Resistor Types | Types of Resistor | Radio-Electronics.

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Resistor Types
- information, tutorial about the basics of the different types of resistors including fixed
and variable resistors, carbon, film, carbon composition, metal film, etc

RESISTOR TUTORIAL INCLUDES

Resistor types (/info/data/resistor/resistor-types.php)

Carbon composition (/info/data/resistor/carbon-composition-composite-resistor.php)
Carbon film (/info/data/resistor/carbon-film-resistor.php)
Metal oxide film (/info/data/resistor/metal-oxide-film-resistor.php)
Metal film (/info/data/resistor/metal-film-resistor.php)
Variable resistor (/info/data/resistor/variable-adjustable-trimmer-resistor-potentiometer.php)
Thermistor (/info/data/resistor/thermistor/thermistor.php)
Light dependent resistor (/info/data/resistor/ldr/light_dependent_resistor.php)
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Resistor colour code (/info/data/resistor/resistors-colours-code-coding-chart.php)
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See also Premier Farnell and IDT announce new

global franchise (/news/distribution-
SMT resistor (/info/data/resistor/smd_resistor/smd_resistor.php)
supply/premier-farnell-and-idt-announce-
MELF resistor (/info/data/resistor/smd_resistor/melf-resistor-smt.php) new-9132)
First profile 35b bonding CPE released
There are many different types of resistor available for use within electronic circuits. These different resistor types (/news/telecoms-networks/first-profile-
have somewhat different properties dependent upon their construction and manufacture. This makes the different 35b-bonding-cpe-released-9131)
types of resistor suitable for different applications. 26 GHz 5G mmW reconfigurable 256-
element active antenna array
Over the years the resistor types used in mass electronics production have changed. Years ago, all the resistors
(/news/antennas-propagation/26-ghz-5g-
used had leads and were relatively large, and by today's standards they offered a low level of performance. Today,
mmw-reconfigurable-256-element-9130)
the resistor types used are much smaller and offer much higher levels of performance.
Nokia, Deutsche Telekom & Hamburg Port
Authority collaborate in 5G research
Fixed & variable resistor types (/news/cellular-telecoms/nokia-deutsche-
The first major categories into which the different types of resistor can be fitted is into whether they are fixed or telekom-hamburg-port-9129)
variable. These different resistor types are used for different applications: Compact step-down µModule meets PCB
area constraints (/news/power-
Fixed resistors: Fixed resistors are by far the most widely used type of resistor. They are used in electronics management/compact-step-down-
circuits to set the right conditions in a circuit. Their values are determined during the design phase of the module-meets-pcb-area-9128)
circuit, and they should never need to be changed to "adjust" the circuit. There are many different types of
resistor which can be used in different circumstances and these different types of resistor are described in . . . . More News (http://www.radio-
further detail below. electronics.com/news.php)

Variable resistors: These resistors consist of a fixed resistor element and a slider which taps onto the main
resistor element. This gives three connections to the component: two connected to the fixed element, and FOCUS ON WIRELESS (/TECH-
the third is the slider. In this way the component acts as a variable potential divider if all three connections ZONE/DIGIKEY/)
are used. It is possible to connect to the slider and one end to provide a resistor with variable resistance.
Select and Apply the Right Low-Power
Read more about variable resistors (/info/data/resistor/variable-adjustable-trimmer-resistor-
Microcontroller for the IoT
potentiometer.php).
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Resistor Types | Types of Resistor | Radio-Electronics.Com 06/02/2018, 01)38

Fixed resistor types https://www.digikey.com/en/articles/techzone/2017/dec/

and-apply-the-right-low-power-
There are a number of different types of fixed resistor: microcontroller-for-the-iot)

Carbon composition: These types were once very common, but are now seldom used. They are formed by Develop Real-Time Microcontroller-Based
mixing carbon granules with a binder which was then made into a small rod. This type of resistor was large Applications Quickly Using MicroPython
(https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/411419961;21221031
by today's standards and suffered from a large negative temperature coefficient. The resistors also suffered
https://www.digikey.com/en/articles/techzone/2017/sep/
from a large and erratic irreversible changes in resistance as a result of heat or age. In addition to this the
real-time-mcu-based-applications-
granular nature of the carbon and binder lead to high levels of noise being generated when current flowed.
micropython)
Read more about the carbon composition resistor (/info/data/resistor/carbon-composition-
composite-resistor.php). Wireless Modules Operating in the Sub-
GHz Bands Offer a Simpler Route to
Carbon film: This resistor type is formed by "cracking" a hydrocarbon onto a ceramic former. The resulting Market for Sensor Networks
deposited film had its resistance set by cutting a helix into the film. This made these resistors highly inductive (https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/411477151;21221031
and of little use for many RF applications. They exhibited a temperature coefficient of between -100 and -900 https://www.digikey.com/en/articles/techzone/2017/nov/
ppm / °Celcius. The carbon film is protected either by a conformal epoxy coating or a ceramic tube. Read modules-operating-in-the-sub-ghz-bands)
more about the carbon film resistor (/info/data/resistor/carbon-film-resistor.php). Selecting the Right FCC/CE Compliant
Metal oxide film: This type of resistor is now one of the most widely used form of resistor along with the Wireless Module
metal film type. Rather than using a carbon film, this resistor type uses a metal oxide film deposited on a (https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/411424308;21221031
ceramic rod. Metals oxide such as tin oxide are deposited onto the ceramic rod. The resistance of the https://www.digikey.com/en/articles/techzone/2017/nov/
component is adjusted in two ways. First the thickness of the deposited layer is controlled during the initial the-right-fcc-ce-compliant-wireless-
manufacturing stages. Then it can be more accurately adjusted by cutting a helical grove in the film. Again the module)
film is protected using a conformal epoxy coating. This type of resistor has a temperature coefficient of More Focus on Wireless (/tech-
around ±15 parts per million / °K, giving it a far superior performance to that of any carbon based resistor. zone/digikey/)
Additionally this type of resistor can be supplied to a much closer tolerance, ±5%, ±2% being standard, and
with ±1% versions available. They also exhibit a much lower noise level than carbon types of resistor. Read
more about metal oxide film resistor (/info/data/resistor/metal-oxide-film-resistor.php). FOCUS ON TEST (/TECH-
ZONE/FOCUS_ON_TEST/)
Metal film: The metal film resistors is very similar to the metal oxide film resistor in terms of visual
appearance and performance. Instead of using a metal oxide film, this type of resistor uses a metal film. Pre-5G-NR Signal Generation and Analysis
Metals such as nickel alloy may be used. Read more about metal film resistor (/info/data/resistor/metal- (https://www.rohde-
film-resistor.php). schwarz.com/applications/pre-5g-nr-
signal-generation-and-analysis-
Wire wound: This resistor type is generally reserved for high power applications. These resistors are made application-note_56280-493057.html?
by winding wire with a higher than normal resistance (resistance wire) on a former. The more expensive WT.mc_id=site_com_mc_141_re_17-
varieties are wound on a ceramic former and they may be covered by a vitreous or silicone enamel. This 18__1ma308_ros_text-link___)
resistor type is suited to high powers and exhibits a high level of reliability at high powers along with a
Characterization of SIGFOX Devices
comparatively low level of temperature coefficient, although this will depend on a number of factors
(https://www.rohde-
including the former, wire used, etc..
schwarz.com/applications/characterization-
Thin film: Thin film technology is used for most of the surface mount types of resistor. As these are used in of-sigfox-devices-from-lab-to-production-
their billions these days, this makes this form of resistor technology one of the most widely used. Read more line-application-note_56280-
about SMT resistors (/info/data/resistor/smd_resistor/smd_resistor.php). 502083.html?
WT.mc_id=site_com_mc_143_re_17-
18__1ma294_ros_text-link___)
Leaded and non-leaded resistor types
Increase the IP connection security of
One of the key differentiators for resistors, and many other forms of component these days is the way in which they your IoT device (https://www.rohde-
are connected. As a result of the mass production techniques sued and the widespread use of printed circuit schwarz.com/applications/increase-the-
boards, the form of connection used for components, especially those to be incorporated into mass produced items ip-connection-security-of-your-iot-device-
changed. application-card_56279-391458.html?
WT.mc_id=site_com_mc_143_re_17-18__ip-
The two main forms of resistor type according to their connection method are:
connection-security-appcard_ros_text-
Leaded resistors: This type of resistor has been used since the very first electronic components have been link___)
in use. Typically components were connected to terminal posts of one form or another and leads from the Characterization of LoRa Devices
resistor element were needed. As time progressed, printed circuit boards were used, and the leads were (https://www.rohde-
inserted through holes in the boards and typically soldered on the reverse side where the tracks were to be schwarz.com/applications/characterization-
found. of-lora-devices-application-note_56280-
507458.html?
WT.mc_id=site_com_mc_143_re_17-
18__1ma295_ros_text-link___)

More Focus on Test (/tech-

zone/focus_on_test/)

INDUSTRY CURRENTS BLOG (/INDUSTRY-

CURRENTS/)
Typical leaded carbon resistor
Surface mount resistors: These resistor types have been used increasingly since the introduction of
surface mount technology. Typically this type of resistor is manufactured using thin film technology. A full
range of values can be obtained.

Andrew Adams | ETAL Group

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Resistor Types | Types of Resistor | Radio-Electronics.Com 06/02/2018, 01)38

A little thought on magnetics can save a

lot of energy (/industry-
currents/posts/a-little-thought-on-
magnetics-can-save-a-lot-of-energy)
Electromagnetic components like
transformers and chokes are considered
unglamorous, so frequently insufficient
thought is given to their selection.
Engineers will often simply re-use a device
or even a power supply from a previous
project, ignoring the fact that new and
Typical SMD resistors on a PCB better components are available, allowing
them to save weight, improve efficiency or
reduce size. This article reviews some
Read more about SMT resistors (/info/data/resistor/smd_resistor/smd_resistor.php). recent developments that are creating new
optimised solutions across a range of
By Ian Poole (https://plus.google.com/104687638164370436625?rel=author) applications.

. . . . | Next > (/info/data/resistor/carbon-composition-composite-resistor.php)

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