LESSON 3 - Resistors in PCB design

In our third iteration of Semblie’s school of electronics we are going to discuss about a rather simple component that most of us is quite familiar with – the Resistor. As simple as a Resistor can get, using them in PCB design is a different story. 

A resistor is a passive electrical component used to oppose or limit electrical current.

They can be used as:

  • Voltage division
  • Delimiting electric current
  • Heat generation
  • Matching and loading circuits
  • Gain control
  • Pull and Pull down method

There are two basic types of resistors

  1. Linear resistors
  2. Non-linear resistors

As we can see Linear Resistors further develop to Fixed and Variable Resistors

Fixed resistors have a constant resistance value while variable resistors poses the capability to change their resistance value.

Fixed Resistors

  • Carbon composition

 

Advantages
Can withstand high energy pulses
Low cost

Disadvantages
Poor stability
Generate high noise
Low accuracy
Water absorption

Usage

Current limiting
Protection of circuits
High voltage power supplies
Welding controls
High frequency applications.

  • Carbon film

Advantages
Generates less noise than carbon composition resistor
Low tolerance
Low cost
Wide operating range

Disadvantages
High negative temperature co-efficient of resistance

Usage
RADAR
X-rays

  • Metal film

Advantages
Low cost
Generates less noise than carbon composition resistor
Wide operating range
Long-term stability
Low tolerance
Low temperature co-efficient of resistance
Very small in size

Usage
High frequency applications

  • Metal Oxide

Advantages
Low cost
Can operate at higher temperatures.
Produce low noise.
Small size
High stability
High reliability

Disadvantages
Decrease of availability

Usage

High frequency applications

  • Wire wound

Advantages
Low cost
High accuracy
High stability
Wide resistance range

Disadvantages
At high frequencies acts like an inductor

Usage
Telecommunication
Computers
Audio and video equipment
Medical electronic equipment
Current sensing
Current and voltage balancing

  • Thick film

Advantages
Impervious to moisture
Low noise
High accuracy

Most commonly used resistor today.

 

If you want to learn about this topic we suggest You to watch the video.

 

 

 

Benjamin Hodžić

Benjamin Hodžić

Intern

An electrical engineering student from Bosnia. He’s doing the apprenticeship at Semblie d.o.o. Tuzla.

Semblie is a hardware and software development company based in Europe. We believe that great products emerge from ideas that solve real-world problems.