# 11 Different Types of Resistors

**URL:** <https://forumautomation.com/t/11-different-types-of-resistors/13723>\
**Category:** Electrical\
**Tags:** basic\
**Created:** [November 20, 2025, 3:21pm UTC](https://forumautomation.com/t/11-different-types-of-resistors/13723 "2025-11-20T15:21:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Rabert](https://forumautomation.com/user_avatar/forumautomation.com/rabert/32/6784_2.png) [@Rabert](https://forumautomation.com/u/Rabert)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 3:21pm UTC](https://forumautomation.com/t/11-different-types-of-resistors/13723/1 "2025-11-20T15:21:42Z")

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## What is Resistor?

A resistor is an electrical component that prevents or regulates the flow of electric current in a circuit.

It turns electrical energy into heat & assists in voltage and current regulation.

The resistance is measured in ohms (Ω).

## 11 Different Types of Resistors

The different types of resistors are:

1). Fixed Resistor

2). Thick Film Resistors

3). LDR (light-dependent resistor)

4). Thin Film Resistors

5). Potentiometer

6). Trimming Pot (trimmer resistor)

7). Surface Mount Resistor (SMD)

8). Thermistor

9). Rheostat

10). Varistor

11). Wire Wound Resistors

## 1). Fixed Resistor

A fixed resistor’s resistance value is constant and cannot be modified. It is composed of carbon film, metal film (or) metal oxide.

**Applications:**

Voltage divider circuits

Current limiting

Biasing of transistor

Pull-up and pull-down resistors in digital circuits.

## 2). Thick Film Resistors

Thick Film Resistors created by placing a thick resistive layer upon a ceramic substrate. It is inexpensive and commonly used in conventional electronics.

**Applications:**

Consumer electronics

Power supplies

High-voltage circuits.

Automotive electronics

## 3). LDR (light-dependent resistor)

A resistor whose resistance varies with light intensity. Higher light equals lesser resistance.

**Applications:**

Automatic streetlights

Light-sensitive alarms.

Camera exposure schemes

Solar Garden Lights

## 4). Thin Film Resistors

Thin Film Resistors is created by placing a thin resistive film onto an insulating substrate. provides excellent accuracy, low tolerance & low noise.

**Applications:**

Precision analog circuits

measuring instruments

Medical devices

Aerospace and high frequency applications

## 5). Potentiometer

A variable resistor with three ends used to regulate voltage. Rotating the knob alters the resistance.

**Applications:**

Volume Controls

Speed control in fans.

Tunable power supplies

Calibration adjustments

 ![image](https://cdn.forumautomation.com/original/2X/0/049426b0171abc4f0a79b92b330d73be1a4e4fd2.jpeg)

## 6). Trimming Pot (trimmer resistor)

Trimming Pot (trimmer resistor) is a small preset variable resistor used to fine-tune circuits during calibration.

**Applications:**

Sensor calibration

Setting the reference voltage.

Tuning oscillators.

Adjusting gain in amplifiers

## 7). Surface Mount Resistor (SMD)

Surface Mount Resistor (SMD) is a small resistor utilized in surface-mount technology (SMT). Compact, lightweight, and ideal for automated PCB assembly.

**Applications:**

Mobile phones

Laptops

Embedded systems

High-density PCBs

## 8). Thermistor

Thermistor is a temperature-sensitive resistor. There are two types:

NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient): Resistance reduces when temperature increases

PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient): Resistance increases with temperature

**Applications:**

Temperature measurement

Thermal protection circuits

Inrush current limiting

HVAC systems

## 9). Rheostat

Rheostat is a high-power variable resistor utilized to manage current by manually altering the resistance.

**Applications:**

Laboratory testing

Dimming the lights

Controlling motor speed (in older systems)

Current adjustment in heaters

## 10). Varistor

Varistor is a voltage-dependent resistor whose resistance lowers dramatically when the voltage exceeds a certain threshold (surge protection).

**Applications:**

Surge protectors

Lightning arresters

Overvoltage protection in appliances.

SMPS protection

## 11). Wire Wound Resistors

Wire Wound Resistors is a resistor is manufactured by winding a resistive wire (often nichrome) around an insulating core. Highly accurate, powerful and stable.

**Applications:**

Power Equipment

Current sensing

High temperature surroundings

Industrial motor drives

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