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Power resistor

Power resistors are used in many applications to control electrical current or voltage by dissipating electrical power. In many electric motor applications, power resistors are used as braking loads for the motors. In other applications, such as in frequency converters, power resistors are used in snubber circuits that protect high-power switching devices by suppressing voltage and current spikes arising from line switching actions. A power resistor may have either a fixed resistance or a variable resistance. Variable resistance power resistors are useful in applications in which the ability to conveniently adjust current flow or voltage is desirable. For example, variable resistance power resistors are used as as dimmer controls in lighting circuits, as components in automobile ignition circuits and test equipment, and in other applications. All power resistors generate heat when they dissipate electrical power. The amount of heat generated is directly proportional to the amount of power dissipated. The heat must be removed from the resistor to prevent it from overheating and burning out. Because the dissipation of electrical energy through resistance involves converting electrical energy to thermal energy, power resistor reliability depends on good thermal management.

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Power resistor product listings

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