The middle pin and one of the side pins. They have a small shaft on top that functions like a knob.
Potentiometer Slide Wire
Potentiometer wiring diagram. How to wire a potentiometer. Instructions for potentiometer wiring. The standard schematic symbol for a pot is shown to the left. Lessons in electric circuits volume 1 chapter 2. The diagram shows the parts present inside a potentiometer. If the maximum dissipation is 05w and the resistance is 10k then the maximum current that may flow through the entire resistance element is.
Lets look at the 05w pot and 10k is a good value to start with for explanation. As the symbol suggests a potentiometer is nothing but a resistor with one variable end. Potentiometers or pots are a type of resistor used to control the output signal on an electronic device like a guitar amplifier or speaker. We have a resistive track whose complete resistance will be equal to the rated resistance value of the pot. Ohms law schematic diagram. Assuming series or two terminal rheostat wiring.
Keep that in mind and have a look at the following three examples on how to wire a potentiometer. The above image shows a simple circuit to dim an led. The terminal 2 is connected to the wiper. For this experiment you will need a relatively low value potentiometer certainly not more than 5 kω. The voltage supply is connected across terminals 1 and 3 positive lead to terminal one while negative lead to terminal three. Wiring illustration for using a potentiometer as a rheostat.
In the circuit diagram shown below the terminals of the potentiometer are marked 1 2 and 3. If you need a simple resistor that you can change the resistance of you only need two pins.
Gallery of Potentiometer Wiring Diagram
