The wirewound resistor is one of the most established resistor technologies. It consists of a resistance wire wound around an insulating core. This simple robust design makes it reliable and durable. These characteristics are particularly valued in industrial environments.

The advantages of wirewound resistors become especially apparent when handling high short-term energy pulses.
Typical wirewound resistor applications include:

• Pre-charge resistors in electric vehicles
• Braking and damping resistors
• Applications in power electronics

An overview of the different wirewound resistor series can be found on our wirewound resistors product page.

Wirewound resistors are characterized by

• mechanical robustness,
• high temperature resistance, and
• excellent pulse-handling capability.

At the same time, they can be manufactured in a wide range of sizes and adapted to different application requirements. As a result, they are suitable for numerous applications in automotive, industrial, and power electronics markets.

This versatility forms the basis for the wide range of wirewound resistor applications.

• Proven technology with an attractive cost-performance
  One of the main advantages of wirewound resistors is their proven and robust technology. When the electrical and mechanical requirements are suitable, they can provide a cost-effective solution. They are particularly attractive for applications that require durability and the ability to absorb short-term energy pulses.
   

• Robust construction and simple design
  Their solid construction makes them resistant to mechanical stress, vibration, and temperature fluctuations. They are considered reliable all-round components and offer dependable performance in applications where other resistor technologies may be more sensitive.
   

• High pulse-handling capability
  This makes them particularly suitable for pre-charge applications as well as automotive and industrial power electronics applications where high short-term loads occur.

Wirewound resistors play an important role in automotive technology, especially with the growth of electromobility:

• Pre-charge resistors in electric and hybrid vehicles
• Braking and power resistors in drive systems
• Power electronics applications such as onboard chargers

In pre-charge circuits in particular, the ability to absorb high short-term energy pulses is critical. Properly designed wirewound resistors are therefore especially well suited for this application.

Wirewound resistors are also widely used in industrial applications. Typical areas of use include:

• Energy conversion systems and frequency inverters
• Test and measurement equipment
• Protection circuits and voltage spike suppression

These applications often go beyond standard functions and involve safety-critical tasks where reliability is essential.
 

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