Fixed Resistors – What the Heck Are They Anyway?

Have you ever been working on a DIY electronics project and come across the term “fixed resistors”? If you’re like most people, your initial reaction was probably something along the lines of, “What the heck are they?” Don’t worry, my friend, you’re not alone.

Let me break it down for you. In every electronic circuit, there are components that control the flow of electricity. One of these components is the resistor. It’s an essential component that helps regulate the flow of current in a circuit, preventing electrical components from getting damaged.

But what exactly is a fixed resistor? A fixed resistor is a resistor with a fixed value of resistance. That may sound like a mouthful of technical jargon, but it simply means that the strength of the resistance in the resistor is unchanging. It’s not something you can adjust, like a volume knob on a stereo.

So, how do you know what value of resistance a fixed resistor has? The answer lies in the colored bands around the body of the resistor. These bands indicate the resistance value according to a standardized code. Here’s the rundown:

● The first two bands give you the first two digits of the resistance value

● The third band indicates the multiplier (i.e., how many zeros to add to the first two digits)

● The fourth band is the tolerance, which tells you how much the actual resistance value can vary from the stated value.

For example, if you have a fixed resistor with brown, black, and red bands, it has a resistance value of 1000 ohms (brown is for the first digit, black is for the second digit, and red is the multiplier).

Now, you might be wondering why you’d use a fixed resistor in the first place. After all, if you can’t adjust it, what’s the point? Well, fixed resistors have several uses. They can help limit current to protect a component from damage. They can also form voltage dividers to control the level of voltage in a circuit.

One thing to keep in mind with fixed resistors is that they’re not perfect. Just like any other electronic component, they have their own resistance, which can add up when you’re working with multiple resistors in a circuit. This is known as total resistance or equivalent resistance.

So, there you have it – a brief overview of fixed resistors. While they may seem like a small component, they play a crucial role in regulating the flow of current in a circuit. Think of them as the traffic cops of your DIY electronics projects.

So, the next time you come across a fixed resistor, don’t be intimidated. Now, you can confidently decipher those colored bands and know what value of resistance you’re dealing with. Keep on tinkering, my friends!