Potentiometers and potentiometric position sensors · Resistive element (cermet, conductive plastic, wirewound), resistance and taper, electrical and mechanical travel, power rating, linearity and contact resistance variation, life, sealing and torque
A potentiometer is a variable resistor whose wiper moves along a resistive track, so its output voltage tracks the position of a knob, lever, joystick or shaft; potentiometric position sensors use the same principle to measure linear or rotary displacement. Settle three things before choosing one: the resistive element, travel and output the control needs, the resistance, taper, power and accuracy figures, and the life, sealing, torque and mounting for where it will be used.
Panel and trimmer potentiometers, rheostats and potentiometric (contacting) linear and rotary position sensors, with non-contact Hall-effect position sensors noted where suppliers offer them. Encoders, LVDTs, magnetostrictive sensors as a separate technology and automotive replacement sensors are outside this page except where compared.
01
Vishay's PRV6 datasheet describes a fully sealed potentiometer in cermet (PRV6S/B) or conductive plastic (PRV6A/C), tested to CECC 41000 or IEC 60393-1 and compatible with RV6 (MIL-R-94): electrical travel 270° ±15° and mechanical travel 300° ±5°; linear-taper resistance 20 Ω–10 MΩ (cermet) or 1 kΩ–1 MΩ (conductive plastic), with logarithmic and reverse-logarithmic tapers; ±20% standard tolerance with ±10% or ±5% on request; and temperature coefficients of ±150 ppm/°C (cermet) and ±500 ppm/°C (conductive plastic). [1]
Novotechnik describes conductive-plastic resistance and collector tracks as the basis of its potentiometric position sensors, giving direct, absolute measurement of displacement or length, in rod, side-actuated, spring-return and in-cylinder linear types and shaft, hollow-shaft, multi-turn and open rotary types. [2]
Editorial calculation: with 5 V across a 270° electrical track, the wiper changes by about 5 ÷ 270 ≈ 18.5 mV per degree. [1]
Give the supplier the application (panel control, joystick, lever, position sensing), linear or rotary, electrical and mechanical travel, resistance and tolerance, taper, linearity, power, supply voltage, output smoothness or CRV, life in cycles, torque, shaft and bushing, sealing (IP), operating temperature, connections and quantity.
02
The PRV6 lists power ratings at 70 °C of 1.5 W (cermet, linear) and 0.75 W (conductive plastic, linear), limiting element voltage 350 V, contact resistance variation 2% or 3 Ω, end resistance about 1 Ω, dielectric strength 1,750 V RMS, insulation resistance of 10⁶ MΩ at 500 V DC, mechanical endurance of 50,000 cycles, IP67 sealing, operating torque of 0.5–2 N·cm, end-stop torque up to 35 N·cm and nut tightening torque up to 150 N·cm. [1]
Editorial calculation: for a 10 kΩ cermet element at 1.5 W, the voltage that reaches rated power is √(1.5 × 10,000) ≈ 122 V, below the 350 V limiting element voltage; at 5–24 V sensor supply levels, dissipation is far below rating. [1]
Editorial note: compare cermet and conductive-plastic versions on power rating, temperature coefficient, contact resistance variation and life using the maker's data for the exact part. [1] [2]
03
Sichuan Qixing's listing is cermet trimmer potentiometers and Shenzhen Zenithsun's is wirewound rheostats and potentiometers; Shanghai Ziasiot lists linear position sensors, and OTV Sensing's are Hall-effect non-contact types rather than potentiometric ones.
The listings reviewed cover cermet trimmer potentiometers, wirewound rheostats and potentiometers, linear position sensors and Hall-effect position sensors. Ask each for the datasheet with resistance, tolerance, linearity, power, life and sealing data. [3] [4] [5]
04
05
Every published value in this table is from one part, Vishay's PRV6, so treat them as a reference point and ask other makers for the same set; independent linearity and weight are not given for it. [1]
| Field | What it means and published values | Ask the supplier for |
|---|---|---|
| Resistance Range | 20 Ω–10 MΩ (cermet); 1 kΩ–1 MΩ (plastic). [1] | Ω. |
| Resistance Tolerance | ±20% (±10%, ±5% on request). [1] | %. |
| Linearity | Independent linearity. | %. |
| Mechanical Rotation Angle | 300° ±5°. [1] | °. |
| Electrical Rotation Angle | 270° ±15°. [1] | °. |
| Rated Power | 1.5 W / 0.75 W at 70 °C. [1] | W. |
| Operating Temperature Range | Derates above 70 °C. [1] | °C. |
| IP Rating | IP67. [1] | IP code. |
| Mechanical Life | 50,000 cycles. [1] | Cycles. |
| Insulation Resistance | 10⁶ MΩ at 500 V DC. [1] | MΩ. |
| Dielectric Strength | 1,750 V RMS. [1] | V. |
| Output Smoothness | CRV 2% or 3 Ω. [1] | %. |
| Torque | 0.5–2 N·cm operating. [1] | N·cm. |
| Weight | Device mass. | g. |
06
Paste it into your enquiry below or into an email to a maker, then replace every bracket.
Use: [panel; joystick; lever; position] Motion: [rotary °; linear mm] Element: [cermet; plastic; wirewound] Resistance: [Ω; tolerance; taper] Accuracy: [linearity; CRV] Life/torque: [cycles; N·cm] Environment: [IP; °C] Quantity: [units]
Sichuan Qixing lists cermet trimmer potentiometers; Shenzhen Zenithsun lists wirewound rheostats and potentiometers; Shanghai Ziasiot and OTV Sensing list position sensors.
Lists cermet trimmer potentiometers and wirewound resistors.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
Lists wirewound rheostats and potentiometers.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
Lists linear position sensors.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
Lists Hall-effect non-contact position sensors.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
Explore company information and manufacturing capabilities, then discuss the scope of your project with a relevant supplier.
In Vishay's PRV6, cermet gives 20 Ω–10 MΩ at 1.5 W with ±150 ppm/°C; conductive plastic gives 1 kΩ–1 MΩ at 0.75 W with ±500 ppm/°C. [1]
Vishay rates the PRV6 for 50,000 cycles of mechanical endurance. [1]
Yes; the PRV6 is fully sealed to IP67. [1]
Novotechnik uses conductive-plastic resistance and collector tracks for direct, absolute measurement of displacement. [2]
Sources checked 2026-10-11. Vishay's PRV6 datasheet and Novotechnik's potentiometric technology page are used for specifications; Qixing, Zenithsun, Ziasiot and OTV are linked suppliers; ORR Sensor's product page is cited only as a position-sensor listing.
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