat (a variable resistor). All you need to do is leave one of the reference terminals unconnected. Now you can adjust the resistance between the 2 terminals you ''are'' using by moving the wiper. This can be useful if you want to have an adjustable power sink.

Lmpacent at 15:19, 24 May 2023

2023-05-24T15:19:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:19, 24 May 2023
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	{{#seo:\|description=Potentiometers are used as a user input or feedback device in the form of a slider or dial. Learn more ~~at Phidgets.com~~.}}		{{#seo:\|description=Potentiometers are used as a user input or feedback device in the form of a slider or dial. Learn more here.}}
	[[Category:IntroGuide]]		[[Category:IntroGuide]]
	==Introduction==		==Introduction==

Mparadis at 19:06, 16 May 2023

2023-05-16T19:06:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:06, 16 May 2023
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	{{#seo:\|description=Potentiometers are used as a user input or feedback device in the form of a slider or dial. Learn more at Phidgets.com.}}		{{#seo:\|description=Potentiometers are used as a user input or feedback device in the form of a slider or dial. Learn more at Phidgets.com.}}
	[[Category:~~Primer~~]]		[[Category:IntroGuide]]
	==Introduction==		==Introduction==
	[[File:1112.jpg\|link=\|right\|400px]]		[[File:1112.jpg\|link=\|right\|400px]]

Mparadis: Mparadis moved page Potentiometer Primer to Potentiometer Guide

2023-05-16T17:04:27Z

Mparadis moved page Potentiometer Primer to Potentiometer Guide

← Older revision	Revision as of 17:04, 16 May 2023
(No difference)

Patrick at 19:19, 9 May 2023

2023-05-09T19:19:12Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:19, 9 May 2023
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	~~<metadesc>~~Potentiometers are used as a user input or feedback device in the form of a slider or dial. Learn more at Phidgets.com.~~</metadesc>~~		{{#seo:\|description=Potentiometers are used as a user input or feedback device in the form of a slider or dial. Learn more at Phidgets.com.}}
	[[Category:Primer]]		[[Category:Primer]]
	==Introduction==		==Introduction==

Mparadis at 16:56, 29 November 2017

2017-11-29T16:56:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:56, 29 November 2017
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			<metadesc>Potentiometers are used as a user input or feedback device in the form of a slider or dial. Learn more at Phidgets.com.</metadesc>
	[[Category:Primer]]		[[Category:Primer]]
	==Introduction==		==Introduction==

Lmpacent at 17:53, 6 July 2017

2017-07-06T17:53:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:53, 6 July 2017
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	[[Category:Primer]]		[[Category:Primer]]
	==Introduction==		==Introduction==
			[[File:1112.jpg\|link=\|right\|400px]]
	Potentiometers are three terminal resistors with one contact, known as the wiper, which slides across the device in order to create a variable voltage divider. They can also be used with just 2 terminals connected in which case they behave like a variable resistor or rheostat. Potentiometers are a common choice for human interface devices since they can easily be made to resemble a dial or track slider.		Potentiometers are three terminal resistors with one contact, known as the wiper, which slides across the device in order to create a variable voltage divider. They can also be used with just 2 terminals connected in which case they behave like a variable resistor or rheostat. Potentiometers are a common choice for human interface devices since they can easily be made to resemble a dial or track slider.
			<br clear=all>

	==How Potentiometers Work==		==How Potentiometers Work==
	===What is a Voltage Divider?===		===What is a Voltage Divider?===
	A voltage divider is a network of resistors that is used to reduce the voltage by some factor. The simplest form of voltage divider is a pair of resistors in series. For example, say you have 2 10k resistors in series and nothing else connected to a 12V power supply. The following diagrams shows the voltages at various points in the divider:		A voltage divider is a network of resistors that is used to reduce the voltage by some factor. The simplest form of voltage divider is a pair of resistors in series. For example, say you have two 10k resistors in series and nothing else connected to a 12V power supply. The following diagrams shows the voltages at various points in the divider:

	[[File:Voltagedivider.png\|350px\|link=\|center]]		[[File:Voltagedivider.png\|350px\|link=\|center]]
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	===Potentiometer Construction===		===Potentiometer Construction===
			[[File:potentiometerdiagram.png\|350px\|link=\|center]]
	There are 3 pieces to a potentiometer:		There are 3 pieces to a potentiometer:
	~~[[File:potentiometerdiagram.png\|400px\|link=\|center]]~~
	#These are the reference terminals of the potentiometer. You connect Vcc and Gnd to A and B in order to power your voltage divider.		#These are the reference terminals of the potentiometer. You connect Vcc and Gnd to A and B in order to power your voltage divider.
	#This is a resistive material of some kind. It is often graphite though other common materials include resistance wire, carbon particles in plastic, and a ceramic/metal mixture called cermet. In a linear potentiometer, this would be a straight line as opposed to a circular track.		#This is a resistive material of some kind. It is often graphite though other common materials include resistance wire, carbon particles in plastic, and a ceramic/metal mixture called cermet. In a linear potentiometer, this would be a straight line as opposed to a circular track.

Mparadis at 17:49, 11 August 2015

2015-08-11T17:49:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:49, 11 August 2015
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	[[Category:Primer]]		[[Category:Primer]]
	==Introduction==		==Introduction==
	Potentiometers are three terminal resistors with one contact, known as the wiper, which slides across the device in order to create a variable ~~[[#Voltage Divider\|~~voltage divider]]. They can also be used with just 2 terminals connected in which case they behave like a variable resistor or rheostat. Potentiometers are a common choice for human interface devices since they can easily be made to resemble a dial or track slider.		Potentiometers are three terminal resistors with one contact, known as the wiper, which slides across the device in order to create a variable voltage divider. They can also be used with just 2 terminals connected in which case they behave like a variable resistor or rheostat. Potentiometers are a common choice for human interface devices since they can easily be made to resemble a dial or track slider.

	==How Potentiometers Work==		==How Potentiometers Work==