Take me home please   Valid XHTML 1.0!
 

Calculator for resistors in parallel.

For best viewing turn your style sheets on.

Valid CSS!
the resistors

Enter resistance of original resistor
in Ohms and Watts.

  (1) Original   = Ohms.
Answer when (2) is zero.
(2)  Watt.

Enter resistance of first choice resistor in Ohms.

(3) Your choice in Ohms.

Power of first choice resistor.

Watt.

The extra resistor needed.

(4) Resistance = Ohms.
Answer when box 1, 2, 3 is used.
Watt.


Lets say you have to fix something that needs a 15 Ohm 3 Watt resistor replaced, so you look in your parts stock and only find a 22 Ohm 2 Watts what resistor would you need to go in parallel with it, and would the 2 watt power rating be all right, by putting the three values 15 (in box 1), 3 (in box 2), 22 (in box 3) in the calculator above and pressing the [Answer] button, you will find the 2 Watts is just a fraction under the limit, this is all right, there are bigger things to worry about, and a 47 Ohm (in box 4), 1 Watt will be good to use in parallel.

 You could if you wish find the resistor values by the hard way.
1/Total Resistance = 1/first resistor in parallel + 1/second resistor in parallel + 1/third ..........
or,
1/Total Resistance = 1/r1 + 1/r2 + 1/r3 ........
So without the calculator above you need,
1/unknown resistor = 1/original resistor - 1/first choice resistor

If you just need to find the value of two resistors in parallel try,
Total Resistance = (r1 * r2)/(r1+r2)



By leaving the "original resistor" power as "0" (box 2) then the calculator above can be use to find the total resistance (box 1) from two known resistors in parallel (box 3 & 4).



"NaN" on the calculator means that it is Not a Number, like infinity.

TOLERANCE CODE:
Brown ±1%
C = ±0.25pF
D = ±0.5pF
E = ±1pF
G = ±2%, Red.
J = ±5%, Gold.
K = ±10%, Silver.
L = ±15%
M = ±20%, None (resistor)
N = ±30%


From Eric.
Have a happy day (Somebody has too).