As power electronics evolve, the requirements for high current, low resistance sensing resistors continues to increase. Emerging applications, such as hybrid power systems, may require high power, high accuracy, and low thermal resistance. These are a difficult combination for many traditional sense resistor technologies.

Commercial and industrial power electronics increasingly demand robust power supplies with high stability and low thermal resistance. For these requirements, standard chip resistors may not be the best solution.

Current sensing for high efficiency typically requires very low resistance values. However, sensing accuracy is more challenging for lower resistance values due to lead resistance effects. Four terminal shunt resistors eliminate errors due to lead resistance.

Modern electronics utilise current sense resistors for portable power management. As larger and more powerful devices become portable, higher currents and higher power ratings become critical, however, space for any portable electrical device must always be conserved.

RNCF Ultra-Precision thin film resistors offer Tolerances As Low As 0.01% and TCR Down To 2 ppm

Surface mount resistors have complied with the EU’s ROHS standards through exemption 7c-I. 

Stackpole’s AEC qualified RTAN series utilises tantalum nitride technology to provide moisture proof precision chip resistor performance.

2512 size chip resistors can typically be found with one to two watt power ratings. However, as electronic devices add functions and capability, higher power ratings become increasingly important. Stackpole has the CSRT2512-UP, which is a 2512 size chip resistor with a 3.5W power rating, in stock currently in a range of popular values.

Stackpole's AEC qualified RTAN series utilises tantalum nitride technology to provide moisture proof precision chip resistor performance. The RTAN film passes biased humidity testing at 85oC, 85% relative humidity, and ten percent bias with very little shift in resistance.

As electronic devices continue to evolve, finding resistors that have higher power ratings in a given package size are more and more important. However, higher power resistors can often generate significantly more heat than resistors with standard power ratings.

High efficiency current sensing is commonly done using low resistance value resistors. However, as resistance values are reduced, the measurement error due to lead resistance becomes significant. For applications requiring high efficiency with the best possible temperature accuracy, four terminal metal element current sensing products are the ideal choice.

Stackpole's RMCS series now offers a 2W power rating in a 2512 chip resistor size as the RMCS2512 ... -HP. This option doubles the standard 2512 power rating and allows for the RMCS-HP to be used for higher power applications that may have used a different technology previously.

Applications that experience pulse events require special consideration for selecting resistors. General purpose thick film chip resistors have variable pulse handling depending on calibration trim length. As a result, their pulse performance can be unreliable.

Zero ohm current jumper chip resistors provide an essential function for circuit design. They make trace routing easier for single layer PCB's, are easier to assemble in mass production and less costly than jumper wires. Some designs however require more robust current handling than general purpose thick film chip jumpers.

Current sensing for high efficiency can be done easily and economically using current sense resistors. As resistance values are reduced, the measurement error due to lead resistance becomes more of a problem. For applications desiring high efficiency with the best possible temperature accuracy, four terminal current sensing products are a good choice.

The HCSM2818 from Stackpole is only marginally larger than a standard 2,512 size chip but offers a 5W continuous power rating to maximise power handling in a given PCB area. The AEC compliant HCSM2818 offers one and five percent resistance tolerances in resistance values of four, five, ten, 15, 20, and 25 milliohms. TCR ranges from 200ppm for the four and five milliohm values to 75 ppm for the values 10 ppm and higher.

Stackpole has announced that it offers engineers a solution for these applications with its MLFA Series. The MLFA is an AEC-Q200 compliant MELF resistor that offers exceptional electrical and environmental performance with low thermal resistance.

Applications for thick film chip resistors which are 100% lead free without exemption continue to expand. Finding resistors for those applications can be challenging since there are few options currently available.

Stackpole electronics has announced that it has the CSRF0603 foil on ceramic carrier chip resistors in stock in values as low as 2.5 mΩ, combining small size and low resistance values for maximum electrical and dimensional efficiency.

Engineers face challenges when designing electronics that require a high voltage axial leaded resistor because of limited options and high cost. Stackpole's HVA series axial leaded high voltage resistors provide high voltage handling in a cost effective, compact thru-hole package.