Trimmer potentiometers and their application
5 October 2005
Passive Components
Information from Avnet Kopp
The applications of trimmer potentiometers are roughly divided into the following two categories: voltage division adjustment - where a certain voltage is obtained from the ratio of the resistance; current adjustment - where a current value is determined from the magnitude of resistance.
Resistive elements are available in two types: carbon and cermet (ceramic-metal):
* With the carbon resistive element type, the long-term change of the resistance as a result of exposure to high temperature or humidity is rather great. However, since the resistance changes uniformly throughout the entire resistor, the ratio of the resistance (resistance setting stability, or RSS) barely changes. Therefore, this type is generally used for voltage division adjustment. However, when the total resistance change (fluctuation TR) is within the circuit tolerance, this type may also be used for current adjustment application.
* With the cermet resistive element type, the long-term change of the resistance as a result of exposure to high temperature or humidity is small. Therefore, this type is used both for voltage division adjustment and current adjustment.
Murata has available the PVZ3 Series carbon resistive element trimmer potentiometers and PVA3 Series cermet resistive element trimmer potentiometers. Environmental test graphs showing the change in resistance over time (1000 hrs) are available from the distributor to aid the design choice.
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