What are Wirewound Resistors?
Resistors are commonly found elements in electrical networks and circuits. These components are used to control electric current flow within electrical parts and circuit boards. One of the most common types of resistors is known as the wirewound resistor. Wirewound resistors are produced by winding metal wire around a plastic, fiberglass or ceramic core. Typically, this metal wire is comprised of nichromea nickel-chromium wire.
Optimized circuit designs often include wirewound resistors where precision is important. Wirewound resistors have tight resistance tolerances and are typically very stable. Since these resistor types can maintain their precision over time, they are extremely popular in electrical components. They are comprised of very stable materials and are very reliable and rugged. Modern circuits typically use wirewound resistors for this reason.
How To: Design Guide For Precision Resistors
Even in this digital age, a number of measurement and instrumentation applications rely on the accuracy of the value of one or more resistors.
To guarantee the performance of the system, the designer must understand what factors can affect the value of precision resistor, and how the combined effect of these factors may be evaluated.
There are essentially three types of error source to be understood. The first is measurement errors, which limit the precision with which the actual resistance value can be known. Secondly, short-term change factors, reflecting uncertainty in the resistance value in a customer's recently assembled PCB. Thirdly, long-term change factors, reflecting value drift throughout the product's life. The combination of all these factors is termed total excursion.
For more information on precision resistors click here.
