Radios and Stereo Equipment

• A common use of potentiometers is in volume knobs. When a person hears his favorite song and wants to "turn it up," the rotary potentiometer is employed. Treble and bass controls also utilize pots.
  
  

The Dimmer Switch

• Behind the dimmer switch stands the potentiometer. The standard knob control adjusts the voltage entering the bulb, resulting in an increase or decrease of radiance. This method proved inefficient by today's energy standards, and newer models include electronics to rapidly switch lights on and off -- up to 120 per second -- rather than use potentiometers.
  
  

Recording Studios

• Legendary music producer Tom Dowd made sliding potentiometers famous by using them to increase and decrease volume on a mixing board. Musicians and producers alike recognize the "fader" as an indispensable tool. Some dimmer switches also use a sliding pot rather than a knob.
  
  

Televisions

• Television sets, especially older models, rely on potentiometers for switching on and off. The same pot controls the volume as well. Brightness and contrast controls also draw on the potentiometer's function.
  
  

Countless Uses

• If a knob gets turned, then chances are good a potentiometer is working hard behind the scenes regulating voltage or current levels. From toasters to thermostats, pots allow people to control their daily lives.