Electronic – Alternatives to High Wattage Resistors? (Do multiple low-wattage resistors equal a single higher wattage resistor?)

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I am a beginner, so I may have made a horrible mistake in my diagram, but I am trying to learn.

According as I have figured it, I am having an issue wherein I need a resistor rated for a minimum of about 1.07 Watts; this is well, however, I do not have any resistors rated that highly heat-wise. I figured that I could just use a group of five 1/4W resistors, similarly to how a pair of two different resistors adds to a higher resistance.

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*That does say 20kΩ and 29.6kΩ in the schem.; I have no idea why I opted to not write the capital omega in those two places.

Best Answer

Why yes, you can certainly combine multiple resistors to spread out the power dissipation.

I see you've planned to have 177.5V across and 6mA through R1.

You can parallel 5 resistors that will take 1.2mA each.

177.5V / 1.2mA gives 147916 ohms, probably 150k ohms will be close enough. Then put 5 of them in parallel. The overall resistance will work out to 30k ohms (150k / 5).

Note that 1/4W resistors, even though they're rated for 1/4W, can still get rather hot when dissipating 1/4W, enough to burn you. Make sure to leave room in between for airflow (don't just bunch them all up together).

Also note that you probably won't be able to turn the anode off with this circuit. And if you do manage to turn it off, your Arduino will be fried.