Resistors

They are very cheap and easy to use.

Fixed Resistor
Picture view

Circuit Symbol

Protecting an LED in a circuit.

To move to the next slide click the left hand

mouse button after the PCB appears

Resistance
Resistance is measured in Ohms
The symbol for Ohms is

On each resistor there are 4 coloured

bands

To find the resistance of a fixed

resistor we must be able to read the
resistor colour code

The 4 coloured bands

Bands 1, 2 & 3
Represent the value
of the resistor

Band 4
is the tolerance

Valorile asociate culorilor

Fiecare culoare reprezint o valoare
Negru Maro Rou Portocaliu Galben Verde Albastru

Violet

Gri

Alb

The Fourth Band

The last band is the tolerance

This is how accurate the resistance is

This has just two possible values

GOLD = 5%
SILVER = 10%

Gold band on a 1000 ohms resistor

5% of 1000 = 50
therefore the value would lie between 950 1050 ohms

Silver band on a 1000 ohms resistor

10% of 1000 = 100
therefore the value would lie between 900 1100 ohms

Resistor Values
10

12

15

18

22

27

33

39

47

56

68

82

100

120

150

180

220

270

330

390

470

560

680

820

1000

1200

1500

1800

2200

2700

3300

3900

4700

5600

6800

8200

10000

12000

15000

18000

22000

27000

33000

39000

47000

56000

68000

82000

100000

120000

150000

180000

220000

270000

330000

390000

470000

560000

680000

820000

This is the range of resistor values we use

E12

How to work it out

Can you work out the value of the resistance?

You need to know the value of each colour?

Example

2
Band 1 : Red
=
2
Band 2 : Red
=
3 zeros :000
Band 3 : Orange =
Value =
22 000 Ohms

Resistors in series
680

680

SERIES - resistors follow each other in the circuit.

The values are added together to find the total.
Resistor 1 = 680
Resistor 2 = 680
Total resistance = 680 + 680

= 1360

Do not forget to put in the

OHMS or

Resistors in parallel
1000
4700

PARALLEL
resistors that are side by side in the
circuit.

The values are put into this formula to find the total.

R1 x R2
RT =
R1 + R2
4700000
RT =
5700

1000 x 4700
RT =
1000 + 4700
RT = 825

Other types of resistors

Preset resistor

Used in situations where a

resistance
needs
to
be
adjusted, but not on a regular
basis.
e.g. when the circuit is first
assembled.
Screwdriver slot

Small in size and designed to

be soldered directly to a
circuit board and adjusted
with a small screwdriver

Variable resistors
A push fit control knob

Where a resistance
needs to be changed
on a regular basis.
e.g. the volume
control on a radio
uses
a
variable
resistor.

Variable resistor

This device is also

referred to as a
potentiometer
or
pot.

Thermistor
Thermistor

Used in circuits
which need to
respond to changes
in
temperature
(e.g. thermostats).
Also
used
digital
thermometers.

in

A thermistor is a
device
whose
resistance drops as
the
temperature
increases.

Used in circuits that need to

respond to changes in light
intensity

LDR

e.g. an automatic switch to

turn on an outside light at
night.

LDR
Light Dependant Resistor
A LDR is a device that increases
its resistance as the level of light
falling upon it decreases.
An ORP12 LDR has a daylight
resistance value of 1k ohm. This
value changes to about 10M ohms
in darkness.