4.

1
Lecture 4 Resistors
Resistor characteristics. Resistor types. Choosing resistors.

Introduction
A resistor is not a pure resistance of exact value. A real resistor has a series

A resistor is not a
inductance and a parallel stray capacitance. These affect the behaviour of the pure resistance

resistor, particularly at high frequencies.

For resistors we will:

define the essential characteristics used to describe their performance;

present the main types of devices, differentiated by the materials and

technologies used in manufacturing them, as these determine the
characteristics;

compare the characteristics and recommend applications for different

types of components.

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

4.2
Resistor Characteristics
Resistors are the most commonly used passive electronic component. The
characteristics and the features to consider when choosing a resistor are:
resistance value, tolerance on value, stability, temperature coefficient, voltage
coefficient, humidity effects, power dissipation, frequency effects, noise,
reliability, size and packaging, availability and cost. For insight into these
factors, the materials and construction of the various resistor types must be
considered.
Tolerance on value
Service variability of a resistor value is an overall, long-term value tolerance
composed of factors such as purchase tolerance, ageing, stress and short-term
excursions due to the local environment (temperature, humidity, etc). A
Component
tolerances are
tolerances at time of
purchase

resistor of, say, 10% rated tolerance can be selected to be within 1% of the
required value when installed in a circuit, but such a resistor might well drift
within (and often even outside) the rated 10% during its service. Hence, if
either a very accurate or stable resistance value is required in a circuit, choose
the right tolerance resistor when purchasing it, i.e. with a tolerance tighter than
the required end-of-life tolerance.
Preferred Values and the Decade Progression
Fundamental standardization practices require the selection of preferred values
within the ranges available. Standard values may at first sight seem to be
strangely numbered. There is, however, a beautiful logic behind them, dictated
by the tolerance ranges available.
The decade progression of preferred values is based on preferred numbers

Component values
have been
standardized by the
IEC

generated by a geometric progression, repeated in succeeding decades. In

1963, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standardized the
preferred number series for resistors and capacitors (standard IEC 60063). It is
based on the fact that we can linearly space values along a logarithmic scale so
a percentage change of a value results in a linear change on the logarithmic
scale.
Analog Electronics Spring 2012

4.3
Recall that for a geometric progression, each individual term is given by:
(4.1)

an ar n1

where a n is the n-th term, a is the scale factor, and r is the common ratio. If

r is chosen to be the k-th root of 10, and the scale factor is set to 100, then:

an 100 k 10

(4.2)

n 1

Thus, the selection of k determines how many values of the geometric Component values
spaced
progression there are in one decade. For example, if 6 values per decade are are
equidistantly on a
desired, k 6 and the common ratio is

10 1.468 . The six rounded-off

values become 100, 150, 220, 330, 470, 680.

To figure out what tolerance is allowable on resistors with these values, we can
let the tolerance be . Then if we require successive values of resistors to
increase with almost certainty, then:

an 1 an1 1
an1 1

an 1
k

1
1
k
10 1
k
10 1

10

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

(4.3)

logarithmic scale

4.4
For k 6 , we get 18.95% . Thus, if we set the tolerance of resistors with 6
values per decade to 20% , we get values that almost certainly increase,
with minimal overlap:
100 20% = 80 to 120

330 20% = 264 to 396

150 20% = 120 to 180

470 20% = 376 to 564

220 20% = 176 to 264

680 20% = 544 to 816

The E Series Values

The IEC set the number of values for resistors (and capacitors) per decade
based on their tolerance. These tolerances are 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, 20%
and 40% and are respectively known as the E192, E96, E48, E24, E12, E6 and
The E series
values explained

E3 series, the number indicating the quantity of values per decade in that
series. For example, if resistors have a tolerance of 5%, a series of 24 values
can be assigned to a single decade multiple (e.g. 100 to 999) knowing that the
possible extreme values of each resistor overlap the extreme values of adjacent
resistors in the same series.
Any of the numbers in a series can be applied to any decade multiple set. Thus,
for instance, multiplying 220 by each decade multiple (0.1, 1, 10 100, 1000
etc.) produces values of 22, 220, 2 200, 22 000, 220 000 etc.
The E series of preferred resistor and capacitor values according to
IEC 60063 are reproduced in Table 4.1.

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

4.5
0.5%
E192
100
101
102
104
105
106
107
109
110
111
113
114
115
117
118
120
121
123
124
126
127
129
130
132
133
135
137
138
140
142
143
145
147
149
150
152
154
156
158
160
162
164
165
167

1% 2% 0.5% 1% 2%
E96 E48 E192 E96 E48
100 100 169
169 169
172
102
174
174
176
105 105 178
178 178
180
107
182
182
184
110 110 187
187 187
189
113
191
191
196
115 115 196
196 196
198
118
200
200
203
121 121 205
205 205
208
124
210
210
213
127 127 215
215 215
218
130
221
221
223
133 133 226
226 226
229
137
232
232
234
140 140 237
237 237
240
143
243
243
246
147 147 249
249 249
252
150
255
255
259
154 154 261
261 261
264
158
267
267
271
162 162 274
274 274
277
165
280
280
284

0.5%
E192
287
291
294
298
301
305
309
312
316
320
324
328
332
336
340
344
348
352
357
361
365
370
374
379
383
388
392
397
402
407
412
417
422
427
432
437
442
448
453
459
464
470
475
481

1% 2% 0.5% 1% 2%
E96 E48 E192 E96 E48
287 287 487
487 487
493
294
499
499
505
301 301 511
511 511
517
309
523
523
530
316 316 536
536 536
542
324
549
549
556
332 332 562
562 562
569
340
576
576
583
348 348 590
590 590
597
357
604
604
612
365 365 619
619 619
626
374
634
634
642
383 383 649
649 649
657
392
665
665
673
402 402 681
681 681
690
412
698
698
706
422 422 715
715 715
723
432
732
732
741
442 442 750
750 750
759
453
768
768
777
464 464 787
787 787
796
475
806
806
816

Table 4.1 - IEC standard E series of values in a decade

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

0.5%
E192
825
835
845
856
866
876
887
898
909
920
931
942
953
965
976
988

1%
E96
825

2%
E48
825

5%
E24

10% 20% 40%

E12 E6
E3

100
110
120
130
150
160
180
200
220
240
270
300
330
360
390
430
470
510
560
620
680
750
820
910

100

845
866

866

887
909

909

931
953

953

976

100

100

120
150

150

180
220

220

220

270
330

330

390
470

470

560
680
820

680

470

4.6
Marking Codes
The IEC also defines how manufacturers should mark the values of resistors
and capacitors in the standard called IEC 60062. The colours used on fixed
leaded resistors are shown below:
IEC labelling for
leaded resistors
4 bands

22 , 5%

5 bands

2200 , 1%

6 bands

100 k , 0.1%, 15 ppm

silver

0.01

gold

0.1

10%
5%

black

brown

10

1%

100 ppm

red

100

2%

50 ppm

orange 3

1k

15 ppm

yellow

10k

25 ppm

green

100k

blue

1M

0.25%

10 ppm

violet

10M

0.1%

5 ppm

grey

white

200 ppm

0.5%

1 ppm
Tolerance
Multiplier

Significant Figures

Temperature
Coefficient

Figure 4.1 Colour code marking of leaded resistors

The resistance colour code consists of three or four colour bands and is
followed by a band representing the tolerance. The temperature coefficient
band, if provided, is to the right of the tolerance band and is usually a wide
band positioned on the end cap.
The resistance colour code includes the first two or three significant figures of
the resistance value (in ohms), followed by a multiplier. This is a factor by
Analog Electronics Spring 2012

4.7
which the significant-figure value must be multiplied to find the actual
resistance value. (i.e. the number of zeros to be added after the significant
figures).
Whether two or three significant figures are represented depends on the
tolerance: 5% and wider require two band; 2% and tighter requires three
bands. The significant figures refer to the first two or three digits of the
resistance value of the standard series of values in a decade, in accordance with
IEC 60063 as indicated in the relevant data sheets and shown in Table 4.1.
The colours used and their basic numerical meanings are recognized
internationally for any colour coding used in electronics, not just resistors, but
some capacitors, diodes, cabling and other items.
The colours are easy to remember: Black is the absence of any colour, and
therefore represents the absence of any quantity, 0. White (light) is made up of
all colours, and so represents the largest number, 9. In between, we have the The resistor colour
code explained

colours of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. These take
up the numbers from 2 to 7. A colour in between black and red would be
brown, which has the number 4. A colour intermediate to violet and white is
grey, which represents the number 8.
Surface mount technology (SMT) chip resistors are frequently marked with a
three-digit number, and some typical values are shown in the table below. The
first two numbers are the significant digits of the value, and the last digit is the
multiplier (the number of zeros to add to the first two digits). For example, a
chip resistor labelled 102 has a value of 1 k .
Resistor Value

Resistor marking for

Resistor Marking chip resistors

0.1

0R1

1R0

22

220

3.3 k

332

100 k

104

4.5 M

155

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

4.8
When resistors are labelled with numbers, an additional letter is appended to
indicate the tolerance. The table below lists the letters used for the tolerance.
We use a letter to
indicate tolerance

Resistor

IEC Labelling

Tolerance
1%

2%

5%

10 %

20 %

The figure below shows the markings on a single in-line package (SIP) of
networked resistors (several resistors are in the one package) and the markings
on a chip resistor (with just a three-digit number for space reasons):
47 k 10%

pin 1
SIP network

10 k

SMC resistor

Figure 4.2 Resistor markings

When resistors are labelled in diagrams, such as schematics, IEC 60062 calls
for the significant figures to be printed as such, but replacing the decimal point
with the SI prefix of the multiplier. Examples of such labelling are shown
below:
IEC labelling for
diagrams

Resistor Value

IEC Labelling

0.1

0R1

1R0

22

22R

3.3 k

3K3

100 k

100K

4.5 M

4M5

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

4.9
Note how the decimal point is expressed, that the ohm symbol is shown as an
R, and that 1000 is shown as a capital K. Note that although capital K is called
for by the standard, a lower-case k is generally preferred because it aligns with
the SI prefix and capital K has widely become used in computing to mean 1024
(as in KB kilobytes) . The use of a letter instead of a decimal point solves a We use a letter in

place of a decimal

printing problem! The decimal point in a number may not always be printed point for labelling
clearly, and the alternative display method is intended to help misinterpretation

component values

of component values in circuit diagrams and parts lists.

In circuit diagrams and constructional charts, a resistors numerical identity is
usually prefixed by R, e.g. R15 simply means resistor number 15.
Stability
Stability refers to the change in resistance value, expressed in % or parts per
million (ppm, i.e. 10 6 ), following exposure to a specified environmental Stability defined

condition or stress: high or low temperature, time (ageing), full rated power,
moisture, soldering heat, short-time overload, radiation. Wire-wound resistors
are the most stable ones, followed, in order, by metal film, chip and carbon
film.
Temperature Coefficient (Tempco)

The tempco is defined as R R T , and is expressed in % / C or ppm / C.

It is poorest for carbon composition resistors; for carbon film resistors it is Temperature
typically negative, -200 to -500 ppm / C. It is best for chip and metal film coefficient defined
resistors (within 20 to 100 ppm / C).
Wire wound resistors can have nearly zero tempco. They are wound from
special alloys such as Constantan (55% copper, 45% nickel) which has a
remarkably low tempco of 1-5 ppm / C.

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

4.10
Example

If the temperature coefficient of a resistor with R rated 1 k between -55 C

and +155 C is 200 10 6 / C , its resistance value will be:
at +25 C:

1000 (nominal = rated value)

at +155 C: 1000 130 200 10 6 1000 1026 or 974

at -55 C:

1000 80 200 10 6 1000 1016 or 984

If the temperature coefficient is specified as within 200 10 6 / C ,

depending on temperature, the resistance will be within the shaded area shown
below:
Tempco of resistors:
effect of
temperature
changes

+26

+2.6%

+1.6%

R nom

-1.6%

-55

25

T (C)

-16

-2.6%

Figure 4.3 Temperature coefficient

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

155

4.11
Voltage Coefficient (Voltco)

When a voltage is applied to a resistor there might be a slight decrease in

resistance value (apart from temperature induced changes). The voltage Voltage coefficient
coefficient is expressed in % / V or ppm / V. It can be large (-500 ppm / V) for

defined

carbon composition. The voltco is about 5 to 30 ppm / V for carbon film, and
0.05 to 10 ppm / V for metal film or chip resistors.
Humidity Effects

On the surface of a high resistance value resistor, moisture can provide a low
resistance leakage path. If moisture penetrates the coating, it can react
chemically with the resistive film and alter it. The danger is mainly when the

Humidity effects

resistors are stored or the equipment is not used, because then the resistors are
cold. The effect of prolonged humidity is also expressed in % or ppm change.
Power Dissipation

Resistors must be operated within specified temperature limits to avoid

permanent damage to the materials. The temperature limit is defined in terms
of the maximum power, called the power rating, and a derating curve. The

Power dissipation
power rating of a resistor is the maximum power in watts which the resistor depends on the
resistor
can dissipate. The maximum power rating is a function of resistor material, construction, and
depends on the
maximum voltage rating, resistor dimensions, and maximum allowable hot- ambient
temperature

spot temperature. The maximum hot-spot temperature is the temperature of the

hottest part on the resistor when dissipating full-rated power at rated ambient
temperature.

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

4.12
The maximum allowable power rating as a function of the ambient temperature
is given by the derating curve. The figure below shows a typical power
derating curve for a resistor.
Power derating
curve for a resistor

full-rated power

100

Pmax
(% Prated )
50

no-load maximum
safe operating
temperature

maximum full-load
ambient temperature
0

50

70

155

100

Tamb (C)
Figure 4.4 Resistor derating curve

The derating curve is usually linearly drawn from the full-rated load
temperature to the maximum allowable no-load temperature. A resistor may be
operated at ambient temperatures above the maximum full-load ambient
temperature if operating at lower than full-rated power capacity. The maximum
allowable no-load temperature is also the maximum storage temperature for the
resistor.
Example

According to Figure 4.4, a resistor rated 1 W can dissipate 1 W only if it is

mounted so that air can circulate freely around it, and if Tamb 70 C . If the
ambient temperature (i.e. the temperature inside the equipments enclosure) is
above 70 C , the power dissipation must be reduced to avoid the resistor
temperature reaching a maximum temperature of 155 C . The thermal
resistance

can

also

be

calculated

from

the

R 155 C - 70C Prated .

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

derating

curve

as

4.13
Voltage Rating

Discrete resistors are available in power dissipation ratings from 1/20 W to 2

W or more. However, for high values of resistance, voltage, rather then power
is the limiting factor, ranging from 150 V for smaller packages to about 750 V
for 2 W resistors. The critical resistance value, which is the boundary between
the two limitations is R V 2 P , where V and P are the rated voltage and
power dissipation respectively.
For a given value of voltage and power rating, a critical value of resistance can
be calculated. For values of resistance below the critical value, the maximum
voltage is never reached; for values of resistance above the critical value, the
power dissipated is lower than the rated power.

rated power = P

Voltage
or
Power

Sometimes voltage
rating, rather than
power rating, is a
limiting factor of a
resistors operation

rated voltage = V

P 1/ R

V R

Critical Value
of
Resistance

Resistance

Figure 4.5 Relationship of applied voltage and power above and below
the critical value of resistance

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

4.14
Frequency Effects

The resistance of a resistor remains constant only at low frequencies.

Frequency response is affected by distributed capacitance and inductance in the
resistive path, lead inductance, capacitance from case to ground, skin effect,
dielectric losses. The simplest approximate equivalent circuit of a resistor at
high frequencies is a parallel resonant circuit, as shown in Figure 4.6, with
capacitance and inductance figures shown for chip resistors of standard sizes.
Typical values of
inductance and
capacitance

QUANTITY

CHIP PROPERTIES
THIN FILM
1206

THICK FILM
1206

0805

0603

R 1 k
Capacitance

0.05 pF

0.05 pF

0.09 pF

0.05 pF

Inductance

2 nH

2 nH

1 nH

0.4 nH

for a resistors
equivalent circuit

Figure 4.6 Resistor equivalent circuit

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

4.15
The equivalent circuit parameters are not always supplied by the
manufacturers. Instead, impedance versus frequency behaviour is given in plots
of Z R versus frequency, and phase shift versus frequency as in the figure
below:
Impedance as a
function of
frequency for a
resistor

Figure 4.7 Impedance as a function of frequency for a resistor

Generally the frequency response is best for low value, small size, not spiralled
resistors (e.g. chip resistors). In Figure 4.7 one can see that a 10 k chip
resistor of size 0603 maintains its R value to about 70 MHz (a very high
frequency). The response is poorest for high value, spiralled resistors. Wirewound resistors are inductive even at audio frequencies.
Analog Electronics Spring 2012

4.16
Noise

All resistors generate a thermal (Johnson) noise voltage, caused by the random
motion of the electrons. Since this source of noise is caused by the random
motion of electrons, we expect that it is related to absolute temperature T . In
fact thermal noise is directly proportional to T and, as T approaches zero,
thermal noise also approaches zero. Since the noise is essentially random and
follows a Gaussian distribution about 0 V, we are interested in the RMS noise
voltage:
RMS thermal noise
voltage

(4.4)

Vn 4kTRB
where:
Vn = RMS thermal noise voltage
k = Boltzmanns constant ( 1.38 10 23 J K )

T = absolute temperature, in Kelvin (e.g. 298K = 25C)

R = resistance value,
B = noise bandwidth, Hz
It is useful to remember for thermal noise that a 1 k resistor has a thermal
noise power spectral density of Vn

in RMS form as V 4 nV

B 16 10 18 V 2 Hz . This can be written

Hz where the form nV

Hz is used to

emphasize that the RMS noise voltage varies as the square root of the
bandwidth. This noise is bothersome when the circuit handles low-level
signals, e.g. at the input of a high-gain amplifier.
In addition to thermal noise, most resistors generate noise due to the passage of
current through the resistor. This additional noise is dependent on the amount
of current, the resistive material and the physical construction of the resistor.
Laser trimming, which cuts a groove in the resistive material, affects the
additional noise.

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

4.17
Typical noise levels due to current are shown below:
Typical noise levels
in a resistor due to
current

Figure 4.8 Typical noise levels as a function of rated resistance

Reliability

Reliability refers to the probability that a resistor will still be within

specifications after a given time under certain specified conditions. Reliability
is expressed in terms of failure rate in percent per thousand hours of operation,

Reliability of

or in units of Failure-In-Time (FIT) a FIT being 1 failure in 1 billion device- resistors is

excellent, and is

hours of operation. A typical value, for good quality film resistors, operating at mostly affected by
an ambient temperature of 25 C, is 2 FITs. Resistors may fail catastrophically
(open or short circuit) or may drift out of specification.
Open circuits can be caused by cracked substrates, open welds, broken
resistive elements and chemical corrosion. Make sure to never stress a resistor
mechanically.
Short circuits may be caused by electrical breakdown (over-voltage), foreign
objects and silver migration. Excessive drift is due to moisture penetration,
corrosion, electrostatic discharge and transient overloading.

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

the environment

4.18
Derating

Derating is a policy of deliberately under-stressing components so as to

A policy of derating
components leads
to increased
reliability and
stability

provide increased reliability and stability, e.g. using a 1 2 W resistor in circuit

conditions demanding a 1 4 W dissipation is an effective and well established
method of achieving a very reliable design. In most cases a components
reliability and stability improve when operating stresses like temperature,
voltage and power dissipation are reduced. Unfortunately, this will usually
require a larger size component.
Designers of military, medical and high-reliability equipment always derate
component specifications. They account for extremes of power-supply
fluctuation, ambient temperature, loss of active cooling systems, material
variation, memory errors (in a digital system) due to high-energy particle
radiation and the expected degree of specsmanship on the part of their
component suppliers. Then, if they really want the product to work, designers
test all components before putting them into the system.
Not every project deserves such scrutiny, but it is standard practice to allocate
a healthy margin of safety in an electronic design.

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

4.19
Resistor Types
This section briefly examines the construction method and materials used in
the manufacture of different types of resistors, and therefore shows why the
different types of resistors have such different characteristics.
Carbon Composition Resistors

Carbon composition resistors are made from a mixture of powdered carbon and
a resin binder, and are pressed to form a rod. The resistor is then coated with
epoxy. It is the oldest type of resistor, but is still used in some applications.

insulated
coating

Carbon composition
resistors

carbon
composition

colour
coding
leads embedded
into resistive
material
Figure 4.9 Carbon composition resistor

The main advantage of carbon composition resistors is their pulse handling

capability. They are used as surge protection resistors in medical monitoring
equipment and as output resistors in defibrillators. For example, in an have the
advantage of a high

emergency situation where monitoring equipment is attached to a patient (e.g. pulse handling
ECG), it may be necessary to apply a defibrillator pulse in the case of a cardiac
arrest. In such circumstances there would not be time to disconnect all of the
sensitive monitoring equipment and therefore this equipment must be
protected.

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

capability

4.20
Carbon composition resistors, either mounted inside the equipment or moulded
into the leads of the monitoring equipment, provide protection. These resistors
are required to withstand all of the pulse energy typically around 30 J.
Advantages: Low price, wide range, low inductance, good surge capability.
Disadvantages: Poor tolerance (5% at best), poor stability, moisture sensitivity,

high noise figure. Seldom used except in special applications.

Carbon Film Resistors

A film (2 m to 100 m thick) of pure carbon is deposited (by pyrolytic

decomposition at 1000 C) on a small ceramic rod. The two ends are covered
with metal caps and wire terminals soldered. To adjust the resistance value to
within the required tolerance, a process called spiralling is used: a helical
groove is cut in the resistive layer with an automatic grinding machine or a
laser, under computer control, to trim (increase) the resistance to the rated
value.
Carbon film resistors
are general purpose
resistors that are not
used often anymore
due to surface
mount technology

conductive metal coating

glass or ceramic
rod substrate

carbon, metal, or
metal oxide film

leads and
caps
spiral incised trhough
film into substrate to
increase and adjust
resistance
glass cover, or moulded
or conformal case

Figure 4.10 Film resistor construction, spiralling and carbon film

resistors

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

4.21
Unfortunately, spiralling also adds inductance to the resistor. Finally the
resistor is coated with lacquer and marked. Carbon film resistors have replaced
carbon composition resistors as general purpose, low cost resistors.
Advantages: Tighter tolerances (down to 0.5%), better stability, good high-

frequency performance, lower noise. Power ratings 1 10 to 2 W. Distinctive

feature: negative temperature coefficient of typically -200 to -300 ppm / C.
Disadvantages: Large stray inductance, especially for high value resistance;

poor surge capability. Carbon film resistors are general purpose resistors, used
for less critical applications.
Metal Film Resistors

A film of low tempco metal alloy (Ni, Cr, Au, Al) or of metal oxide is
deposited on a ceramic body, then metal caps are added; a helical groove is cut
to trim the value (spiralling, as in Figure 4.10), then the body is lacquered and
marked.
Metal film resistors
are used in
precision
applications that
demand higher
power ratings than
surface mount
components

Figure 4.11 Metal film resistors

Advantages: Compared to carbon film: tolerances can be much tighter

(typically 1% to 2% and can be accurate to 0.05% to 0.1%); can be of smaller

size and lower power dissipation (down to 1/20 W). The tempco is smaller:
from 100 ppm / C down to

25 ppm / C. Stability, high frequency

performance is superior.
Metal film are the resistors used in precision and high precision applications,
such as gain setting in op-amp feedback networks and frequency setting in RC
filters and oscillators.

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

4.22
Wire Wound Resistors

Resistive wire is wound on a ceramic rod or a glass core. Metal caps are
pressed over the ends of the rod. The resistor is coated with cement or enamel
(high power resistors).
Wire wound
resistors are the
most accurate and
stable and can
handle high powers,
but they are bulky
and expensive

leads welded
to end caps

resistance wire
resistance wire wound welded to end caps
on ceramic substrate

molded or conformal case

Figure 4.12 Wire wound resistors

Advantages: High power, less than 20 W; highest precision: 0.01%; tempco

0.2 to 2 ppm / C.
Disadvantages: Large, expensive, very poor frequency response.

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

4.23
Chip Resistors

Chip resistors are surface mount components (SMC) and are made in either
thick-film or thin-film.
In thick-film technology, a paste with metal oxides is screen-printed on a
ceramic body, dried, then fired (this technology is also designated cermet).
The composition of the metal oxides determines the approximate value of the
resistor. Metallic end terminals are attached. The resistor is then laser trimmed
to the final value and coated.
Thin-film resistors are made by sputtering (a method of vacuum deposition) the
resistive material onto an insulating substrate, and then a pattern is etched into
the metal layer.

marking

resistor
layer

Chip resistors are

small and come with
wide ranging
characteristics

protective
coat

end cap
inner electrode

trim
notch

ceramic
substrate

material

Figure 4.13 Construction and sizes of chip resistors

Standard sizes and code designations are also shown in the table below.
SIZE

Length

Length

Width

Width

Mass

CODE

(mm)

(inches)

(mm)

(inches)

(mg)

1206

3.2

0.12

4.6

0.06

10

0805

2.0

0.08

4.2

0.05

0603

4.6

0.06

0.8

0.03

0402

4.0

0.04

0.5

0.02

0.8

0201

0.6

0.02

0.3

0.01

0.15

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

Sizes of chip
resistors note how
light they are too!

4.24
Advantages: Very small size; range of values, tolerances, tempco and stability

nearly as good as of metal film resistors.

Chip resistors are made both as general purpose and for precision applications.
Usage has increased rapidly due to extensive adoption of surface mount
assembly (SMA), where they are mandatory.
Chip resistors are by
far the most
common type of
resistor in a modern
circuit

All modern circuits now make use of chip resistors, with leaded resistors
reserved for special applications. They are by far the most common type of
resistor, and were a necessary development in achieving the miniaturization of
everyday electronic devices, such as the mobile phone and MP3 player.
Thick film has the advantages of lower cost, of being able to handle more
power, and of being able to service a higher range of ohmic values.
Thin film has the advantages of tighter absolute and ratio tolerances and more
environmentally stable components with lower noise and tighter tempco than
thick film. Thin film technology is used wherever precision resistors are
needed.
Parameter

Thick-Film

Thin-Film

Resistance

3 to 20 M

10 to 100 k

Resistance Tolerance

0.5%, 1%, 2%, 5%

0.1%, 0.2%, 0.5%

Tempco

100ppm/C

25ppm/C

Tempco Tracking

100ppm/C

5ppm/C

Operating Temperature

-55C to +125C

-55C to +125C

Max. Operating Voltage

100 V

50 V

Power

0.125W to 0.5W

0.1W to 0.2W

Table 4.1 Thick-Film vs. Thin-Film Resistors

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

4.25
Resistor Networks

Resistor networks can be discrete components in a single package, but

typically are thick- or thin-film networks. Most leaded networks are in a Dual
In-line Package (DIP) or a Single In-Line Package (SIP). Resistor networks for
SMA are also readily available. Tolerances can be very tight, like for any
metal-film or chip resistor. Particularly, the tolerance on resistance ratios are
extremely tight, a few ppm / C, which makes them extremely useful as

accurate voltage dividers, attenuators, feedback networks for accurate gain opamps and instrumentation amps, ladder networks for DACs and ADCs etc.
other applications are digital pull-up / pull-down terminations in logic circuits.
Resistors networks
save space but also
provide matching
component values

Figure 4.14 Resistor networks

Analog Electronics Spring 2012

4.26
Choosing Resistors
The table below provides comparative data for different types of resistors.
Carbon
Composition

Carbon
Film

Metal
Film

Wire
Wound

Characteristic

Chip
(thick- and
thin-film)

Resistance

1 to
100 M

1 to
10 M

1 to
10 M

0.1 to
10 M

0.1 to
10 M

Tolerance at
purchasing

5% to
20%

0.5% to
10%

0.1% to
10%

0.01% to
1%

0.5% to
10% Th F
0.1% to
10% Tn F

Power
dissipation

1/8 W to
2W

1/10 W to
2W

1/20 W to
2W

0.1 W to
20 W

50 mW to
500 mW

Effect of
soldering

2%

0.5%

0.05%

0.01%

0.25% Th F
0.05% Tn F

Frequency
limit

1 MHz

100 MHz

400 MHz

50 kHz

100 MHz to
500 MHz

Tempco
(ppm / C)

-800 to +1600

-200 to 1000

20 to 200

20 to 200

25 to 100

Reliability

Good

Good

Good

Poor

Good

Stability

Poor

Good

Good

Very good

Good

Approx. cost

0.2 c

0.05c to 1c

1c to 4 c

50 c to $1

0.1 c to 1 c

Advantages

Low cost
Lowest cost
High reliability
Surge capacity

Good accuracy
Good stability
Small size

Highest
accuracy and
stability

Smallest size
Typical for
SMA

Disadvantages

Poor accuracy
and stability

Poor surge
capacity

Very expensive
Poor frequency
response

Relatively
large
tempco

Table 4.2 Features of Common Resistors

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4.27
Summary of Resistor Characteristics According to Type

Carbon composition resistors have good pulse and surge response, but poor

accuracy and stability. They tend to be replaced in most applications by carbon

film resistors.
Carbon film resistors are used for general purpose applications, (e.g. consumer

electronics or non-critical applications) where very high stability in time and

small change with temperature are not required (the tempco is rather large,
over -300 ppm / C).
Metal film resistors are very accurate (readily available with 0.1% tolerance)

and stable, with a very low temperature coefficient (from 10 to 100

ppm / C). They are used as precision resistors in professional applications.
Chip resistors are either metal film or of the cermet type, and have accuracy

and stability specifications close to those of other film resistors. Chip resistors
are very small in size and are surface mount components (SMC), intended for
surface mount assembly (SMA). Usage of chip resistors is now almost
universal in all large volume electronic products. The main limitation is the
low power dissipation (to about 1/2 W).
Wire wound resistors are the most accurate and stable resistors, but are also the

largest and most expensive. They also have a very poor frequency response.
Usage is limited to very high precision or high power applications at power
(50Hz) and low frequencies.
Resistor networks are used to replace sets of chip resistors in large-volume

produced electronic products. Handling and mounting components on a PCB is

often more expensive than the components themselves. The use of the smallest
SMC is sometimes limited by the difficulty of picking and placing them
correctly. The amount of handling and mounting of small SMC resistors can be
reduced by combining a number of resistors in a network, produced in thick- or
thin-film, on a single substrate, and mounted as a single multi-pin component.
They are also used in circuit demanding extremely accurate and stable
resistance ratios (op-amp gain settings, ADCs, DACs etc).
Analog Electronics Spring 2012

4.28
References
Analog Devices: Hardware Design Techniques; Section 9 of Practical Analog
Design Techniques, Analog Devices, 1996.
Becker, J.: Understanding Passive Components; viewed 6 March 2007,
<www.epemag.com>.
Pecht, M., Lall, P., Ballou, G., Sankaran, C., Angelopoulos, N.: Passive
Components; in The Electrical Engineering Handbook, CRC Press LLC, 2000
Piotech: Data Sheet: Chip Resistors with Au-Terminations; Rev. 1, viewed 6
March 2007 <www.piotech.com.tw>
Sinclair, I.R.: Passive Components a Users Guide, B&H Newnes, Oxford,
1994.
Stere, R.: Project A: Passive Components, UTS, 1997.
Whitaker, J.C., editor-in-chief: The Electronics handbook, Section II,
Properties of Materials and Components, CRC Press & IEEE Press, 1996, pp
135-182.
Yageo: Components Data Books: PA08 Fixed Resistors; PA05 Film
Capacitors; PA06 Ceramic Capacitors; PA01 Electrolytic Capacitors. Yageo,
Taiwan, 1994-1996.

Analog Electronics Spring 2012