FlexiPot: Comparison of 3-pin vs 2-pin Termination

Do I need a 3-pin or a 2-pin FlexiPot™?

The standard off-the-shelf FlexiPot is terminated with a 3-pin connection.  You may wish to consider a custom 2-pin termination depending on your application requirements:

3-Pin FlexiPot™:

The 3-pin FlexiPot functions similarly to a voltage divider.  Power and ground are applied to the outside pins, and the voltage output is measured from the center pin.  Also, it is important to note that the voltage output is zero when unloaded which provides the dual functionality of both linear position response and switch-like touch response.  If two separate locations are loaded on the 3-pin FlexiPot, the voltage output is approximately equal to the output that is seen when the point directly between those two locations is loaded.  This is useful in applications where the center point of the load applicator(s) is the position of interest:

FlexiPot 3-pin Design is the standard FlexiPot construction

2-Pin FlexiPot™:

The 2-pin FlexiPot functions similarly to a variable resistor.  The resistance output will default to the maximum value, referred to as the native resistance, when unloaded and will decrease proportionally to distance.  One simple way to obtain an analog voltage output from the 2-pin FlexiPot is to connect it to a power source in a voltage divider configuration by pairing it with a fixed resistor.

If two separate locations are loaded on the 2-pin FlexiPot, the resistance output is equal to the output that is seen when only one of the locations is loaded (the location that is farther from the pins).  This is useful in applications where the same edge of the load applicator is always the position of interest:

FlexiPot 2-pin Design is an optional custom construction