Types of Resistors
There are many different types of resistors available. Some of the most common are metal and carbon film, carbon composition, and wire-wound resistors.
Carbon Composition Resistors
Carbon composition resistors are made from a mixture of carbon dust or graphene that is combined with a ceramic (clay) binder and fired at high temperature.
The mixture of the electrically conductive carbon/graphene and electrically insulating ceramic allow manufacturers to control the value the resistor.
Wirewound Resistors
The wirewound resistor essentially packages a really long wire into a small package. Made by wrapping wire around an insulating core, wirewound resistors feature parasitic inductance that limits their usage in high frequency applications.
However, more complex winding patterns can be used that reduce or eliminate the inductance of wirewound resistors, allowing them to be used in a wide variety of applications.
Table of Resistor Types, Strengths and Weaknesses
| Type of Resistor | Tolerance | Strengths | Weaknesses |
| Carbon Film Resistor (RT) | ①The main tolerances are: ± 5%, ± 10%, ± 20%。②Mostly used in less demanding circuit occasions. | Low cost of carbon film | Poor stability and large errors |
| Metal Film Resistor (RJ) | ①The allowable errors are: ± 0.1%, ± 0.2%, ± 0.5%, ± 1%. ②Mostly used in occasions with high accuracy requirements. | Small size, low noise and good stability | High cost |
| Metal Oxide film resistor (RY) | It is suitable for non-combustible, temperature change resistance, humidity resistance and other occasions. | Good oxidation resistance and thermal stability | – |
| Wire Wound Resistor(RX) | Suitable for circuits with low frequency and high accuracy requirements. | Precise resistance, stable operation, small temperature coefficient, good heat resistance, and high power | The resistance value is small, the distributed inductance and distributed capacitance are large, and the manufacturing cost is also high |
| High power wire wound resistor (RX) | Suitable for high power occasions, the rated power is generally more than 1W. | Stable work, good heat resistance, small error range | – |
| Organic Solid Resistor (RS) | Generally used in places where the load cannot be disconnected and the work load is large, such as the circuit where the audio output is connected to the headset | Strong overload capacity, high reliability and low price | Low Precision |
| Fusing Resistor (RF) | It is used in series with high value and circuit components that need to be protected. It is commonly used in power supply and secondary power supply circuits. | – | – |
| Cement Resistor(RX) | A Good choice in a circuit where a large amount of current is being passed through a resistor and with it needing to be resistant to high heat and flame. | Good explosion-proof performance, complete insulation, shock resistance, humidity resistance, heat resistance and good heat dissipation | Large size, high heat generation during use, easy to radiate |
| 0 ohm Resistor | ①On the PCB for debugging convenience or compatible design and other reasons②Can be used as a jumper③Wiring | – | – |
| Power Type Wire Wound Non-inductive Resistor (aluminum shell resistor) | It is suitable for high-power circuits and harsh magnetic fields, so it is often called a power resistor. | – | – |
| Network Resistor(Wire-wound Resistor) | Generally used in digital circuits, instrument circuits and computer circuits, such as attenuators in instrument circuits. | Easy assembly and high installation density | – |
| Classify by uses | Classify by Materials | ||||||||
| Wire Wound Type | Film Type | Composite Type | |||||||
| Carbon Film Type | Metal Film Type | Metal Oxide Film Type | Glass Glaze Type | Composite Carbon Film Type | Metal Foil Type | Organic Solid Type | Inorganic Solid Type | ||
| General Type | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||
| Precision Type | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||
| High-resistance Type | ● | ● | ● | ||||||
| Power Type | ● | ● | ● | ||||||
| High-voltage Type | ● | ● | |||||||
| High-frequency Type | ● |