Gold and silver resistors

DerekS · 1st May 2017, 15:18

I see threads recently about problems with the fan resistors . ....overheating to the extent that they fail and sometimes with disastrous consequences .
The resistor is there to reduce the voltage supplied to the fan motor, and it has to be able to carry quite a high current . The heat generated by this resistance in a small component must be dissipated or the resistor will fail due to overheating .
I am wondering .... why not use two resistors in parallel, to reduce the individual current in each component , thus halving the heat each resistor has to dissipate ? The total heat will be the same , but spread over two instead of one , so reducing the temperature the resistor has to stand . Smaller current , higher value resistors should be cheaper than the
single heavy duty one required .
With so many high class, knowledgeable members , i wonder if this has been considered . I would be interested in their ideas .

1st May 2017, 15:18	#1
DerekS Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Malpas Posts: 1,526 Thanks: 34 Thanked 118 Times in 89 Posts	Gold and silver resistors I see threads recently about problems with the fan resistors . ....overheating to the extent that they fail and sometimes with disastrous consequences . The resistor is there to reduce the voltage supplied to the fan motor, and it has to be able to carry quite a high current . The heat generated by this resistance in a small component must be dissipated or the resistor will fail due to overheating . I am wondering .... why not use two resistors in parallel, to reduce the individual current in each component , thus halving the heat each resistor has to dissipate ? The total heat will be the same , but spread over two instead of one , so reducing the temperature the resistor has to stand . Smaller current , higher value resistors should be cheaper than the single heavy duty one required . With so many high class, knowledgeable members , i wonder if this has been considered . I would be interested in their ideas .