ST42ETA201

Trimmer Potentiometers

A trimmer potentiometer is a form of variable resistor consisting of a mechanical crank or dial, and a resistive track. It is designed to decrease the amount of electrical current that passes through an electronic circuit. An external shaft is attached to the body of the potentiometer.This helps in changing the position of the resistive element, and also in setting the output voltage.

ST42ET201 Application Field and Working Principle

The ST42ET201 is a type of tiny trimmer potentiometer optimized for high reliability and wear resistance. It requires minimal physical space due to its “lollipop” design. This potentiometer features a single-turn adjustment knob with a range of 1/4 inch (6.35mm). It provides manual control of resistance ranging from 0 ohms to 500k ohm.

The ST42ET201 features a wide range of application areas, including low-voltage LED lighting systems, electronic meters, automotive instruments, remote dead-man switching, battery drain protection circuits, and video and audio systems.

The working principle of the ST42ET201 trimmer potentiometer is very simple. Its active element is a resistor whose resistance can be adjusted by rotating the adjustment knob. When operating, an external voltage is applied to the two terminals of the trimmer, resulting in a linear current flow across the resistor. The current changes its magnitude according to the position of the adjustment knob.

This allows the user to vary the voltage across the output terminals of the trimmer. By adjusting the knob, the resistance across the resistor can be varied. Therefore, the current and the voltage flowing through the circuit can be controlled.

The ST42ET201 trimmer potentiometer is very easy to use, with no complicated electrical or electronic components. It also offers a high degree of flexibility due to its wide range of operating temperatures and its wide resistance range.