This section provides an overview for fixed resistors as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 22 fixed resistor manufacturers and their company rankings.
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A resistor is an essential electronic component that keeps electricity from flowing. Its primary function is to regulate the amount of current flowing in a circuit, divide voltage, and set time constants required for circuit operation. A time constant is, for example, the time it takes to start a particular operation or turn a switch on and off after a certain period.
Furthermore, as a side effect, heat is generated when current passes through resistance in a circuit. This is called Joule heat, which is generated when moving electrons collide with molecules of the resistance as they pass through the resistance. The kinetic energy of the collisions becomes heat and dissipates.
Resistors are indispensable components in circuits because of the role they play in circuits.
In addition to fixed resistors, there are variable resistors.
As the name suggests, fixed resistors have a fixed resistance value. On the other hand, a variable resistor is a resistor whose resistance value can be freely changed. The volume control volume of audio equipment is made with a variable resistor.
If no resistors were in the circuit and all components were directly connected, the unlimited current would flow in the circuit. As a result, circuit components would burn out due to the flowing current. In avoiding such a situation, resistors are used because they are meant to regulate the appropriate current in a circuit.
The magnitude of resistance is expressed as ohms (Ω). This resistance is defined as 1 ohm when the current flowing when a voltage of 1 V is applied is 1 A.
Materials are classified into conductors, semiconductors, and insulators. A conductor is a material that conducts current well, such as iron, which has a very low resistance component; an insulator is a material that conducts almost no current, such as plastic; and a semiconductor is a material that is intermediate between these three. Resistors are materials that have relatively high resistance among conductors.
Carbon film resistors made of ceramic coated with carbon and metal film resistors made of ceramic coated with metal are commonly used resistors.
Fixed resistors have a fixed resistance value. In circuit design, resistors with various resistance values are used. Therefore, resistors with many resistance values are required. However, for economic productivity, it is necessary to consolidate them into a few types.
Therefore, JIS and ISO set a numerical value to consolidate and standardize resistance values. The E6 series consists of 1.0, 1.5, 2.2, 3.3, 4.7, and 6.8. In other words, there are components with resistance values of 1.0Ω, 1.5Ω, 2.2Ω, 3.3Ω, 4.7Ω, 6.8Ω, 10Ω, 15Ω, 22Ω, 33Ω, 47Ω, 68Ω... and so on. In addition, there are more detailed classifications, such as the E12 series, E24 series, etc.
Fixed resistors can be roughly classified by shape and material.
The first three types are leaded, surface-mounted (chip), and others.
Next, resistors can be divided by material into four types: carbon, metal, metal-glaze, and other.
Lead-type resistors are generally marked with four or five colors to indicate the resistance value and tolerance. The colors correspond to numbers, for example, 1 for brown, 2 for red, 3 for orange, and so on.
This color code is defined by JIS C 5062.
The readings are divided into 4-color lines and 5-color lines. Note that in both cases, the one with the line one-sided is the first line.
For 4-color lines, the first number, second number, multiplier, and tolerance are in order from the first to the fourth line.
For example, if it were red-black-red-gold, according to the color code, red would represent 2, black would represent 0, and gold would represent ±5% error. Therefore, 2000Ω ±5% (=2kΩ ±5%) is the answer.
In the case of 5-color lines, the first number, second number, third number, multiplier, and tolerance are in order from the first to the fifth.
Here is an example of the 4-color line. Suppose the color of the line reads brown-green-black-black-brown. According to the color code, brown is 1, green is 5, black is 0, and brown (on the line representing the tolerance) represents an error of ±1%. Thus, 150Ω ±1% is the answer.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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