What You Need to Know about Power Resistors
Different electronics will use different components. However, power resistors are fundamental and commonly used electronic component. However, they are often taken for granted but they are vital in a circuit. However, these power resistors are of different types and electronic constructors will choose the resistor that suits a certain electronic application. Some of them are just small in size but others are large such as the wirewound resistors. Learn more about
power resistorsThe purpose of a power resistor in electronic or electrical circuits is to regulate, resist, or set current flow through them. They do this through a conductive material. In other instances, resistors may be connected together in parallel and series combinations where they act as voltage dividers or voltage droppers within a circuit. Resistors are simply passive devices. They do not have amplification or source of power. However, they are able to attenuate or minimize the current signal or voltage that pass through them.
It is due to the attenuation that electrical energy is lost as heat since the resistor resists electron flow through it. However, there are so many types of power resistors. They are also produced in different specifications since their accuracy and characteristics will suit different applications. For instance, resistors may be used in areas with high voltage, high stability or high current among other areas.
Nowadays, however, current shunt resistors are being used in the monitoring and control circuit for current measurements instead of sensors. Because these type of resistors are low-value resistors, they are also known as current sense resistors. One of the advantages of using current shunt resistors for current measurements is that there are faster fault detection and elimination. Because of this, shunts are essential in safety application where detection of fault is required. See more
current shunt resistorOn the other hand, current shunt resistors offer precise measurements thereby allowing efficient drive controls and monitoring battery management systems. They can also be used in any measuring type of application whether alternating or direct current. Again, there is a boom with the shunt nowadays because of the many applications that require measurement in vehicles. Some of the applications include battery and engine management, airbag control units, and infotainment systems among other applications.
Another type is the wirewound resistors, which are specially designed to be mounted physically onto metal plates or heatsinks to dispel the generated heat. By being mounted on heatsinks their ability to carry current is increased. But unlike other resistors, a wirewound resistor is able to handle more electrical current.