I'm in need of some 5W 11 ohm resistors to make an immediate repair in the Chicagoland area. Does anyone know if there's a place nearby where I can buy these in person? I checked Microcenter, but they only carry up to 2W. Additionally, can resistors in series handle more wattage?
2 Answers
For your wattage needs, using resistors in series or parallel works well, but you'll need the right values! For instance, if you connect three 3.6 ohm resistors in series, you can achieve approximately 11 ohms and handle 6 watts total since each one is rated for 2W. Similarly, you could do three 33 ohm resistors in parallel to end up with the same 11 ohms and capability. Just keep in mind, if you mix values, the power distribution won't be even!
You might want to try Ax man if you're looking for unique parts. I know it's a bit of a gamble, but I found some random stuff there before! Once, they even had this crazy 11-foot gasket that turned into a fun project for a human-powered vehicle! Definitely worth checking out!
Thanks for the tip! I'll see if there's an Ax man near me and hope for some good luck!