More information about resistors would be helpful.

Thread Starter

Windex

Joined Feb 2, 2005
11
There are formulas that tell a person how long it takes until a resistor will burn out with applied power. Could someone help put that information into this website?
 

Rajan59

Joined Feb 20, 2005
1
Power capacity of resisitors

Power capacity for the resistor is indicated in Watts.

For example; Take a 100 ohm, 10watts resistor,

there is a simple formulae for power in electricity,

Power P = voltage x current,
but voltage = current x resistance
Hence Power is also = current x current xresistance
The units for Power in watts,voltage in volts and current in amps.
Here for the resistor 10 watts , the value of the resistor 100 ohm is the limiting factor for the current flowing in the resistor.(and also 10Volts is applied acrossthe resistor)
The current flowing = voltage/resistance =10/100 = 0.1 amp only,but
Maximum current allowable through the resistor is = power/voltage = 10/10=1.0amp
If it exceeds 1.0 amp current the resistor starts burning.now safe.
 

beenthere

Joined Apr 20, 2004
15,819
Hi,

You may have a fun time coming up with a generallized formula. The time to fry a phenolic-over-carbon resistor is going to be different than for a wirewould unit of about the same dissipation. And I suspect that trimmed film on ceramic will be a bit different than the other two.

I always thought the trick was to keep from burning up your resistors.
 
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