https://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/ en-USTelligent Community 12https://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/tt-electronics/b/blog/posts/six-engineering-considerations-when-selecting-a-potentiometerMon, 12 Oct 2026 16:52:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:9f2e7184-57c6-4423-bd93-814b8efcbf75william.walshIntroduction Selecting a potentiometer can look straightforward: determine the required resistance, choose a package and shaft, and check the power rating. For a simple adjustment function, that may be enough. For position feedback, frequent operator adjustment, calibration or operation in a demanding environment, it usually is not. The electrical output of a potentiometer depends on a mechanical contact moving across a resistive element. That makes electrical performance, mechanical design and operating conditions closely linked. Independent linearity, contact resistance variation, rotational life, power dissipation, electrical travel and environmental exposure can all influence whether the component continues to perform as expected over the life of the equipment. A useful starting point is therefore not the resistance value, but the job the potentiometer is expected to perform. 1. Define the Function and Duty Cycle First A front-panel control, a production calibration adjustment and a position-feedback sensor may all use a potentiometer, but they place very different demands on it. An operator control may be adjusted thousands or millions of times and needs appropriate rotational life, torque and mechanical construction. For a calibration function that is set during production and rarely adjusted afterwards, stability and adjustment resolution may matter more than high cycle life. A position-feedback device introduces another set of priorities, including independent linearity, output smoothness and repeatability. The differences can be significant even within one manufacturer’s portfolio. BI Technologies P260/P261 panel potentiometers, for example, are 12.7 mm rotary conductive-plastic devices available in configurations with up to six gangs. The family covers resistance values from 500 Ω to 1 MΩ and includes sealed/dust-proof construction, linear and audio tapers, switch, detent and wire-lead options. Selected configurations are specified for a one-million-cycle life. For precision position sensing, the requirements can be considerably different. The BI Technologies 6180 Series is a single-turn conductive-plastic precision potentiometer with resistance values from 1 kΩ to 100 kΩ. Depending on model and configuration, minimum cycle-life ratings extend to a minimum of five million. The intended function and expected number of operations should therefore be established before comparing nominal resistance values. 2. Match the Resistive Values to the Requirement The resistive element has a direct influence on electrical behaviour, power capability, resolution and operating life. Wirewound potentiometers use resistance wire wound around an insulating former. They are well established in precision measurement and control applications where stability, power handling and tight linearity are important. One trade-off is that the discrete turns of resistance wire inherently limit resolution compared with a continuous resistive track. As an example, BI Technologies 7280 Series is a 10-turn wirewound precision potentiometer offering resistance values from 100 Ω to 100 kΩ, a 2 W power rating and ±0.25% standard independent linearity. Depending on the model, minimum cycle-life ratings extend to 300,000 rotations. Conductive-plastic potentiometers use a continuous resistive element and are particularly useful where smooth output and high operational life are required. The 6180 Series, for comparison, is rated at 1 W at 70°C, provides ±1% standard independent linearity with ±0.5% listed as the minimum practical value, and specifies output smoothness of 0.1% maximum. Carbon elements continue to provide an economical solution for less demanding adjustment and control functions, particularly where precision and very high cycle life are not primary design requirements. For PCB calibration, cermet is another important option. The 67 Series trimmers, for example, uses cermet elements and includes 20-turn configurations for fine adjustments. Selected versions are sealed for compatibility with aqueous PCB-cleaning processes. The choice is therefore not a question of one technology being better than another. It is a trade-off between the electrical, mechanical and cost requirements of the application 3. Look Beyond Resistance Value and Tolerance Nominal resistance and tolerance are necessary specifications, but they do not describe how accurately shaft position will be represented at the wiper. For a potentiometer used as a voltage divider or position sensor, independent linearity is often more directly related to positional accuracy. It describes how closely the actual output follows a specified straight-line relationship over the electrical travel. Consider two BI Technologies precision products: The single-turn wirewound 5100 Series has a standard independent linearity of ±0.5%, with ±0.25% listed as the minimum practical value. The 10-turn wirewound 7280 Series specifies ±0.25% standard independent linearity. By contrast, the conductive-plastic 6180 Series specifies ±1% standard independent linearity, with ±0.5% available as a minimum practical value. It also specifies 0.1% maximum output smoothness. Those differences illustrate why the selection cannot be based on resistance alone. The designer should consider which error mechanisms matter to the circuit and how the potentiometer is being used. Other parameters worth checking include: Contact resistance variation or output smoothness Repeatability Effective electrical travel End voltage Rotational torque Insulation resistance Dielectric strength Maximum operating voltage Loading should also be considered. A potentiometer used as a voltage divider produces its most predictable transfer characteristic when the load connected to the wiper is high relative to the potentiometer resistance. A low-impedance load changes the effective divider ratio and introduces non-linearity even if the potentiometer itself has excellent independent linearity. The component specification and the surrounding circuit therefore have to be considered together. 4. Match Mechanical Life to the Actual Duty Cycle Cycle-life figures only become useful when with the expected duty cycle of the application. Suppose an operator control is moved 500 times per working day. At 250 working days per year, that represents 125,000 cycles annually. A product intended to remain in service for eight years could therefore approach one million operations. A calibration control adjusted during manufacture may accumulate only a fraction of that number. BI Technologies portfolio illustrates the range. The 7280 wirewound precision family includes models with minimum life ratings to one million rotations. Standard 6180 conductive-plastic configurations are available with five-million-cycle ratings. P260/P261 panel-control configurations are available with ratings up to one million cycles. These figures should not be compared in isolation because the products serve different purposes and their ratings are based on specified test conditions. They do, however, demonstrate why expected movement should be quantified early. Specifying far more endurance than the application requires can add unnecessary cost. Specifying too little may turn an inexpensive component into a field-reliability problem. 5. Design for the Operating Environment A potentiometer can meet every required electrical parameter at room temperature and still be unsuitable for the equipment in which it is installed. Temperature affects both power capability and electrical performance. Power ratings are therefore normally accompanied by a derating curve rather than remaining constant across the full operating-temperature range. For example, the BI Technologies 6180 Series is rated at 1 W at 70°C and derates to zero power at 125°C. A designer cannot assume that the 1 W headline rating applies at every operating temperature. Shock and vibration can also matter when the potentiometer is mechanically coupled to a moving assembly. The BI Technologies 5100 Series, for example, is specified for 100 g, 6 ms sawtooth shock and 10 g vibration from 10 to 500 Hz. Its environmental data also includes temperature cycling and humidity testing, while rotational load life is specified as 500,000 shaft revolutions plus 900 hours at rated power at 40°C. Contamination presents a different problem. Dust or moisture reaching the resistive track and wiper can affect electrical contact and long-term performance, making sealing and housing construction important selection criteria. Instead of treating environmental specifications as a final qualification check, they should be part of initial component selection alongside the electrical requirements. 6. Treat Mechanical Integration as Part of the Electrical Design A potentiometer may satisfy the electrical requirements and still create integration problems if the mechanical interface is considered too late. Shaft diameter and length, bushing dimensions, mounting method, rotational travel, available panel depth and termination style all constrain the design. Electrical and mechanical travel also need to be distinguished. The full physical rotation of the shaft is not necessarily the portion over which the specified electrical transfer characteristic applies. The P260/P261 Series, for example, specifies a nominal electrical travel of 265°, while the 6180 precision series specifies nominal actual electrical travel of 340° in its standard configuration. The required taper is another application-dependent choice. A linear taper is appropriate where resistance or output voltage should vary approximately in proportion to position. Other response characteristics are useful where the required output is intentionally non-linear. The P260/P261 family, for example, is offered with both linear and audio taper options. Mechanical configuration can also affect assembly complexity. The same P260/P261 platform supports PCB pins, solder lugs, wire leads, ribbon cable, detents, rotary switches and multiple-gang configurations. Selecting the appropriate interface at component level can remove the need for additional mechanical or wiring components elsewhere in the assembly. Where a standard configuration does not fit, shaft geometry, electrical characteristics, terminations and other parameters may also be candidates for customisation. A Practical Selection Check Before releasing a potentiometer into a design, it is useful to be able to answer six questions: Design Question Parameter to Check What is the potentiometer doing? Adjustment, calibration or position feedback. How accurately must position or adjustment be represented? Independent linearity, output smoothness/CRV, repeatability, electrical travel. How often will it move? Rated cycle life, torque and duty cycle. What electrical stress will it see? Resistance, power rating, maximum voltage and derating. Where will it operate? Temperature, sealing, shock, vibration and contamination How will it fit into the equipment? Shaft, bushing, mounting, terminations, taper, gangs and available space These questions narrow the available choices much more effectively than resistance value alone. Bringing the Design Together There is no single specification that determines whether a potentiometer is right for an application. A conductive-plastic device is not automatically preferable to a wirewound device, just as tighter resistance tolerance does not automatically produce more accurate position feedback. The correct choice depends on what the component is being asked to do. BI Technologies portfolio includes panel and precision potentiometers as well as trimmers across conductive-plastic, wirewound, carbon and cermet technologies. The range covers applications from operator adjustment and PCB calibration to precision position feedback, with multiple mechanical configurations and custom options available for OEM designs. When specifying a potentiometer, begin with function, accuracy, duty cycle and operating environment. Once those requirements are defined, resistance value becomes one part of a much clearer engineering decision. Explore the TT Electronics BI Technologies potentiometer portfolio to compare product options and technical data, or discuss the electrical and mechanical requirements of your application with a Newark, Farnell or element14 representative. Contributing Authors: Adam Royles, Bryan Snider, Avery Harrel, Mario Mejorada & William WalshRotational LifeOutput Smoothnessdesign engineeringCermet TrimmersTT Electronics.Carbon PotentiometersMechanical IntegrationPosition sensingCalibration ControlsConductive Plastic Potentiometerspotentiometersbi technologiesPotentiometer SelectionPrecision PotentiometersTrimmer Potentiometersindustrial automationCycle LifeIndependent LinearityRotary Potentiometerselectronic componentsWirewound PotentiometersMeasurement & ControlPosition FeedbackContact Resistance Variation (CRV)https://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/eao/b/blog/posts/series-82-expanded-with-new-illuminated-selector-switchesThu, 03 Sep 2026 14:35:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:bc5f9166-43e9-4e95-89aa-eda21f67df2fJWK-EAOSome applications expose actuators to harsh operating conditions, such as in the food industry, where alkaline cleaning agents and corrosion have a massive impact on HMIs. EAO, the expert partner for Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs), has expanded its range of vandal-proof Series 82 products. The Series now includes ergonomic illuminated selector switches. The Series 82 illuminated selector switch fits seamlessly into the modern design of its series with its high-quality stainless steel housing and is built for strength and enduring durability. Its corrosion resistance and high protection degree make it ideal for use in demanding and harsh environments.https://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/tt-electronics/b/blog/posts/industrial-automation-robotics-componentsWed, 19 Aug 2026 15:16:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:31795f94-dfe3-4340-ac84-67be78928194william.walshEngineered to Keep Industry Moving Industrial Automation & Robotics Components Precision Resistors, Potentiometers & Trimmers Industrial automation and robotics applications require components that deliver precision, reliability and long-term performance in demanding operating environments. Bringing together the trusted Welwyn, IRC and BI Technologies brands, TT Electronics' passive components portfolio provides precision resistors, current sensing solutions, potentiometers, trimmers and encoders engineered to help designers reduce risk, improve system performance and enable reliable operation. Featured Component Products HVC Series High Voltage Chip Resistors Designed for high-voltage monitoring, feedback and control circuits, Welwyn high-voltage chip resistors offer continuous working voltages up to 3 kV (4 kV overload) and resistance values up to 1 GΩ. ACCESS DATASHEETS OARS-XP Series Current Sense Resistors IRC current sense resistors deliver accurate current measurement for motor drives, actuators and servo systems, with resistance values down to 0.2 mΩ and excellent pulse and surge tolerance. ACCESS DATASHEETS 8140 Series Servo Mount Potentiometers BI Technologies servo mount potentiometers provide precise position sensing and feedback for servo systems and motion control applications, with servo mount configurations and independent linearity to ±0.25%. ACCESS DATASHEETS EN Series Encoders BI Technologies encoders deliver reliable rotational position feedback for servo systems, motor control, robotics and industrial automation, using contacting incremental encoding with resolutions of up to 24 PPR. ACCESS DATASHEETSresistorstt electronicshttps://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/teconnectivity/b/blog/posts/new-from-te-connectivity-eeprom-embedded-smart-connectorMon, 17 Aug 2026 08:11:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:7a23624a-7463-41d9-a26e-4f0ca2bc37e2S_1234Are you looking to simplify product configuration, reduce design complexity, and add intelligence directly into your system architecture? Introducing TE's latest EEPROM Embedded Smart Connector , which integrates memory intelligence directly into a connector based on the versatile Economy Power 2.5 platform . The solution is designed to help manage increasing product variation while simplifying production, maintenance, and service processes. Key highlights include: Integrated EEPROM memory for storing and retrieving operating and user-related data locally. ⚡ Automatic model recognition to help streamline production and reduce manual setup requirements. Reduced design complexity and inventory variation , helping lower overall system costs. Improved serviceability , allowing technicians to quickly access stored information for faster diagnostics and repairs. Compact PCB-mounted design that saves board space while supporting long-term durability and easy component replacement. The connector is suitable for a range of applications, including consumer electronics, appliances, batteries, medical products, and cable assembly solutions. Why check it out? As devices become more connected and configurable, manufacturers need smarter ways to manage product data and platform variations. This connector shows how embedded intelligence can be integrated directly into the interconnect itself, helping improve manufacturing efficiency, reduce hardware complexity, and enhance serviceability, all without requiring a separate memory board. Jump in Whether you're developing next-generation appliances, consumer electronics, medical devices, or connected products, this guide provides a great introduction to a connector solution that does more than simply make a connection. Explore the guide to learn how TE's EEPROM Embedded Smart Connector can help simplify system design while adding valuable intelligence to your platform. community.element14.com/.../ENG_5F00_DS_5F00_eeprom_2D00_embedded_2D00_smart_2D00_connector_2D00_flyer_5F00_2606-_2800_1_2900_.pdfconnectorsNew Product Introductionsconnectivityte_connectivityconsumer_electronicshttps://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/ni/m/managed-videos/151582Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:39:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:de0bf8db-363c-40a5-9616-c1594b673b57anthonyd3663https://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/ni/b/blog/posts/what-is-button-debouncingThu, 13 Aug 2026 16:22:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:4a1be0f8-4e02-4c38-8c9b-3d722f5dc5aeanthonyd3663Check out the following video if you're interested in how button debouncing functions. community.element14.com/.../AD3-mioDAQ-Button-Debouncing-v2.movhttps://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/ni/m/managed-videos/151556Wed, 05 Aug 2026 23:36:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:b7ce4601-0bd0-44f0-b173-cfe91312d9a7anthonyd3663A look at this short guide for using FlexLoggerhttps://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/ni/f/forum/57155/flexlogger-and-miodaq-shortWed, 05 Aug 2026 21:13:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:f6e999f8-a557-43cc-86f5-025f48177cd6anthonyd3663Take a look at this short guide for using FlexLogger to get the input from a button! players.brightcove.net/.../index.htmlhttps://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/ni/m/managed-videos/151546Thu, 30 Jul 2026 21:57:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:89d89464-4c03-4c65-a298-29df86d416c6m.arguellohttps://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/ni/b/blog/posts/precise-automated-biosensor-measurements-with-ni-compactrio-and-labviewThu, 30 Jul 2026 21:54:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:b06112f4-b46b-49ad-85b3-e4fbcd29d344m.arguelloCollect and analyze EKG, EMG, thermal, motion, and other biosensor data in real time using NI CompactRIO and LabVIEW. This demo showcases how a single platform can bring together Diverse biosensor inputs Real-time processing and FPGA technology AI/ML workflows to transform raw measurements into actionable insights. Discover how a scalable, adaptable architecture can help you accelerate prototyping, simplify system design, and reduce development risk throughout the product development lifecycle. community.element14.com/.../Biosense-Demo-v3-1.mp4LabVIEW+ Suitelifesciencesnidesign validationemersonNigel AInational instrumentstest and measurementmedtechautomated testcompactriolabviewautomated testingsoftwarehttps://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/ni/m/managed-videos/151533Mon, 27 Jul 2026 19:55:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:5141486e-7206-4cc7-819d-58a610728fd7timifolayanhttps://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/ni/b/blog/posts/how-to-turn-a-button-on-with-python-and-miodaq-677336834Mon, 27 Jul 2026 19:53:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:f90fab4a-7069-409b-bbfb-bc90f2b8227ctimifolayanHello, my name is Timi Folayan and I am a SDE intern here at NI. I've noticed most of the community's DAQ content assumes you're using LabVIEW, which makes sense - it's the flagship tool. But I come from a software engineering background, and I wanted to see how far I could get controlling a mioDAQ using nothing but Python and the official nidaqmx-python API. This is the first post in a short series where I'll build up complexity one step at a time: this post just turns an LED on, the next will read a button press, and eventually I'll combine input and output into something interactive. Starting simple on purpose - if you're newer to hardware, this is meant to be a post you can follow along with on your own bench. What you'll need NI mioDAQ Breadboard 1x illuminated pushbutton (red) 1x 10k Ω resistor Jumper wires Python 3.8+ with nidaqmx installed ( pip install nidaqmx ) and the NI-DAQmx driver installed *A note on scope* This post only turns the pushbutton's built-in LED on - it doesn't read the button press yet. I'm keeping input and output separate for now so each post in the series stays focused on one concept at a time. Wiring it up The LED lead from the pushbutton connects to P0.0 through a 10kΩ current-limiting resistor. The other LED lead ties into the mioDAQ's DGND . That's it for this post - the switch contacts on the pushbutton aren't wired yet. Two ways to write to an mioDAQ: analog vs. digital The nidaqmx-python examples repo includes both analog and digital output patterns. Since a pushbutton LED is a simple on/off device, digital output is the right fit here — but it's worth seeing the analog version too, since it's the same basic task/channel pattern applied to a continuous voltage instead of a binary line. Analog output writes a specific voltage value (here, 10.0 V) to an analog channel - useful for things like driving a motor speed or simulating a sensor signal, where you need more than just on/off. The digital output code (what I'm actually using) Demo Video: community.element14.com/.../MicrosoftTeams_2D00_video.mp4 Reference The examples I started from are in the official nidaqmx-python repo: github.com/ni/nidaqmx-python - worth a look if you want to see the full range of what the API covers beyond digital and analog output. Up next Post 2 in this series will read the pushbutton's actual switch state as a digital input - the first step toward making this interactive instead of just scripted.https://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/rohde-schwarz/f/forum/57101/access-to-r-s-firmware-updates/236497Thu, 23 Jul 2026 01:05:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:f454658d-c89a-4e34-a9ff-3a2899de30f3shabazBeing a customer isn't a requirement, all that's required is a corporate email and corporate website URL. Once approved, that then enables downloads for almost any R&S product (even for businesses that have purchased nothing from them).https://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/rohde-schwarz/f/forum/57101/access-to-r-s-firmware-updates/236496Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:56:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:55e9ef9d-3166-4dba-8628-108b0c0dc050neuromodulatorYeah, I might try that, but I wonder if they'll bother, considering I'm not their client.https://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/rohde-schwarz/f/forum/57101/access-to-r-s-firmware-updates/236495Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:47:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:daa6d2b6-fac4-4aa4-973b-9b33a2a6a925neuromodulatorContacted Avnet and they tell me that I should contact Element14 instead. Who is in charge of roadtests now?https://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/rohde-schwarz/f/forum/57101/access-to-r-s-firmware-updates/236492Wed, 22 Jul 2026 20:43:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:e2ded5d8-1613-4cf1-af69-3675deca4893Obar94I purchased an FSH4 many years ago. I was told recently that technical support is now only available to business customers, which reduces the benefit from registering on-line using a non-personal email address. Perhaps a knowledgeable calibration lab that also sells R&H equipment would be a good resource in order to obtain technical support.