Potentiometers: Explained.

 

Potentiometers:

Potentiometers are often referred to as speed paths for our devices for the control of speed, voltage, or frequency. They have three terminals. Some potentiometers have a knob on top for controlling a variable and on the bottom is a resistive element and a contact that is often referred to as the wiper. As voltage is applied to the resistive ring, the wiper can then control the amount of resistance used since the dial directly controls the wiper

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If you are letting enough voltage pass through according to the amount of resistance that is applied, the method used here is from Ohm's law where voltage is equal to the current multiplied by resistance. If the amperage is constant, adjusting the value of resistance will directly affect the voltage used using a potentiometer and a drive controlling a motor. The more voltage applied from the potentiometer will signal the drive to put forth more voltage to the motor. The voltage applied to the motor will have a direct change on how fast or slow it will go. More resistance will be introduced. The more voltage used the more type of potentiometer is a logarithmic taper. This is not often found in industrial applications and more so in audio equipment with volume control instead of having a linear change with the knob directly changing the resistance. There is more of a curved change. This change is designed for how humans perceive audio volume which is logarithmic and not linear potentiometers.

 

 

Hope that this will clear your concept.

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Bye.