Resistors

Resistors are in stock with same-day shipping at Mouser Electronics from industry leading manufacturers.  Mouser is an authorized distributor for many resistor manufacturers including Bourns, KOA Speer, Ohmite, Panasonic, SEI Stackpole, TE Connectivity, Vishay, Yageo & more. We stock many resistor types including carbon, ceramic, chassis mount, current sense, film, metal foil, metal oxide, & wirewound resistors with through hole and surface mount packaging. We also stock a variety of resistor networks, resistor kits, and resistor hardware.

Resistors are elements of electrical circuits that resist and reduce the flow of current through the electrical circuit. They can also be used to provide specific voltages to active components. Resistors are available with fixed or variable resistance values. Fixed resistors are ones in which resistance never changes. Variable resistors, sometimes called potentiometers, allow resistance to be adjusted. Resistor values are measured in Ohms and a resistor’s composition and construction determines the amount of resistance offered. Typically resistors are constructed of metal or carbon and are available in a variety of mounting styles, but through hole and surface mount are the most common.

The following would be required to choose a resistor:

Resistance value (ohms):
• Determine how much current reduction or voltage drop is needed in the circuit.
Power rating (watts):
• Ensure the resistor can safely dissipate the heat generated (avoid overheating/failure).
Tolerance (%):
• Defines how precise the resistance must be (e.g., ±1% for precision circuits vs ±5% standard).
Type / construction:
• Choose based on use case (e.g., thick film for general use, wirewound for high power, metal film for precision).