9 best rheostats

A rheostat is an electrical component commonly used to control the speed or intensity of devices such as fireplace fans, particularly in the context of heating and cooling systems, as well as stove and fireplace accessories within a home or kitchen environment.

Here are the key points about rheostats:

  1. Functionality:

    • A rheostat is a variable resistor that adjusts the flow of electric current in a circuit. It's designed to regulate the amount of power that reaches a device like a fireplace fan or stove accessory.

  2. Construction:

    • Rheostats are typically made of a resistive wire wound into a coil. The coil is connected to a movable wiper (slider) that can be moved along the length of the coil to change the resistance.

  3. Working Principle:

    • When the wiper is moved to one end of the coil, the resistance is at its maximum, limiting the current and reducing the device's speed or intensity. Moving the wiper towards the other end decreases the resistance, allowing more current to flow and increasing the device's speed or intensity.

  4. Application in Fireplace Fans and Stove Accessories:

    • In the context of fireplace fans and stove accessories, a rheostat is used to control the fan's speed or the heat output of the stove. This allows for better control of the heating and airflow in a room.

  5. Safety and Efficiency:

    • Using a rheostat with fireplace fans or stove accessories is an effective way to optimize the heating process, ensuring a comfortable and safe environment within the home. It allows for fine-tuned adjustments based on heating needs.

  6. Installation and Integration:

    • Rheostats are integrated into the electrical circuit of the fireplace fan or stove accessory, usually through wiring connections. The user can adjust the device's settings by moving the wiper along the coil.

Overall, rheostats are valuable components in managing heating and airflow in fireplace fans, stove accessories, and other devices related to heating and cooling, enhancing the functionality and efficiency of these appliances in home and kitchen settings.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best rheostats on the market
  

Rheostat Variable Speed Control for Gas Fireplace Fan, Fan Kit, Wood Stove Fan, Fan Controller for Various Fireplace Blower Kits

Bigbox

Based on 71 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Replacement fan controller for fireplace blower kit applications. Allows for full range RPM setting of the blower and includes an ON/OFF position. This type of rheostat is used in several of our blower kits and is typically mounted below the fireplace using the included double-side tape.

  • ★ Complete Kit - Includes rheostat, locking nut, knob, double-sided tape and male fast on connectors.
  • ★ Universal Fit - Replacement rheostat variable speed controller used in various fireplace blower kit applications, wood stoves, fans, blowers.
  • ★ Adjustable Fan Speeds - The blower speed is manually controlled by rotating the speed control knob until the desired speed is achieved. When turned on the first setting will be LOW. HIGH setting may be obtained by obtained by rotating the speed control knob clockwise.
  • ★ Reduces Fan Noise - You can adjust the speed to where the air movement/noise is right for you.
  • ★ Technical Details - Volts 120, Frequency (hertz) 60, MAX Consumption (watts) 300, Rheostat UL Approved. Wires measure 9" long (can be cut and peeled off). D-Shaped Stem measures 1/4"

TerraBloom Fan Speed Controller For Booster Inline Exhaust and Duct Fans. Blower Airflow and Motor Speed Adjuster. Rated For Up To 350W. Continuous Dial Rheostat Control

TerraBloom

Based on 247 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Does your fan has built-in speed settings? If yes, then DON'T buy this product, it won't work with your fan. If your fan doesn't have speed settings, then this product IS for you and will allow you to control the speed of your fan. TerraBloom Variable Fan Speed Controller allows you to control the speed of fans built with a Brushed Motor, which don't come with built in speed settings. This fan motor speed controller will help you to reduce the noise from your intake booster fans, duct fans, exhaust fans, centrifugal fans, etc. Depending on the type of the motor used, this speed controller will be effective in decreasing the max output CFM of your fan by 20-50%. Reduced airflow equals less noise and more privacy in your grow room. Your fan's adjustable range could be determined by rotating the knob of TerraBloom Variable Speed Controller from the HIGH setting towards LOW setting until you start hearing fan's motor hum. Do not decrease the operating speed of your fan past the "hum" point. TerraBloom Variable Fan Speed Controller is not suitable for Non-Brushed motor fans, as well as fans with built-in speed controllers. All units are covered by 1 Year Manufacturers Warranty that can be claimed by contacting us.

  • SPEED CONTROLLER FOR BOOSTER FANS: Designed and Tested to Work with TerraBloom Booster Fans. This Speed Controller will allow you to slow down your 6", 8" or 10" booster fans by 25-40% percent from Max Speed. 4" Booster Fans are very quiet even at Max Speed, this controller will only let you slow it down by only 10-15% due to low powered nature of its motor.
  • CHECK FOR COMPATIBILITY: This Fan Speed Controller won't work with Box Fans or Any Fans which have a built-in speed controller or speed settings. Mixing two speed controllers on one fan causes compatibility issues. Use with fans not manufactured by TerraBloom or appliances other than fans is subject to compatibility, flawless performance not guaranteed in such applications.
  • NOTE ON "HUM" SOUND: If you slow down your fan too much, it'll start making "humming" noise, which signals that the motor is not getting enough power. Each Fan has a speed range that it can operate in, typically the more powerful the motor, the larger the speed range it will have until it starts to "hum". Slowly turn the knob the Highest point to gauge the range of your fan's motor, its lowest safe speed is right before motor starts to "hum".
  • KEY STATS: Current Capacity: 3.5A, Voltage Capacity: 120V, Rated for up to: 350W. Durable 3-Pole Grounded Plug Construction, No Extra Wires To Deal With. This speed controller's "High", "Med", "Low" marks are for reference purpose only. Some Fans have very little adjustability range due to their motors' constrains, such units can only be adjusted within "High" zone of the controller and will "hum" on Medium and Low settings
  • WARRANTY: We provide 1 year warranty on these variable fan speed controllers. You can exchange or return the item for any reason within 30 days from purchase date

User questions & answers

Question: My 20 inch box fans (holmes) run too fast and loud. can i use the controller as is, or do i need to bypass the 3 spead switch
Answer: This controller won't work with any fans that have built-in speed settings and in particular with Holmes box fans. The result will be undesirable squeaking and your fan will quit working from undue stress. You also won't be able to bypass the switch that is built into the motor of your fan.
Question: I have a Bionaire Durango wall evaprative cooler with 3 speeds. I need to slow the low speed down even more because it is still to fast
Answer: IF the Evap unit has ONLY a fan as its only electrical component, then you should be AOK. If it has any other components in it, I would worry about the pulsing power hurting them. I put this on a bounce house fan and it worked great.
Question: Will this control the speed/rpm of a bbq rotisserie motor? i need to increase it from ~15rpm to ~55rpm
Answer: This Variable Fan Speed Controller can only bring the speed of the motor down. It is not possible to increase the speed of the motor with this unit.
Question: can I use it to bring down speed of the aquarium power head
Answer: I don’t see why? I use it being down fan speed on my tent

Choice Rheostat Soldering Iron Temperature Controller

choice

Based on 103 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Choice rheostat soldering iron control. This device regulates the flow of current into your soldering iron to maintain consistent tip temperature as you solder. Max. 400w, 120vac. (Standard US 120 volt plug)

User questions & answers

Question: Is there a conversion table to show the temperature for each dial setting
Answer: This rheostat has a very narrow range because it's designed especially for soldering stained glass projects. When it is set on high, that's the maximum output for your iron. The temperature of your iron is controlled by the tip (aka known as the heater). This can not tell you what the temperature is (on the dial) because the temperature is not predictable from iron to iron or more specifically, tip to tip. Also, please note that this does not increase your household current, it can only decrease the current supplied to your iron. Hope this helps.
Question: Will this work with a wood burner for lowering the temp
Answer: It may depend on the burner. I use it with 2 soldering irons. I have an adjustable 60w and a non-adjustable 100W. With the 60W, I just set the iron at max, then use the dial on this rheostat to adjust it. I use it with these: Anbes 60w: https://www.amazon.com/ANBES-Soldering-Iron-Kit-Electronics/dp/B06XZ31W3M Choice 100w: https://www.amazon.com/Choice-CH-IRON-100W-soldering/dp/B00XK5RXKC I use both for electronics soldering for Radio Control vehicles. The battery packs use AWG10 wire and the lipo packs themselves use a high temp solder on wide tabs. The 60w won't touch the lipo tabs, but it works fine for 12AWG on up. The 100W with the dial at 7 works great for AWG10 and at 8 to take apart large lipo packs.
Question: Is this strong enough to control a hot plate
Answer: Find out what your watts are for your hot plate then compair.
Question: Will this lower the temperature on your soldering iron so it is not so hot
Answer: As far as I know, yes. You can set the temp on the rheostat. I usually set it somewhere between 5 and 6.

Mr. KAN SC08 Fireplace Stove Blower Fan Variable Rheostat Speed On /Off Switch Control, Fireplace Fan Speed Control

Mr. KAN

Based on 143 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Mr. KAN SC08 Fireplace Stove Blower Fan Variable Rheostat Speed On /Off Switch Control, Fireplace Fan Speed Control. Variable Speed Electric Motor Control for fireplace fan / fireplace blower kit. Included with Purchase: Rheostat variable speed control; Variable Speed Electric Motor Control. Applications: Fans, Blowers, Fireplace Blowers. Technical Details: Volts 120; Frequency (hertz) 60; MAX Consumption (watts) 300; Rheostat, UL Approved.

  • Mr. KAN SC08 Fireplace Stove Blower Fan Variable Rheostat Speed On /Off Switch Control, Fireplace Fan Speed Control
  • Includes speed control, knob, and male connecting terminals. Fits most pre-drilled OEM fireplace rheostat holes.
  • Wires measure 8" long (can be cut and peeled off). D-Shaped Stem measures 1/4"
  • Variable Speed Electric Motor Control for fireplace fan / fireplace blower kit; Eliminates noise and power consumption.
  • Technical Details: Volts 120; Frequency (hertz) 60; MAX Consumption (watts) 300; Rheostat, UL Approved. The adjust range of the fireplace fan speed controller is from 65% to 100%

User questions & answers

Question: Will this work on a 3hp D/C treadmill motor. Will it handle the power of a standard home outlet
Answer: No it won't handle a 3 hp motor, but it will handle 120 volt.
Question: Will it work for controlling the speed of a 24 volt 9amp go-kart
Answer: I hooked it up to a deep cycle marine battery to control a 12 volt fan and it did not work. I’ll had to get a different switch
Question: which lead is in and which is controlled out both are black and not marked
Answer: They are interchangeable, doesn’t matter which you hook up as long as you use the positive circuit
Question: How slow will this allow a motor to spin? Want to use it on a 1500 rpm .7 amp 115v heater blower motor
Answer: I’m not sure had it installed to replace the one that died. Ordered the same item number that came with fireplace, so far so good.

Real Genuine Ohmite 14 Ohm Rheostat Fits Miller Bobcat 225 225NT 250 250FE + More

Ohmite

Based on 12 reviews Check latest price

Product description

DOUBLE CHECK YOUR OHMS ON THE SIDE OF CERAMIC ON YOUR RHEOSTAT. There are two versions for the 250 NT, 10 ohm and 14 ohm, This one is 14 ohms. Ships from High Speed Engineering Dallas Oregon BRAND NEW! Miller Welder Rheostat, 150 Watt, 14 OHM, 207177 200657 233060 Bobcat 225 225NT 250 250FE 250NT Bobcat 3 phase.

User questions & answers

Question: will this fit the older miller 225g plus welder? old pn
Answer: Call john. 310 717 1514. He is the one who sells them. For sure he has what you need.

uxcell 25W 100 Ohm Round Ceramic Wirewound Potentiometer Resistor Rheostat

uxcell

Based on 6 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Control the electrical resistance of a circuit without interrupting the flow of current.

The rheostat is consisted of ceramic core and a resistive wire wrapped to form a toroid coil with a wiper.

Widely used in blenders, mixers, fans, power tools, educational modeling, load simulations, industrial machinery RPM adjustment, voltage and current adjustment, instruments, and automated control installations, etc.



User questions & answers

Question: Is it an on off switch too
Answer: It is not a on off switch. It's a rheostat it allows you to control the voltage to say a motor to very the speed.

Fielect Wirewound Ceramic Potentiometer Rheostat Variable Resistor with Knob 200W 1Pcs

Fielect

Based on 1 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Control the electrical resistance of a circuit without interrupting the flow of current.

Knurled shaft with split design for push-on knob.

The rheostat is consisted of ceramic core and a resistive wire wrapped to form a toroid coil with a wiper axle.

Can be used widely as light dimmers and motor speed control,is applicable for arc lamps,pumps,fans and blowers,model trains or other applications that require high voltage and current.

  • Model:Variable sliding potentiometer with knob,Shape:porcelain plate type.Resistance material:wire wound.
  • Resistance Value:20R Ohm,Power:200W,Tolerance:+/-5%.
  • Widely used in educational modeling,load simulations,industiral machinery RPM adjustment,voltage and current adjustment,instruments,and automated control installations.
  • Can be used widely as light dimmers and motor speed control,is applicable for arc lamps,pumps,fans and blowers,model trains or other applications that require high voltage and current.
  • The rheostat is consisted of ceramic core and a resistive wire wrapped to form a toroid coil with a wiper axle.

User questions & answers

Question: Will this work to control the blower speed on a hot blast wood burner
Answer: Yes, I tried it on a blower in a hvac air to air heat exchanger & it worked fine.
Question: what variable speed switch should i get for a 110v lathe 3/4 hp motor
Answer: IT DEPENDS ON THE AMPERAGE DRAW DRAW OF THE 3/4 HP MOTOR, THIS UNIT DID NOT WORK WELL WITH HIGHER AMPERAGE DRAW MOTORS ABOVE 15 AMPS PEAK DRAW
Question: Does this use PWM or voltage control
Answer: Far as I know it is a simple rheostat that controls the voltage to a motor to alter rotation speeds
Question: Will this control a heating element
Answer: No it will not does not have amp capacity. Heating element are normally wired 240 volts. They can be wired 120 but they draw double the current.
Question: How do you mount this
Answer: These units can get quit hot, mounting on a metal plate or metal strap is recommended. They are mounted by the threaded housing the knob shaft goes through. Hence the nuts. Remove the top nut and measure the diameter of the threaded part of the housing the shaft goes through. You will need to drill a hole slightly larger than this measurement. Put the nut back on and turn down till flush with the thread on the housing. The distance between the two nuts is the maximum thickness for your mounting piece. Notice the metal tab sticking up near the housing. This is an 'anti-rotator'. You will need to drill a hole next to the housing hole for this to fit into. This prevents the unit from rotating on the mount if the nuts become loose or a heavy knob twister grabs the knob. You notice the knob rotates less than 360 deg. The space between the zero and max positions is typically mounted at the bottom position of your mounting location. Normally the anti-rotating tab is in this area. This is the position you will need to drill the small additional hole for the tab. Remember only the top nut is used to hold the the unit in place.
Question: Is this a linear or logarithmic potentiometer? I'm planning on using it in a speaker crossover
Answer: linear
Question: How many turns
Answer: Less than one. If the center connector (ground) were at 12 o’clock, it rotates approximately from 1 to 11, connector to connector.
Question: how does it wirre up 12Volts, positive and negative
Answer: Does not matter.
Question: Can these be used in a "DC" circuit
Answer: Yes, the item can support DC circuit

Zoo Med Repti Temp Rheostat

Zoo Med

Based on 209 reviews Check latest price

Product description

With a turn of the knob, you can adjust the temperature of most heating devices. Plug in up to two compatible heat sources with a combined wattage of up to 150 watts. Turn your heaters down or back up depending on the ambient room temperature. Great for use with Zoo Meds Repticare Rock Heaters, Ceramic Heat Emitters, Reptitherm Under Tank Heaters, and Reptile Basking Spot Lamps.

  • For manual heat control of your reptile's habitat
  • A single Rheostat will control up to 150 total watts of heating devices
  • With a turn of the knob, you can adjust the temperature of most heating devices
  • Allows you to plug in and manually control up to two compatible heating sources
  • Ideal for use with non thermostatically controlled reptile heating devices, such as: rock heaters, heat caves, and all overhead incandescent heat bulbs up to 150 watts total

User questions & answers

Question: Does this work with the 11 inch belly tape
Answer: Yes, its a dimmer switch
Question: Is anyone using this item to adjust the heat on a heat rock. If so is it doing the job
Answer: ive bought a few of these over the years but, recently, ive found that these are not very reliable. I keep/breed ball pythons and the under tank heater was run through this rheostat. perhaps, it's a dud but, it has absolutely no range in temps. at it's lowest possible setting on the dial, it reaches 130.8*f. super overkill and im lucky i check thermometers as regularly as i do or i would have most certainly killed my snake. i decided to toss it and purchased a regulated thermostat instead for a couple bucks more. works like a charm.
Question: Does it show the heating pad temperature
Answer: no, though the temp is preset or controlled by a thermostat in the pad.
Question: I wanted to know if this will work with a different company's heater it's called blue spotted heater
Answer: I really doubt it. It didn't work with my ultratherm heater

Hongso Fireplace Stove Blower Fan Variable Rheostat Speed On/Off Switch Ctrl with 2 Male Connectors, Fireplace Fan Speed Control

Hongso

Based on 138 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Variable Speed Electric Motor Control for fireplace fan / fireplace blower kit. Included with Purchase: Rheostat variable speed control; Variable Speed Electric Motor Control. Applications: Fans, Blowers, Fireplace Blowers. Technical Details: Volts 120; Frequency (hertz) 60; MAX Consumption (watts) 300; Rheostat, UL Approved.

  • This is a rheostat, or Speed Control for your fireplace blower fan. It allows you to control the speed of any fan.
  • Variable Speed Electric Motor Control for fireplace fan / fireplace blower kit
  • Technical Details: Volts 120; Frequency (hertz) 60; MAX Consumption (watts) 300; Rheostat, UL Approved.
  • With two MALE connectors; Wires measure 8" long (can be cut and peeled off). D-Shaped Stem measures 1/4"
  • Applications: Fans, Blowers, Fireplace Blowers.

User questions & answers

Question: What is the amp rating on this
Answer: Probably very low, way Under 1 amp.
Question: Wil this switch work with a 12 volt marine pump
Answer: I highly doubt it. The pump most likely draws a lot more current than a fireplace blower.
Question: Is this a switch also or just a rheostat? The title says on/off switch but the description only says rheostat
Answer: Yes it does have an off/on position as well as being a rheostat. I bought this to replace the switch on my fireplace insert fan and it works great.
Question: Would this work on a bathroom exhaust fan
Answer: Yes, I am using this controller on a bathroom exhaust fan and it works very well. It does have a minimum fan speed though so you can only slow it down so much. But that is pretty slow.

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