Potentiometer
A knob that varies resistance — read its position as an analog input.
How it works
A potentiometer ('pot') is a 3-terminal variable resistor. The two outer pins connect across a fixed resistance; the middle pin (the wiper) taps off a point along it. Wire the outers to power and ground and the wiper gives you a voltage that swings from 0 V to VCC as you turn the knob — a built-in voltage divider.
Read the wiper with an analog input. On an Arduino Uno analogRead() returns 0–1023 across that range, which you can map() to whatever you need (LED brightness, motor speed, a menu index).
Pins
- Outer 1
- To VCC (e.g. 5V).
- Wiper (middle)
- To an analog input pin (e.g. A0).
- Outer 2
- To GND.
Ratings
- Common value
- 10 kΩ linear
- Reading (Uno)
- analogRead → 0–1023
Tips
- Wiper to A0; outers to 5V and GND.
- If the knob feels backwards, swap the two outer pins.