All You Need to Know About Rheostat

Rheostats are components that easily vary resistance in a circuit. Rheostat was named by Sir Charles Wheatstone and is derived from Greek language in which rheo means stream and stat means a cause. The very basic designs originated by Charles Wheatstone are still used and available in classes to know more about the designing process and its uses.

Rheostat is the old name of potentiometers. Rheostats are two terminal variable resistors. Rheostats can be used for both low and high power but they have to be different in its specification. For high power resistance, it is required to manufacture with a resistance wire around round shaped insulator. Often a rheostat is manufactured with wire wound. Rheostats are required in both long and shortflow of current. When the distance is less there is less resistance which means there is more current flow through the circuit.

The sliders are made from small fingers that are made up of metals and holds lightly on small parts of the edges of resistance wire. These fingers help in moving coil of resistance wire. DC motors often needs power up 1000 watts these wire wounded rheostats are used to help in doing this process. Rheostats assist in changing specifications of generator and also enable to control. These rheostats also help in controlling volumes in stereos. Rheostats or potentiometers are basically manufactured by big companies in bulk but due to its easy design and less amount of investment needed they are manufactured locally also.