Resistor

What is resistor and resistor calculations.

• What is resistor
• Ohm's law
• Resistors in parallel
• Resistors in series
• Dimensions and material affects
• Resistor image
• Resistor symbols
• Resistor color code
• Resistor types

What is resistor

Resistor is an electrical component that reduces the electric current.

The resistor's ability to reduce the current is called resistance and is measured in units of ohms (symbol: Ω).

If we make an analogy to water flow through pipes, the resistor is a thin pipe that reduces the water flow.

Ohm's law

The resistor's current I in amps (A) is equal to the resistor's voltage V in volts (V)

divided by the resistance R in ohms (Ω):

The resistor's power consumption P in watts (W) is equal to the resistor's current I in amps (A)

times the resistor's voltage V in volts (V):

P = I × V

The resistor's power consumption P in watts (W) is equal to the square value of the resistor's current I in amps (A)

times the resistor's resistance R in ohms (Ω):

P = I ² × R

The resistor's power consumption P in watts (W) is equal to the square value of the resistor's voltage V in volts (V)

divided by the resistor's resistance R in ohms (Ω):

P = V ² / R

Resistors in parallel

The total equivalent resistance of resistors in parallel R_Total is given by:

So when you add resistors in parallel, the total resistance is decreased.

Resistors in series

The total equivalent resistance of resistors in series R_total is the sum of the resistance values:

R_total = R₁+ R₂+ R₃+...

So when you add resistors in series, the total resistance is increased.

Dimensions and material affects

The resistance R in ohms (Ω) of a resistor is equal to the resistivity ρ in ohm-meters (Ω∙m) times the resistor's length l in meters (m) divided by the resistor's cross sectional area A in square meters (m²):

Resistor image

Resistor symbols

Resistor color code

The resistance of the resistor and its tolerance are marked on the resistor with color code bands that denotes the resistance value.

There are 3 types of color codes:

• 4 bands: digit, digit , multiplier, tolerance.
• 5 bands: digit, digit, digit , multiplier, tolerance.
• 6 bands: digit, digit, digit , multiplier, tolerance, temperature coefficient.

Resistance calculation of 4 bands resistor

R = (10×digit₁ + digit₂) × multiplier

Resistance calculation of 5 or 6 bands resistor

R = (100×digit₁ + 10×digit₂+digit₃) × multiplier

Resistor types

Pull-up resistor

In digital circuits, pull-up resistor is a regular resistor that is connected to the high voltage supply (e.g +5V or +12V) and sets the input or output level of a device to '1'.

The pull-up resistor set the level to '1' when the input / output is disconnected. When the input / output is connected, the level is determined by the device and overrides the pull-up resistor.

Pull-down resistor

In digital circuits, pull-down resistor is a regular resistor that is connected to the ground (0V) and sets the input or output level of a device to ' 0 '.

The pull-down resistor set the level to ' 0 ' when the input / output is disconnected. When the input / output is connected, the level is determined by the device and overrides the pull-down resistor.

Electrical resistance »