Multi-Turn Wirewound Potentiometers

A 3-wire potentiometer has two end terminals and one wiper terminal. Connect one end terminal to your reference voltage, the other end terminal to ground, and the wiper terminal to your signal input. For motorized potentiometers from On Line Controls, additional motor leads (red and black) power the drive motor independently. Wiring diagrams are available upon request from our technical support team.

A single-turn potentiometer completes its full resistance range within one 270–300° rotation, making it suitable for coarse adjustments. A multi-turn potentiometer — such as the 10-turn wirewound models from On Line Controls — spreads the same resistance range across 10 full rotations, providing significantly finer resolution, greater precision, and higher repeatability. This makes multi-turn types ideal for industrial automation, process control, and feedback systems.

On Line Controls' multi-turn wirewound potentiometers are available with resistance ranges spanning from 10 ohm up to 100K ohm. Specific models offer ranges such as 100 ohm to 100K, and dual or triple gang configurations with matched values like 1K/1K, 2K/2K, 5K/5K, and 5K/10K, giving engineers flexible options for diverse control applications.

On Line Controls' motorized potentiometers are available in both AC and DC motor configurations. DC models operate at 6 VDC, 12 VDC, or 24 VDC, with RPM options ranging from 1 to 120 RPM. AC models use reversible 115 VAC motors with RPM options from 1 to 15 RPM, providing broad compatibility with existing control system requirements.

On Line Controls' multi-turn wirewound potentiometers are available in 2-watt and 5-watt power ratings. The 2W models cover the majority of standard industrial automation and process control applications, while the 5W models are suited for higher-power requirements where greater energy dissipation is needed. All models span resistance ranges from 100 ohm to 100K (or 10 ohm to 100K on select 5W units).

On Line Controls offers single, dual, and triple gang configurations. A single gang unit controls one resistance element, while dual gang models provide two simultaneous, matched resistance outputs — useful for applications requiring coordinated control signals. Triple gang configurations offer three simultaneous outputs and are specifically designed for closed-loop feedback systems where both a control signal and one or more position feedback signals must be driven by the same shaft simultaneously.

On Line Controls' multi-turn wirewound potentiometers include several protective features engineered for continuous industrial duty. A factory-set slip clutch protects the potentiometer's end stops and prevents gear train breakage when the shaft reaches its travel limits. Select models also feature snap-action end-of-travel switches, dynamic braking diodes, and starting capacitors. Housings are available in high-temperature thermoplastic or rugged open-frame cage designs. Life expectancy ranges from 1 million to 2 million turns depending on the model, and all units are backed by a 3-year warranty on parts and labor.