Resistors
PCBAndAssembly has various brands and specifications of resistors, and we have a large inventory to meet all your needs for resistors!
Get Your PCB Quote!
Table of Contents
What Is Resistors
Resistors are elements of electrical circuits that resist and reduce the flow of current through the electrical circuit. They can also be used to provide specific voltages to active components. Resistors are available with fixed or variable resistance values. Fixed resistors are ones in which resistance never changes. Variable resistors, sometimes called potentiometers, allow resistance to be adjustedTypically resistors are constructed of metal or carbon and are available in a variety of mounting styles, but through hole and surface mount are the most common.
Types of Resistors
Resistors are available in a wide range of types, each optimized for specific electrical characteristics, power ratings, and application environments.
Carbon Film Resistor Carbon film resistors are made by depositing a thin carbon film onto a ceramic substrate. They are one of the most common and cost-effective resistor types, suitable for general-purpose applications. They offer good stability and noise performance, with resistance values typically ranging from 1Ω to 10MΩ. However, they have a relatively high temperature coefficient compared to metal film resistors.
Metal Film Resistor Metal film resistors use a thin metal alloy film as the resistive element. They offer tighter tolerance (down to ±0.1%), lower noise, and better temperature stability than carbon film types, making them the preferred choice for precision circuits, audio equipment, measurement instruments, and any application where accuracy is critical.
Metal Oxide Resistor Metal oxide resistors are constructed using a metal oxide film, typically tin oxide, on a ceramic core. They can handle higher operating temperatures and offer better surge and overload performance than carbon or metal film types. They are commonly used in power supplies, industrial equipment, and circuits exposed to high-temperature environments.
Wirewound Resistor Wirewound resistors are made by winding a resistive metal wire around a ceramic or fiberglass core. They are capable of handling high power dissipation (from 1W up to several hundred watts) with excellent accuracy and stability. Wirewound resistors are widely used in power electronics, motor drives, load banks, and precision measurement equipment. Note that their inductive nature makes them less suitable for high-frequency applications.
Metal Foil Resistor Metal foil resistors offer the highest precision and stability of any resistor type, with tolerances as tight as ±0.001% and extremely low temperature coefficients. The resistive element is a specially processed metal alloy foil bonded to a ceramic substrate. They are used in the most demanding applications such as precision instrumentation, medical devices, aerospace systems, and high-end audio equipment.
Chassis Mount Resistor Chassis mount resistors are designed to be bolted directly to a metal chassis or heatsink, allowing efficient heat dissipation for high-power applications. They are commonly used in power supplies, amplifiers, braking resistors for motor drives, and industrial control systems where continuous high-power operation is required.
Current Sense Resistor Current sense resistors, also called shunt resistors, have very low resistance values (typically in the milliohm range) and tight tolerances. They are connected in series with a load circuit to measure current by monitoring the small voltage drop across them. They are essential in battery management systems, motor controllers, power monitors, and overcurrent protection circuits.
Ceramic Resistor Ceramic resistors use a ceramic composition as the resistive material and are known for their excellent heat resistance and ability to handle high voltage and power surges. They are often used in high-voltage power supplies, surge protection circuits, and industrial equipment where robustness is a priority.
SMD Resistor (Surface Mount Resistor) SMD resistors are compact, rectangular components designed for surface mount assembly on PCBs. They come in standardized sizes such as 0201, 0402, 0603, 0805, 1206, and 2512. SMD resistors are the dominant resistor format in modern electronics due to their small footprint, suitability for automated assembly, and availability across a wide range of values, tolerances, and power ratings.
Resistor Networks & Arrays Resistor networks combine multiple resistors in a single package, sharing a common pin or arranged in specific configurations such as isolated, bussed, or voltage divider networks. They save PCB space, simplify assembly, and ensure matched resistance values between elements. They are widely used in pull-up/pull-down applications, bus termination, and LED current limiting.
Variable Resistor / Potentiometer Variable resistors allow the resistance value to be adjusted manually or electronically. Potentiometers have three terminals and are used as voltage dividers in volume controls, calibration circuits, and user interface controls. Rheostats use two terminals and are used to vary current in a circuit. Trimmers are small preset potentiometers designed for infrequent adjustment during circuit calibration.
Our Advantage
Our company is an distributor for many resistor manufacturers including Bourns, IRC, KOA, Ohmite, Panasonic, Susumu, Vishay, Yageo, & more. We stock many resistor types including carbon, ceramic, chassis mount, current sense, film, metal foil, metal oxide, & wirewound resistors and offer through hole and surface mount packaging. We also stock a variety of resistor networks, resistor kits, and resistor hardware.
Help
If you have questions about the electronic components we provide, or you do not find the product you want, reach us here. We will provide you with corresponding products according to your needs.
Table of Contents
Get Your PCB Quote!
