A resistor is a passive electrical component that is used to create resistance in a circuit. Resistors are important in electronic circuits because they can control the flow of electricity, and can dissipate large amounts of excess energy. They are also the most used electronic components because they remove energy from the circuit and that energy can be manipulated depending on the resistor package and material depending on their application.
Today, we’ll examine the other types of custom resistors available from us which you can use:
- Foil resistors.
- Metal film.
- Metal glaze.
- Metal-oxide film.
- Wire wound.
Foil Resistors
A foil resistor is a resistor that uses foil as its resistive element. Foil resistors are made by gluing a metal foil a few microns thick to a ceramic substrate. Foil resistors are the most precise and stable resistors but are also the most expensive and thus only used when any other type of resistor would not suffice.
Metal Film
A metal film resistor uses a thin or thick film of metal to create resistance in an electrical circuit. The metal film is deposited on a substrate, typically glass, ceramic, or plastic. The film is then patterned to create the desired resistance value. Metal film resistors are used in various applications, including electronic circuits, computer networks, and telecommunications equipment. Thin films are usually limited in power and resistance values. Thick film resistors are over 1000 times thicker than thin film resistors and thus can withstand higher wattages and have a wider range of resistance values.
Metal Glaze
A metal glaze resistor is a resistor in which a combination of metal particles and glass powder restricts the flow of electric current to a certain extent. These custom resistors have decreased TCR, also known as the temperature coefficient of resistance. From TCR, we can tell that the material’s resistance will also change when the temperature increases. Metal glaze resistors are commonly used in nuclear devices, IR image converters, communication devices, maritime radar, particle accelerators, voltage dividers, etc.
Metal-Oxide Film
The resistive film is made from a metal oxide, such as tin oxide. The construction is similar to metal film resistors, save for the material used for the film. Another key difference is that they are less expensive than carbon composition resistors. They are also known for being able to operate at high temperatures.
Wire Wound
A wire-wound custom resistor is an electrical component made by winding a metal wire around a ceramic core. They are usually designed to either be precise or for power. The longer and thinner the wire the more resistance to the flow of electric current. The wires are usually made of nichrome or a copper/nickel alloy because they have higher resistance per foot of wire. We can also wind the resistors with various alloys depending on the TCR characteristics that one is looking for, however, different alloys will have different ranges of resistance due to the resistivity of different alloys. We can also package them in leaded and surface mount packages.
Conclusion
Whenever you need a custom resistor for your electric device, contact Riedon today! We’re a resistor manufacturing company that specializes in producing power, precision, surface mount, and more! Visit our website for more information.