connecting multiple wires, resistor power rating

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URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=29566
Printed Date: June 01, 2024 at 5:09 PM

Topic: connecting multiple wires, resistor power rating

Posted By: kaffeene
Subject: connecting multiple wires, resistor power rating
Date Posted: April 02, 2004 at 6:14 PM

I was wondering of some ways of connecting multiple wires such as 3 or 4 wires. Is there any connectors that can be used? What would you do if you had say one 14 gauge wire and two 16 gauge wires to connect together, how could you connect these wires, besides soldering?

Secondly I wanted to know how one would determine the power rating they wanted to use in a resistor for a particular application. Say you had an l.e.d. and you wanted to use a 1k resistor to limit the current flow. I suppose the 1/2 watt resistor is more than enough, could you use the 1 watt resistor as well would it make a difference?

Thanks.

Replies:

Posted By: mobile1
Date Posted: April 03, 2004 at 12:50 AM

first off, solder is the only good connection. you can rig it up with other things, but should only solder. using a 1 watt resistor over a 1/2 watt only means that resistor can handle more power. its not going to be "better" than the other one

Posted By: Mad Scientists
Date Posted: April 03, 2004 at 8:56 AM

kaffeene wrote:

I was wondering of some ways of connecting multiple wires such as 3 or 4 wires. Is there any connectors that can be used? What would you do if you had say one 14 gauge wire and two 16 gauge wires to connect together, how could you connect these wires, besides soldering?

Soldering is probably the best way.. assuming that you want to T-tap the two 16s to the 14 I'd even consider tapping the 14 at two different places to avoid too big a 'knot' in the wire..

You could terminate all the wires with crimp-on ring terminals and use a terminal buss.. there are other acceptable methods..

kaffeene wrote:

Secondly I wanted to know how one would determine the power rating they wanted to use in a resistor for a particular application. Say you had an l.e.d. and you wanted to use a 1k resistor to limit the current flow. I suppose the 1/2 watt resistor is more than enough, could you use the 1 watt resistor as well would it make a difference?

Watts equals volts time amps.. assuming a voltage drop of 8 volts (across the resistor) and a standard LED current of 0.020 amps.

Watts = Volts * Amps, so Watts = 8.0 * 0.020, so Watts = 0.16

Half watt is fine, even a quarter watt would work fine.. 1/8 watt would be slightly overloaded. 1 watt fine.. could even use some 100 watt resistors I have (about 1 inch thick and 1 foot long).

Welcome,

Jim

Posted By: kaffeene
Date Posted: April 04, 2004 at 1:52 PM

Thanks you very much for your help..