Resistors
Overview
Resistors are possibly one of the most common components that you will use. A resistor has three properties that should be considered when working with an electrical circuit:
- Resistance
- Tolerance
- Power rating
For a more in-depth discussion about resistors and resistance, check out Part 4 of the Electronics Tutorial.
Resistance
Resistance is measured in Ohms symbol (Ω). This may also be prefixed with a letter to indicate the scale of the value. Common scale factors relevant to resistors are:
| Letter | Prefix | Magnitude | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| M | Mega | 106 | 10,000,000 |
| k / K | Kilo | 103 | 10,000 |
| m | milli | 10-3 | 0.001 |
Therefore, a 1kΩ; resistor has a resistance of 1,000Ω;.
The prefix letter may also be used to indicate the location of a decimal point. For example, a 4K7 resistor has a resistance of 4.7kΩ.
Tolerance
The tolerance is expressed as a percentage. Common tolerances are 1%, 5% and 10%. Lower tolerance resistors are more expensive due to the higher requirements of the manufacturing process.
A 4.7kΩ resistor with a 5% tolerance could have a value between 4,465Ω and 4,935Ω.
Power Rating
Resistance to the passage of electrical current generates heat. The amount of heat generated can be calculated using the following formula:
P = I x V
The power is stated in Watts (W) and the power rating of the resistor should always be greater than the product of the current (I) flowing through the resistor and the voltage (V) drop across the resistor.
Schematic Symbol
There are two possible symbols used in circuit diagrams (schematics):
- Zig-zag line (IEEE)
- Rectangle (IEC)
The use zig-zag line is more commonly used in America than the rectangle.
IEEE Symbol
