UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS MARINE CORPS COMMUNICATION-ELECTRONICS SCHOOL TRAINING COMMAND BOX 788251 TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIFORNIA

92278

STUDENT HANDOUT
POTENTIOMETERS & RHEOSTATS BE.01.11 BASIC ELECTRONICS COURSE M092721 REVISED 12/12/2008

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TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1. Provided cables, connectors, Test Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment, tools and a unit under test; test ground electronics equipment, per the references. (2800ACT-1303) Given a faulty electronic device, Test Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment and tools, diagnose basic electronic circuits, per the references. (2800-ACT-1305)

2.

ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1. Without the aid of references, given a schematic symbol of a variable resistor, select the statement that identifies the schematic symbol, per the references. (2800-ACT-1305c) Without the aid of references, select the statement that identifies the characteristics of a variable resistor, per the references. (2800-ACT-1303g) 3. Without the aid of references, given a rheostat schematic and specified parameters, select the statement that identifies the unknown circuit parameter, per the references. (2800-ACT-1303ad) Without the aid of references, given a potentiometer schematic and specified parameters, select the statement that identifies the unknown circuit parameter, per the references. (2800-ACT-1303ae)

2.

4.

STUDENT INFORMATION: You have seen how the components in this lesson do their jobs in electronic circuits. The manner in which the components are placed in the circuit will determine the functions they perform. In this lesson you are going to learn about variable resistors. Youre going to cover the different types of variable resistors and what materials they can be composed of. Youre also going to cover how these variable resistors operate in a circuit to control load voltage and current. The concepts presented during this period of instruction will be used during some of the remaining annexes in BEC.

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STUDENT HANDOUT PRESENTATION: I. Variable Resistor Composition: There are several different compositions that variable resistors are constructed of: A. Carbon Composition: 1. This type of variable resistor provides a wide range of resistances. 2. Carbon composition variable resistors are rather inexpensive. 3. They are also used in low power applications. B. Wire Wound: 1. Wire wound variable resistors provide a rather low resistance change. 2. This type of variable resistor is rather expensive. 3. These variable resistors have wide power ranges. C. Metal Film: 1. Metal Film composition variable resistors offer a compromise between carbon and wire wound as far as cost, range of resistance, and power ranges. II. Types of Variable Resistors: There are two types of variable resistors: tapped and variable contact. A. Tapped Resistor: This type can have several fixed taps (connections along the resistor) and makes more than one resistance value available at each tap. B. Variable (sliding) Contact Resistors: These resistors have an adjustable collar that can be moved in any direction to provide a variable resistance within the value range of the resistor.

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CW

Figure 11-01 C. Schematic Symbol: There are three main parts of the schematic symbol for both components (Refer to Figure 11-01). 1. The symbol for the resistive element (introduced in BE.01.07). 2. The Arrow; this represents the movable contact that allows the resistance of the component to be varied. When the arrow moves along the resistive element the physical connection of the movable contact moves along the resistor. 3. The Positional Reference which orients the direction of the arrows movement to the shaft rotation. (CW means Clock Wise or CCW means Counter Clock Wise) In Figure 11-1, if the shaft were rotated in the clockwise direction the contact (represented by the arrow) would move toward the top of the resistor. The placement of the Positional Reference may change from schematic to schematic. III. Variable Resistor Configurations: There are two configurations that the variable resistor can be found in: potentiometers and rheostats. Rheostats will be covered first. A. Rheostat Characteristics: A rheostat is a variable contact resistor with two of the three leads connected in the circuit; one fixed and one moveable. B. Rheostats are configured in series with the load device. This configuration allows the rheostat to be used as a current divider. In reality the rheostat limits the amount of current through the load by varying the dissipation of the resistive element.

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R1

RL

Figure 11-02. Rheostat. 1. 2. 3. 4. Rheostats usually have a limited range of values. Rheostats have a high current-handling capability. A rheostat is connected in series with the load. Refer to Figure 11-3. With the shaft rotated fully Counter Clock Wise (CCW), the minimum value of the rheostat (0% of 2.5k ) is placed in series with the load.
CW

R1 2.5k

RL 2.5k

Figure 11-03. Rheostat in the fully CCW position.

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5.

Since R1 is completely out of the circuit (electronically), the load resistance is the total circuit resistance (2.5k ). a. b. The output voltage developed across the load is at maximum. The current through the load is at maximum.

6.

Refer to Figure 11-04. With the shaft rotated fully clockwise (CW), the maximum value of the rheostat (100% of 2.5k ) is placed in series with the load.
CW

R1 2.5k

RL 2.5k

Figure 11-04. Rheostat at 100%. a. R1's full value is used; therefore, total circuit resistance is 5k . RT is at maximum; therefore, load current (circuit current) is minimum. With minimum load current, load voltage is also at minimum.

b. c.

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CW

VA 10V

R1 8k

RL 4k

Figure 11-05.

Rheostat.

Practice with Rheostats: (Refer to Figure 11-05) Students are to solve for parameters with the shaft rotated 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% of value (toward the CW position). Problem #1: 100% Rt IT VR1 VL = = = = RT IT VR1 VL = = = = 75% RT IT VR1 VL = = = = 50% RT IT VR1 VL = = = = 25%

Problem #2: 10k .) 100% RT IT VR1 VL = = = =

(Change the value of VA to 8V, R1 to 10k , and RL

75% RT IT VR1 VL = = = = RT IT VR1 VL = = = =

50% RT IT VR1 VL = = = =

25%

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B.

Potentiometers: A potentiometer is a variable resistor with all three terminals connected; two fixed and one moveable.

CW R1 3k RL 3k

Figure 11-06. 1.

Potentiometer.

Potentiometer Characteristics: a. Potentiometers have a wide range of values. b. Potentiometers have limited current handling capabilities. c. The load device is always placed in parallel with the short. d. Potentiometers are connected in the circuit as a voltage divider. This means that it is placed across the load.

2.

Potentiometer Operation: Figures 11-07 and 11-08 demonstrate the operational characteristics of the potentiometer. a. Refer to Figure 11-07. With the shaft rotated fully counterclockwise (CCW), the minimum value of the potentiometer's resistance (0% of 3k ) is placed in parallel with the load. b. The load resistor is in parallel with the short, resulting in an REQ of near 0 . c. The output voltage developed across the load is minimum.

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d. The current through the load is minimum.

R1 3k

RL 3k

Figure 11-07.

Potentiometer with R1 in the fully CCW position. e. Refer to Figure 11-08. With the shaft rotated fully clockwise (CW), the maximum value of the potentiometer (100% of 3k ) is placed in parallel with the load. f. The 3k load resistor is now in parallel with all 3k of the potentiometer, resulting in an REQ of 1.5k . g. The output voltage is at maximum. h. The current through the load is at maximum.

R1 3k

RL 3k

Figure 11-08.

Potentiometer with R1 in fully CW position.

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Practice with Potentiometers: (Refer to Figure 11-09) Solve for parameters with the shaft rotated 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% of value (toward the CW position).

VA 10V

CW R1 4k RL 4k

Figure 11-9.

Potentiometer.

Problem #1: 100% REQ = RT = IT = VL = PL = REQ = RT = IT = VL = PL = 75% REQ = RT = IT = VL = PL = 50% REQ = RT = IT = VL = PL = 25% REQ = RT = IT = VL = PL = 0%

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Problem #2: 100% REQ = RT = IT = VL = PL =

(Change VA to 15V, R1 to 6k , and RL to 6k .) 75% REQ = RT = IT = VL = PL = REQ = RT = IT = VL = PL = 50% REQ = RT = IT = VL = PL = 25% REQ = RT = IT = VL = PL = 0%

IV.

Tapers: A taper is related to the different levels of resistance in relation to the shaft rotation. A. Definition: Taper is defined as a variation in resistance of a variable resistor due to changes in the angle of shaft rotation. There are two types of taper: linear and logarithmic (log) tapers. Linear Taper: In a linear taper (Figure 11-10), the change in resistance is proportional to the change in shaft rotation. For example: At 50% of shaft rotation, there will be 50% of total potentiometer resistance.
Resistance

B.

100% 75% 50% 25% 0%

Midpoint Shaft Rotation

Figure 11-10.
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Linear Taper.
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C.

Logarithmic: In a logarithmic (log) taper (Figure 1111), at the midpoint of shaft rotation, the resistance will be 10% of its maximum value. The change in resistance is nonlinear, which means that the resistance across the terminals is not proportional with shaft rotation.
Resistance

10%
Midpoint Shaft Rotation

Figure 11-11.

Logarithmic Taper.

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REFERENCES: 1. 2. 3. 4. Operator Manual: Fluke 77/BN Basic Electronics (9th Edition), Grob Introductory Electric Circuits, Robert T. Paynter WinFACET, Lab-Volt Systems Inc.

REPARED BY: ____________________________________________ TITLE: __________________________________________________ SIGNATURE: ________________________ DATE: ______________ MODIFIED BY: _P.A.DEDEAUX__________ DATE: _10/10/2007___ APPROVED BY: ____________________________________________ TITLE: __________________________________________________ SIGNATURE: ________________________ DATE: ______________

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NOTES:

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