Author Topic: VERY SIMPLE QUESTION!  (Read 2009 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline rockroboticsTopic starter

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 46
  • Helpful? 0
VERY SIMPLE QUESTION!
« on: March 11, 2010, 10:05:30 AM »
Hi,

I'm very new to electronics and to robots and I want to know
how you connect the three pins on a potentiometer!  I know this is really simple to you experts, but please explain it to me.  I don't get why it has three pins!  Please help.

Thanks,

Newbe
Logged
Rock Robotics

Technology of the Future!

Offline dellagd

  • Contest Winner
  • Supreme Robot
  • ****
  • Posts: 731
  • Helpful? 5
  • Come to the dark side... We have cookies!
    • Exodus Rocketry
Re: VERY SIMPLE QUESTION!
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2010, 08:59:30 PM »
this diagram explains it well

just attach your wires to the first and second pin and then there you go! a variable resister.

Now for explaining:
there are three pins so you could mount your potentiometer in a certain orentation and select if you want it to have the most resistance in the far-most left position or the least resistance :)

just for future reference I just googled "potentiometer diagram" and it was on the 1st page
as this would be easier than waiting for us to respond.
Logged
Innovation is a product of Failure, which leads to Success.

If I helped, +1 helpful pls

I Won!
3rd place! I'm taking $100

Offline rockroboticsTopic starter

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 46
  • Helpful? 0
Re: VERY SIMPLE QUESTION!
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2010, 04:01:25 PM »
Got it fobey joebey!
Logged
Rock Robotics

Technology of the Future!

Offline Pratheek

  • Contest Winner
  • Robot Overlord
  • ****
  • Posts: 125
  • Helpful? 3
    • Probots
Re: VERY SIMPLE QUESTION!
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2010, 03:28:42 AM »
Quote from: rockrobotics on March 11, 2010, 10:05:30 AM
how you connect the three pins on a potentiometer! 

That actually depends on what you want the potentiometer to do.

If you want to use it like a variable resistor, then follow what dellagd said.

If you want to produce a variable voltage using a potentiometer, then connect the outer two pins to power(Vcc and Gnd) and you will get the output voltage at the center pin, which can be varied by turning the potentiometer's knob.
Logged