Can I use a higher rated resistor?
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Can I use a higher rated resistor?
Other factors such as inductance that may be an issue with RF circuits won’t be an issue for a current shunt. So in general if you’re happy with the size, cost and tolerance of the resistors you’ve found then there’s no reason not to use a resistor with a higher power rating than you require.
What will happen to the current if the resistor of high power rating is used in the circuit?
The job of a resistor is to resist current flow through a circuit and it does this by dissipating the unwanted power as heat. Selecting a small wattage value resistor when high power dissipation is expected will cause the resistor to over heat, destroying both the resistor and the circuit.
Is it possible to get a resistor that can change its resistance?
A variable resistor is a resistor of which the electric resistance value can be adjusted. When only two terminals are used, it functions as a variable resistance and is called a rheostat.
Can I use a larger watt resistor?
Yes, you can use it. It will give you an ability to source in more current. To avoid the size of the resistor getting large due to high wattage, you can use SMD resistor. This will not only save space on your PCB but your PCB will look descent as compared to the through hole resistor of same power rating.
Can I use a lower ohm resistor?
In general, no. Resistor values are carefully selected by the circuit designer to allow the circuit to work correctly. While there is some allowable tolerance, it won’t usually be as much as a different value in the series.
How do you decide what resistor to use?
Resistor selection requires three steps:
- Determine the resistance and the watts to be dissipated by the resistor.
- Determine the proper “Watt Size” (physical size) as controlled by watts, volts, permissible temperatures, mounting conditions and circuit conditions.
Is it OK to use a lower wattage resistor?
Wattage refers to the maximum that a resistor can dissipate. So subbing a higher wattage for lower is perfectly fine without any changes.