Silicone coating · 5 W, 10 Ω5W 10Ω markingThick pins (Ø 0.8 mm)

Green or gray glazed body with value and power text on it, thick axial leads
Varies with power: from small axial types to metal-cased types a few cm long

Resistors

Wire-wound resistor

In simple terms

What is this?

Thin wire wound around a ceramic rod; it is a long, narrow, sturdy pipe.

What is it for?

Handles high power; suitable for measuring current and for use as a load.

Where do you see it?

Big, high-power resistors inside power supplies and amplifiers.

How do you spot it?

A ceramic or glassy body with wire wound inside; much bigger than a normal resistor, with its power rating written on it.

Caution:

It gets very hot while working; leave the area around it free and do not touch it.

Technical definition

Made by winding resistance wire (such as nickel-chrome) onto a ceramic or fiberglass core. It handles high power and can be made very precisely at small values. Because the winding behaves like an inductor, it can cause trouble with fast signals.

Power1–10 W

Tolerance±1% · ±5%

Range0.1 Ω – 10 kΩ

Schematic symbol IEC and ANSI differ

IEC 60617: the drawing style used in Türkiye and Europe.

Pins 2

1Pin 1Has no direction1

2Pin 2Has no direction2

Features typical

Power: 1–10 W (axial), cased types more
Tolerance: ±1% · ±5%
Value range: 0.1 Ω – 10 kΩ (typical)
Inductance: Yes (because of the winding)
Surface temperature: Can exceed 200 °C at full power
Example part: 5 W axial wire-wound

Common mistakes

Not accounting for heatAt full power the body gets very hot. Mount it away from plastic parts and wires; using it at half power extends its life.

Using it on a fast signalThe winding adds inductance. In fast-switching circuits choose a non-inductive type or a film resistor.

Test with a multimeter

Test whether this part is good with the multimeter on the measurement screen.

Take a measurement

Where it is used

Current-sense (shunt) resistorLoad resistor on a power supplyCapacitor discharge resistorElectronic load