What causes a resistor to heat up?

Thread Starter

Raidzor

Joined Oct 17, 2017
8
So let's say I create a circuit. I use a 5V battery that can supply up to 2A, a 10 ohm resistor and a 5V 500 mA LED. Theoretically the resistor limits the current to 500mA, so my LED should light up at full brightness. But why does the resistor heat up after a bit, even if the total amount of current flowing through is 500mA? How could I reduce the heat on the resistor?
I know its a very basic question, but I really can't figure it out.
 

ian field

Joined Oct 27, 2012
6,536
So let's say I create a circuit. I use a 5V battery that can supply up to 2A, a 10 ohm resistor and a 5V 500 mA LED. Theoretically the resistor limits the current to 500mA, so my LED should light up at full brightness. But why does the resistor heat up after a bit, even if the total amount of current flowing through is 500mA? How could I reduce the heat on the resistor?
I know its a very basic question, but I really can't figure it out.
Electrons in multiple collisions.
 

Papabravo

Joined Feb 24, 2006
21,159
Resistors heat up because the power going through them is converted to heat that must be dissipated via radiation, conduction or convection.
 

Thread Starter

Raidzor

Joined Oct 17, 2017
8
If you have 500mA going through a 10 ohm resistor: P = I^2*R = .5^2*10 = MUCH more than a 1/4W resistor...
Yes but wouldn't that be the case with ONLY the resistor connected? Because total draw is 500mA and the LED theoretically "consumes" all of that
 

AlbertHall

Joined Jun 4, 2014
12,345
If the resistor and the LED are connected in series then whatever current flows, the same current MUST flow in both the resistor and the LED. For a 5V supply feeding a 10Ω resistor and an LED this current will be less than 500mA. Exactly what that current is will depend on the characteristics of the LED.
 

GopherT

Joined Nov 23, 2012
8,009
Yes but wouldn't that be the case with ONLY the resistor connected? Because total draw is 500mA and the LED theoretically "consumes" all of that
No, the LED doesn’t consume all of the energy.

The voltage drops 2 to 3 volts across an LED (diode). The LED only consumes the power equal to voltage drop(volts) x current (amps) = power (watts)

If you put more then the design voltage across the LED, excessive current will flow and the LEd will burn out.
 

Thread Starter

Raidzor

Joined Oct 17, 2017
8
So, if i connected ONLY the resistor in the circuit, the heat dissipated would remain the same?
I feel so dumb right now but I still can't get it.
 

AlbertHall

Joined Jun 4, 2014
12,345
No. With only the resistor the current would be 500mA and the power dissipated in the resistor would be 2.5W. If the LED is connected in series with the resistor then the current will be less than 500mA and the power dissipated in the resistor will be less than 2.5W.

Let's suppose that the voltage across the LED is 3V, then there would be 2V across the resistor (making the total supply of 5V). With 2V across the resistor the current would be 200mA through both the resistor and the LED. The dissipation in the resistor would then be 400mW.
 

Thread Starter

Raidzor

Joined Oct 17, 2017
8
No. With only the resistor the current would be 500mA and the power dissipated in the resistor would be 2.5W. If the LED is connected in series with the resistor then the current will be less than 500mA and the power dissipated in the resistor will be less than 2.5W.

Let's suppose that the voltage across the LED is 3V, then there would be 2V across the resistor (making the total supply of 5V). With 2V across the resistor the current would be 200mA through both the resistor and the LED. The dissipation in the resistor would then be 400mW.
Ooh ok I understand now. So the Voltage is distributed across the loads. Is there a way to calculate the Voltage on each load or I have to directly measure it?
 

BR-549

Joined Sep 22, 2013
4,928
Surface area. That's the reason it's hot. Replace the resistor with a physically larger resistor and the heat will go down. The power dissipation won't, but the temp will.

Put a smaller resistor in......it will get real hot.
 
Top