Hi all,
I'd like to know if maximum power dissipation of a resistor sums up if using multiple resistors in parallel as opposed to a single higher powered resistor? Granted we use the same values for all the resistors that are connected in parallel.
Let's say we tie a pair of 5W 10k resistors together for a total of 5k, do we end up with the same heat/power dissipation of a 10W resistor, or is the 10W going to run cooler by having a larger body and probably a different gauge wire inside it?
I'd like to know if maximum power dissipation of a resistor sums up if using multiple resistors in parallel as opposed to a single higher powered resistor? Granted we use the same values for all the resistors that are connected in parallel.
Let's say we tie a pair of 5W 10k resistors together for a total of 5k, do we end up with the same heat/power dissipation of a 10W resistor, or is the 10W going to run cooler by having a larger body and probably a different gauge wire inside it?
You'll get 10W provided each unit has the same free access to a cooling environment, so bunching them up may be a problem.
Parallel or series doesn't matter here. The environment the resistors are in and how close they are to each other in air (or on a heatsink) will affect the performance. Since you'd usually derate power dissipation significantly anyway its probably academic.
As long as any number of identical resistors are connected symmetrically, they will share power equally.
But they must also be mounted symmetrically, to all operate at the same temperature.
The temperatures of one large resistor vs multiple smaller resistors would have to be determined from the data sheets.
But they must also be mounted symmetrically, to all operate at the same temperature.
The temperatures of one large resistor vs multiple smaller resistors would have to be determined from the data sheets.