A pot is a manually adjustable variable resistor with three terminals, typically featuring a rotary knob or linear slider. Technicians and engineers use this clipped term universally on the bench when referring to volume controls, trim adjustments, or user-interface dials. Depending on how it is wired, it acts as either a voltage divider or a simple rheostat.
Just tweak that trim pot on the power supply until you get exactly 5 volts on the output.
Also heard as
- potentiometer
- trimpot
Related terms
Potentiometer
A three-terminal variable resistor used to manually adjust voltage or resistance in a circuit.
Trimpot
A small, adjustable resistor used for fine-tuning a circuit during manufacturing or calibration.
Rheostat
A two-terminal variable resistor used to control current flow in a circuit.
Resistor
A passive two-terminal component used to limit current flow, divide voltages, or terminate transmission lines.