What Is a High Power Resistor?

 

 Generally, a high power resistor has a power rating greater than 5W. They are commonly used in applications such as power supplies, power conversion, motor braking, and heaters. When designing a resistive device, you should carefully consider its power-derating specifications. This will help ensure that you do not overheat your equipment, which can lead to equipment failure.

 

Resistor technologies are used for different applications, and each technology has its advantages and disadvantages. The material you select for a high power resistor will be a major factor in determining how well it will perform. This is why it is important to choose a material based on the most important parameters that matter to your application.

 

Ceramic materials and thick film resistors are generally the most popular materials for high power resistive components. Both technologies offer superior resistance performance and good heat dissipation. However, they are limited in their ability to perform under high power. For these reasons, other resistor technologies may be used in high power applications.

 

Resistors can be categorized into two basic types: grid and tab terminals. Grid resistors are typically wire wounds and are manufactured by winding metal wire around a solid form. Tab terminals are a type of resistor that is connected to the metal surface of a chassis. Wire wound resistors are usually covered with non-conductive paint.

 

Wire wound resistors are also available from major resistor manufacturers. These resistors have less power dissipation than grid resistors. However, they may be subject to wear after excessive use. The bulk of wire-wound resistors can be problematic.

 

Ceramic materials are also used as a building block material for high power resistive components. These resistors offer good performance, as well as low operating noise. They also offer excellent temperature stability. In addition, they are available in a wide range of resistances.

 

Thin film resistor devices are also available, but these are not typically used in high power applications. These resistors are manufactured using metal alloys or other materials. Metal alloys are typically nickel-chromium. Metal oxide resistors offer a wide range of resistances and exhibit good performance. These resistors are generally less expensive than ceramic resistors. The precision resistor can also be used at high voltages, but they will release low levels of operating noise.

 

These power resistors have excellent pulse behavior, and they offer a wide range of electrical connection options. They also offer partial discharge capability. They can provide up to 8 kV @ 5 pC at resistances down to 0.15 O. They also have a wide variety of mounting styles, including surface mount, screw terminals, and other common mounting styles.

 

In addition to choosing the right material, you will also need to consider the application's temperature requirements. Resistors near the maximum power rating may require a heat sink. A heat sink can be a copper or aluminum plate that is inserted into the device. This heat sink can be provided by the manufacturer, or you can also use a heat-dissipating ceramic.

This post will help you understand the topic even better: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistor.