I have carbon film resistors in stock if you need some. Rich ----- Original Message ----- From: "Russell McMahon" To: "PIC List" Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 7:01 AM Subject: [EE] Carbon film vs Metal film resistors >I have grown so accustomed to using metal film resistors for > 'everyday' applications that carbon film doesn't usually feature in my > thinking. > > A Taiwanese manufacturer has asked whether they can substitute carbon > film for metal film in a design. They claim that cf costs are far > lower. Volumes are only moderate (1,000 - 10,000 products per year at > most). Most resistors are operated at far below their power and > voltage ratings. > > My initial reaction is that whereas most resistors could technically > be changed to CF, the cost savings would be minimal compared to other > costs and that sacrificing the reliability of metal film would not be > worthwhile. I'm also dubious about the merits of allowing CF as they > would almost certainly be Chinese* sourced with unknown (indeed > non-existent) provenance and aimed at bottom of the market, > quality-irrelevant applications. (I've little doubt that there is a > reason that they are cheap). > > Thoughts? - or recent experiences with modern CF resistors. > Am I too prejudiced against a new 'mature' technology? > > > > Russell McMahon > > * I've no doubt that when it makes sense to do so China can produce > products of superb quality. But I also have little doubt that the > burgeoning market / what the market will bear / caveat emptor / take > no thought for the morrow ... / aspects of the present market > explosion mean that quality will often be, at best, only as good as it > has to be. > > -- > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist