From what I've readed, a resistor is a component which limit the current in a circuit. Supposing that I've a load that is rated for 12v 500mA, if I put a resistor to limit the current to, for example, 100mA what will happen to the load that expect to draw more current? Will it drop more voltage?
Asked
Active
Viewed 102 times
0
-
The 12 V will be divided between the two loads. The voltage dropped across each will be proportional to the resistance. See _Ohm's Law_ and _potential divider_. – Transistor Jun 29 '16 at 15:23
-
"a resistor is a component which limit the current in a circuit" That is true only under a very loose interpretation of "limit", and in some develishs circuits the relation might even be reversed. – Wouter van Ooijen Jun 29 '16 at 17:47
-
"to limit the current to, for example, 100mA" now you are overinterpreting the term "reduce". A resistor does *not* reduce the current *to a specific value*. Cmpare to: I put a brake on the cyclists wheel to reduce its speed to 3 km/h (note that a simple brake will not do that). Now what happens when he hits a wall? Of course his speed will no longer be 3 km/h. – Wouter van Ooijen Jun 29 '16 at 17:49
1 Answers
0
Simple ohms law. V = I * R. If you reduce the current I through the load, you will have a proportional drop in voltage V. For simple resistive loads, inductive loads like motors are a bit more complex, but still a general rule of thumb.

Passerby
- 72,580
- 7
- 90
- 202