Three Ways of Connecting Potentiometer in Circuits with Circuit Diagram

          Connecting potentiometers in circuit is always a confusing task to many electronic beginners. Potentiometers are unavoidable in circuits such as audio controls where adjustment of resistance is needed. Potentiometers can be connected in three ways in a circuit. One is to get maximum resistance and the others are to get a variable resistance from zero to maximum.

          Circuit to get variable resistance from zero to maximum value is given below. In this circuit, connections are taken across the middle terminal and one end terminal of the potentiometer. When the sliding contact is rotated in one direction, resistance will increase from zero to maximum.

          Another circuit to get variable resistance from zero to maximum value is given below. In this circuit, connections are taken across the middle terminal and end terminal opposite to the end terminal connected in the above circuit. When the sliding contact is rotated in the opposite direction, resistance will increase from zero to maximum. This change in resistance will change the brightness of LED.

          Next is the circuit to get maximum resistance across the potentiometer. If connections are taken across the end terminals of potentiometer, circuit will have maximum resistance.