TYPES OF RESISTANCES

Introduction
It is called resistance or resistor to the electronic component designed to introduce a determined electrical
resistance between two points of a circuit.
The maximum current of a resistance is conditioned by the maximum power that can dissipate your body. This
power can be visually identified from the diameter without another indication being necessary. The most common
values are 0.25 W, 0.5 W and 1 W.
Types of resistors
The resistors are classified into two large groups, the group of fixed resistors and the group of variable resistors,
each of these groups is divided into other smaller groups according to the physical characteristics of the resistors.
Fixed resistors

Symbols of a fixed resistor

The fixed resistors have two contacts between which there is a fixed resistance, the fixed resistors are divided into
carbon resistors and metal resistors.
Carbon resistors

The carbon resistors are built with carbon or graphite and are the most commonly used. There are two types of
carbon resistors, agglomerated resistors and carbon layer resistors, which are described below.
Chipboard Resistors

The agglomerated resistors are constructed with carbon, binder resin and insulating material. Their

Main features are:

Mechanical and electrical robustness

High noise level

Carbon layer resistors

The carbon layer resistors are constructed by the deposition of a layer of carbon on a cylindrical surface of ceramic vitreous
material. Its main features are: Low noise level

Metal resistors

Metal resistors are constructed with metal, metal oxides, or metal alloys. There are three types of metal resistors,
metal layer resistors, metal film resistors and wound resistors.

Metal layer resistors

The metallic layer resistors are constructed by the deposition of tin oxides and

antimony among other materials on a glass or porcelain support. Its main

Features are:

Reduced tolerances

Low temperature coefficient

Very low noise level

Due to these characteristics, this type of resistors are used in very demanding applications.
Metal oxide film resistors

The metallic film resistors are constructed with metal or metal alloys. Its main features are:

Possibility of integration of resistor networks

Wirewound Resistors

The wound resistors are constructed with metal wire or a metal alloy wound around a ceramic or glass core. Its
main characteristics are: High parasitic inductance

Very low noise level

Variable resistors

Symbol of a variable resistor

The variable resistors have three contacts, two of them are connected at the ends of the resistive surface and the
other is connected to a cursor that can be moved along the resistive surface.

Variable layer resistors

Carbon layer resistors

Metal layer resistors

Resistors of layer cermet type

Winding variable resistors

Resistors of small dissipation

Wirewound Resistors deguiton

Precision Wirewound Resistors

Código de colores

Fixed resistors of small power, used in electronic circuits, are labeled with a color strip code. To characterize a resistance, three
values are required: electrical resistance, maximum dissipation and precision.

These data are indicated with a set of three, four or five colored stripes on the body of the element. They are read from left to
right, leaving the tolerance line (usually silver or gold) to the right. The tolerance line indicates the accuracy. Of the remaining,
the last is the multiplier and the other the figures.

Color code table

The following table shows the relationship between the colors of the strips of the resistors and the values they represent.