i am building a power supply and i want to vary between 0-30 volts dc. would i use a potentiometer or a rheostat to do this?
2006-08-10 20:59:09 · 3 answers · asked by scott s 2 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Other - Electronics
A potentiometer is a three terminal device and an alternative name would be a variable voltage divider.
A rheostat, while it may have three physical terminals, is used as a two terminal device connected in series with something.
A potentiometer is the component you need.
2006-08-11 06:34:42 · answer #1 · answered by dmb06851 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
either one will suffice. but, a rheostat can handle more amp draw than a potentiometer. pots are mainly used to send a control voltage to a drive or a printed circuit board of some type.
2006-08-11 04:06:26 · answer #2 · answered by up all night 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dmb06851 is correct. I will just add that the potentiometer doesn't go on the output of the supply, it controls the voltage regulator reference voltage.
2006-08-11 14:18:09 · answer #3 · answered by wires 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋