I don't know if this is a parts ID topic, or a circuit design topic, but I'm guessing parts.
I need a rotary variable resistor that changes from ~16~160Ω in 180° (~75Ω at 90°) with only a short pendulum (<2" radius) on the shaft. It can rotate farther, but it needs to hit those numbers at those angles. At ~5V, it has to pass ~80mA (~1/2W) to operate the 100Ω 12V gauge I want to use. I know how to build the circuit, and how to calculate the specs, but I don't know how to find the actual pot with the characteristics I need; or if it doesn't exist: how to add resistors to give it those characteristics. I only need 2 right now, so cost isn't a real issue, but I don't need a $20 pot since I might build more.
I've looked thru the Mouser catalog, but I'm going cross-eyed because I don't know the terminology, and they don't list the specs I want to see (angle, torque, power...). This is one of the pages I've looked at:
http://www.mouser.com/Passive-Component ... d8Z1yzvm30
One of the data sheets I looked at said the wiper was only rated for 20 cycles - mine needs to stand up to near-constant motion for years, and I'd like to immerse it in silicone oil for mechanical dampening & to protect from dust/humidity.
I'm gonna try to embed a linked thumbnail of my circuit:
The Pre/Parallel/Post resistors may not be necessary, depending on the pot, but I wanted to indicate them just in case.