What is the use of 0 Ohm resistors?

[Wrichik Basu]

Today, I found that there exists something like a 0 ohm resistor:

https://www.electroncomponents.com/0-e-ohm-resistor-resistance-zero?filter_name=0 ohm resistor
Don't look at the image in the page

I can simply connect two points in a circuit with a good quality copper wire, thereby shorting the two points. What can be the use of a 0 ohm resistor? Also, can 0 ohm resistance practically exist? What is this resistor made of?

 

[jedishrfu]

More on Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-ohm_link

Its a packaging convenience mostly.

 

[Borek]

No, there are no real 0 ohm resistors, but they are typically much easier to use than wire when designing PCB.

 

[Wrichik Basu]

More on Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-ohm_link

Its a packaging convenience mostly.

No, there are no real 0 ohm resistors, but they are typically much easier to use than wire when designing PCB.

Interesting, thanks for the information.

The thought of PCB didn't cross my mind.

 

[Averagesupernova]

The reason they exist is design changes may eliminate the resistor. Changing the PC board design may not be warranted so whether zero ohm surface mount resistors mounted to a PC board with a pick and place machine or through hole components placed with auto insert, the component is compatible with the previous design unlike a chunk of bare wire.

 

[davenn]

More on Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-ohm_link

Its a packaging convenience mostly.

yup ... I use 100's of them on gear I manufacture ... tis much easer for a pick and place machine to pick up resistors than bare wire links
And using them as links across other tracks on single sided PCB's is all they are used forDave

 

[DaveC426913]

Aren't they simply called jumpers?

 

[davenn]

Aren't they simply called jumpers?

nope, I buy them in an oblong box of 1000, all on a long tape for machine insertion use, the same as all the other boxes of resistors I buy.
On the end of the box it has 0ΩDave

 

[Rive]

We are using 0Ohms between sections of the circuit so we can easily separate them during testing/repair. 0Ohms are default closed.

For jumpers (default open), sometimes we are using a special 'component' instead which is just two solderpad close to each other - after testing it is just about to add some solder to connect them.

 

[CWatters]

I've seen them used as wire links to avoid the need for a second PCB layer.

 

[Svein]

I always use a 0Ω resistor between "power ground" and "signal ground" (analog ground) to ensure that the PCB layout program keeps the two apart.

 

[Mudpie]

resistors have wattage ratings, over power the rating of the resistor and it opens and fails, not fail safe though, it may short and cause problems but the idea that a resistor can be used as sort of a fuse is one to throw around.

 

[essenmein]

Zero ohm links are super useful!

To add to the list already we use them for setting configuration bits on some MCUs (one from a big German company needs it), we use them to define HW configuration for the MCU, ie what version of board is built (3 or 4 logic pins, zero ohm links either holding them at logic1 or 0). They are also great if you are pressed for time during design and want to put in place holder pads in case you need filtering (for example), instead of populating a real R and C (to protect for a low pass RC filter) you put in zero ohm link and DNP the cap.

 

[essenmein]

I always use a 0Ω resistor between "power ground" and "signal ground" (analog ground) to ensure that the PCB layout program keeps the two apart.

There is a much better way of doing that, we create a component called "net tie", where the two pads are so infinitesimally close, ie they are not "touching" according to the PCB software since there is a 1um gap or something, but no PCB process can make that and it ends up being solid Cu => design rule check works fine, they are separate nets, but more importantly you can create a much lower inductance connection between planes, incl on internal layers, depending on how critical this is for you.

 

[jim mcnamara]

Out of ignorance: what color code is there on the 0Ω resistor? A priori, "none" does not seem like a color code to me. "black" is already used...

https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/reference/chpt-2/resistor-color-codes/

 

[Rive]

a resistor can be used as sort of a fuse is one to throw around.

As you wrote already, it is not really fail safe. Not really a good idea to 'throw around' a fuse what might or might not blow as it wishes.

Out of ignorance: what color code is there on the 0Ω resistor?

It is usually an SMD component and has a '0' or '000' mark on the top of it.
Color codes are for old style resistors ... They are less and less used

Ps.: well, actually it exists in old style too... I'm yet to see one, actually

 

[Averagesupernova]

I did a quick google using the phrase "fuse resistor" and the following link is one that came up. Using resistors as fuses is not inherently a bad idea in the same way using resistors in general could be considered a bad idea. Undersizing the wattage of a resistor is possible design mistake that can cause a safety issue in the same way that expecting a carbon resistor to function as a fuse while in reality it will sit and smoke is a design mistake. Fuses and resistors by definition overlap in function by a small amount.
-
http://www.koaglobal.com/product/howtouse/fuse?sc_lang=en

 

[Mudpie]

what color code is there on the 0Ω resistor?

1 black

 

[yungman]

I did not read all the answers, maybe it's covered already. I use them so I can put other values in case I need it.

When you design circuits, you might not be sure what value resistor, some times you might end up not wanting a resistor. So if you design a resistor in, then you decide you don't want the resistor, you put in the 0ohm resistor.

Particular useful in SMD where they use machine place and wave solder, you put the 0hm and just go through the machine like a normal resistor if you want to.

 

[davenn]

Out of ignorance: what color code is there on the 0Ω resistor? A priori, "none" does not seem like a color code to me. "black" is already used...

Ps.: well, actually it exists in old style too... I'm yet to see one, actually

WOW really ?

I use 100's of these in my manufacturingDave

 

[Rive]

WOW really ?

It seems so My last ten (or so) years was about high density 4-6 layer PCBs and on those we don't like through hole components since they are eating up too much space.
Might have seen one before that but did not notice I think

 

[davenn]

My last ten (or so) years was about high density 4-6 layer PCBs and on those we don't like through hole components since they are eating up too much space

Sweet, that's pretty serious, My day job, I work on GPS gear with boards like that, I don't have to do component level repairs on them

My part time private business I use single and double sided boards in my manufacturing
here is a single sided board with 3 x 0 Ω "resistors" ... above relays
I get the boards etched and screen printed in China and then I populate the boards, box them and sell them.
It gives me income for the wife and I to travel

Dave

 

[Rive]

It gives me income for the wife and I to travel

I'm too busy with my work to earn any money like that

We are designing these boards, fortunately the repairs are not ours.
Still has to do all the prototyping and validation though