I want to make a 200 watt 1/2 ohm resistor in a housing. I guess 2- 1 ohm in parallel is the way to go. I want to make it
very inexpensive.In some kind of heat sink and rugged. What would you use ??Similar to those gold colored Uxcell chassis units but less expensive. thanks

 

Big power resistors are expensive.

Use a bunch of cheap 1ohm 5W resistors connected in a network:

5 in series makes 5 ohms, now connect 10 of these in parallel and you have 0.5 ohms.

The power will divide evenly, you will end up with a 250 Watt resistor.

Edit: or use 4 of these in parallel.

https://www.digikey.com/product-det...ronics-inc/KAL50FB2R00/KAL50FB2R00-ND/1646196

 

too big....I thought 2 cement 200 watt 1 ohm next to each other, I thought I saw those available...
maybe I was wrong?? Is their a cheap IC that could do this?

 

https://www.parts-express.com/1-ohm-10w-resistor-wire-wound-5-tolerance--016-1
would these work?

 

How accurate and stable do you need?
A lot depends on your application. Is it a load or a measuring resistor?
Whatever you do, the heat sinking to get rid of the heat will have to be taken into concideration. An element made from stainless steel or fencing wire could work, with a cooling fan.

 

too big....I thought 2 cement 200 watt 1 ohm next to each other, I thought I saw those available...
maybe I was wrong?? Is their a cheap IC that could do this?

I think you are headed in the right direction. A 200W resistor dissipating 200W gets pretty hot. Since the current divides equally between the 2x200W resistors, each will dissipate only half the total heat or 100W each.

Does it have to be accurate? I have used spiral wound heating elements for high power. Also, as posted, high-power resistors can be quite expensive new. In Cleveland, we have a surplus/used dealer. Many cities have them. Things can be cheaper there and negotiable.

 

this is for a super capacitor starting module, starting an engine....the resistor needs to go between the battery and the caps
(5,3v caps in series 400 farad caps) It will throttle down the draw on the battery. But I guess even 1 ohm is too big. Has to be no more than .5 ohm. But I am open to any way of doing it..even somewhat primitive ways as long as it works. Some builders dont even use a resistor but it seems like a good idea..

 

Just use the resistance that is in the leads.
I'm not convinced you need a resistor at all.

 

If you HAD to put a resistor in this thing ,what is the minimum watts you would go with at 1/2 ohm?
or would 1 ohm really be too big??I saw some 100 watt 1/2 ohms for about 15$ I think..
remember the caps discharge about 14v,400 farad caps 5 in series and the battery would be a small
AGM ATV battery like Odysey would make.. I am just trying to get a general idea...