Society of Robots - Robot Forum

General Misc => Misc => Topic started by: rockrobotics on March 11, 2010, 10:05:30 AM

Title: VERY SIMPLE QUESTION!
Post by: rockrobotics 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
Title: Re: VERY SIMPLE QUESTION!
Post by: dellagd on March 11, 2010, 08:59:30 PM
this diagram explains it well
(http://interactiondesign.sva.edu/classes/physicalcomputing/files/potentiometer_diagram.jpg)
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.
Title: Re: VERY SIMPLE QUESTION!
Post by: rockrobotics on March 12, 2010, 04:01:25 PM
Got it fobey joebey!
Title: Re: VERY SIMPLE QUESTION!
Post by: Pratheek on March 14, 2010, 03:28:42 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.