carbon resistor vs wire wound resistor-Difference between carbon resistor and wire wound resistor

This page on carbon resistor vs wire wound resistor describes basic difference between carbon resistor and wire wound resistor.

As we know resistor is a device which offers resistance to flow of electric current. It is measured in Ohms. Following are the types of resistors.

Carbon Resistor

It is a resistor which is made of carbon or graphite. Following are the advantages of the carbon resistor.

• It is small in size and are light in weight.
• It is suitable for high frequency circuits.
• It has low temperature coefficient value.
• Using this high value resistor can easily be made.

Following are the disadvantages of carbon resistor:
• Resistance value get changed by change in temperature, humidity etc.
• Current carrying capacity and hence power wattage is limited to about 2Watts.
• It is difficult to manufacture carbon resistor of value less than about 2 Ohms.
• Stability and reliability are poor.

Carbon resistors are of two types viz. composition type resistor and film type resistor.

carbon resistor vs wire wound resistor

Wire Wound Resistor

It is a resistor made by winding a wire on an insulated core.

Following are the advantages of wire wound resistor:
• It has higher order of stability and reliability.
• It has high power rating with a low tolerance value.
• Easy to make wire wound resistor of value 0.01 Ohm.

Following are the disadvantages of wire wound resistor:
• It is difficult to manufacture wire wound resistor of value in several Mega Ohms.
• It is difficult to construct variable type of wire wound resistor.
• It is not suitable for high frequency circuits.
• It has big size which is not suitable for many of the applications.

The wire wound resistor is also known as rheostat.

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