Resistors
into the carbon film. For higher power applications,
Good conductors are used to carry the current with
minimum voltage loss due to their low resistance.
Resistors are used to control the current flow in a circuit
or to set voltage levels. They are made of materials that
have a high resistance. Resistors intended to carry low
currents are often made of carbon. Resistors for high
currents are usually wire wound.
Resistors are often shown as part of basic electrical
circuits to explain the principles involved.
Factors affecting electrical resistance.
Resistors are probably the most widely used component
in electronic circuits. Two factors must be considered
when choosing a suitable resistor, namely the ohms
value and the power rating. Resistors are used to limit
current flow and provide fixed voltage drops. Most
resistors used in electronic circuits are made from small
carbon rods, and the size of the rod determines the
resistance. Carbon resistors have a negative
temperature coefficient (NTC) and this must be
considered for some applications. Thin film resistors
have more stable temperature properties and are
constructed by depositing a layer of carbon onto an
insulated former such as glass. The resistance value can
be manufactured very accurately by spiral grooves cut
resistors are usually wire wound. This can, however,
introduce inductance into a circuit. Variable forms of
most resistors are available in either linear or
logarithmic forms. The resistance of a circuit is its
opposition to current flow. Resistors are engineered to
maintain a stable resistance value over a wide range of
environmental conditions. Unlike lamps, they do not
produce light, but they do produce heat as electric
power is dissipated by them in a working circuit.
Typically, though, the purpose of a resistor is not to
produce usable heat, but simply to provide a precise
quantity of electrical resistance.
The most common schematic symbol for a fixed resistor
is a zig-zag line or a rectangular box:
The most common schematic symbol for a variable
resistor is a zig-zag line or a rectangular box with an
arrow through:
They are two types of resistors commonly used in
electronic/ electrical circuit. 1. Fixed resistors.
2. Variable resistors.
Fixed Resistors
These are small cylindrical shaped resistors that carry
two axial wire leads moulded into them and are colour
banded. These colour bands reveal the resistor ohmic
value. These resistors are widely used since they are
cheap to manufacture, rugged, reasonably accurate and
commonly made from carbon. The size of the resistor
has nothing to do with its ohmic value but instead it is
related to its power rating in watts. The wattage rating
is an indication of the resistors ability to dissipate heat
without becoming damaged, obviously the larger the
surface area of the resistor the better it dissipates the
heat. However carbon resistors are not without
disadvantages beside their limited current carrying
capacity they tend to change their value with age or
overheating.
 Variable resistors are generally called potentiometers or
Resistors used in injector circuits rheostats, depending on their function in the circuit. In
These resistors were used on some systems when the general a potentiometer is used to vary a voltage by
injector coil resistance was very low. A lower inductive utilizing all three of its terminals. Current flow through
reactance in the circuit allows faster operation of the the resistor winding and back to ground. The movable
injectors. Most systems now limit injector maximum wiper can produce an output voltage between the
current in the ECU in much the same way as for low source voltage and zero depending on its position along
resistance ignition on coils. the winding.
In contrast a rheostat is used to vary a current by
Resistors used in blower motors circuits utilizing only two of its three terminals, current flows
The motors used to increase air flow are simple from the voltage source through a winding; a movable
permanent magnet two-brush motors. The blower fan is wiper is position against the winding and completes the
often the centrifugal type and in many cases, the blades path to the output. The further the wiper moves away
are positioned asymmetrically to reduce resonant noise. from the voltage source the lower the output voltage
Varying the voltage supplied controls motor speed. This becomes.
is achieved by using dropping/ stepped resistors. The
speed in some cases is made ‘infinitely’ variable by the Colour 1. 2. 3. multiplier Tolerance
use of a variable resistor. In most cases the motor is Digit Digit Digit
controlled to three or four set speeds. The Figure shows Black 0 0 0 1 20%
a circuit diagram typical of a three-speed control Brown 1 1 1 10 1%
system. The resistors are usually wire wound and are Red 2 2 2 100 2%
placed in the air stream to prevent overheating. These Orange 3 3 3 1000 -
resistors will have low values in the region of 1Ω or less. Yellow 4 4 4 10000 -
Green 5 5 5 100000 -
Blue 6 6 6 1000000 -
Violet 7 7 7 10000000 -
Grey 8 8 8 100000000 -
White 9 9 9 1000000000 -
Silver - - - × 0.01 10%
Gold × 0.1 5%

Resistors used to control a blower motor speed.

Variable Resistors
In many practical applications it becomes desirable to
vary the performance characteristics of an appliance.
E.g. the volume control on your radio, the brightness
control on your TV set, a light dimmer or a speed control
of an electric motor. They all can be control by a control
by variable resistors.
Variable resistors generally have three terminals, one in 4 band resistor
each end and one movable contact in between. In many
cases the resistance element is circular in shape and has
a movable contact sliding across it. The movable contact
is attached to a shaft that can be rotated to select the
desired amount of resistance.