Can Two 15 Ohm 1/2 Watt Resistors Be Used for a 1.8 Watt Requirement?

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Two 15 ohm, 1/2 watt resistors cannot meet a 1.8 watt requirement when used in parallel or series alone, as they only provide a total of 1 watt. However, using four 15 ohm, 1/2 watt resistors can achieve the desired specifications by configuring two resistors in series and then connecting two of those series pairs in parallel. This setup results in a total resistance of 15 ohms and a power rating of 2 watts, which is sufficient for the application. The discussion highlights the importance of proper resistor configuration for achieving specific electrical requirements in LED lighting systems. Understanding resistor combinations is crucial for effective circuit design.
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hello, I am new here.. so please excuse my..um. n00bishness
im sorry if this under the wrong area, i doint know which area of physics it might be under, i just remember reading about resistors back in HS physics...which was years ago..

I'm currently building a shed lighting system through the use of luxeon leds.

after some series led resistor calculations, I need a 15 ohm, 1.8 watt capable resistor. as far as I know there are none manufactured under the specs. I was wondering, is there a way to pair two 15 ohm 1/2 watt resistors to achieve this requirement?for reference:
Led: RX1W luxeon lambertian die x 4
vf: 3.4 [typ] @ 350 ma.
Vin: 12V @ variable current

Thanks in advance
 
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Russell233 said:
hello, I am new here.. so please excuse my..um. n00bishness
im sorry if this under the wrong area, i doint know which area of physics it might be under, i just remember reading about resistors back in HS physics...which was years ago..

I'm currently building a shed lighting system through the use of luxeon leds.

after some series led resistor calculations, I need a 15 ohm, 1.8 watt capable resistor. as far as I know there are none manufactured under the specs. I was wondering, is there a way to pair two 15 ohm 1/2 watt resistors to achieve this requirement?

two won't do it (not enough power and wrong resistance) but four will do it. two in series and the two series pairs in parallel. (or the other way around.) you'll get 15 ohms and 2 watts.
 
Thanks, since the resistors normally come packaged in 6 packs.

:biggrin:
 

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