Trimmers and Connections ???

[geoscash1]

Hey guys,

my question stems from seeing many different schematics and seeing trimmers or onboard trim pots connected in different ways.

I am looking to add a sensitivity adjustment to a circuit (not a metal detector) but am not sure of how or which way to connect the trimmer.

I have seen where 2 of the 3 pins are connected together and 1 exiting but have also seen where each individual pin is connected individually.

Now I think that one or the other is sort of a voltage divider but am not sure which is correct to use in my application. It is simply going to be
used for adjusting sensitivity of an incoming signal so I would assume resistance would be what is adjusted up or down. Clockwise raises sensitivity/counter clockwise lowers sensitivity.

Here is a portion of a similar circuit with a trimmer added but the connections are unfinished for this question/example.

Can anyone chime in and give advice as to how the connections should be placed?

1 pin from +v, 1 pin to -v and the other as the output or ???

simple diagram

[Funfinder]

Hi,
this is just a simple variable resistor, there is no minus voltage.
Seen in a row a 10k trimmer has its fully 10k at its opposite pins (1 & 3)

Pin 2 (middle) is for adjusting - simple spoken:
if turned into direction pin 1 the voltage from pin 2 to 1 goes up while the voltage from pin 2 to 3 goes down.
Or vice versa if turned into direction pin 3.

For sensitivity you just can connect the trimmer pin 1 and 2 in line between the 2 amps
- leaving pin 3 unconnected -, no matter if you have DC+, DC- or AC voltage.
But because the 10k trimmer still has ca. 50-100 Ohm at "max. setting", this should not weaken the overall signal.

[6666]

Just 2 pots in series.