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Old 04-24-2007, 09:21 PM
smithb98 smithb98 is offline
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Default Re: MY Power Supply Has Me Confused - can't control Current

sean, simply put, you rock! Ok. I got my resistors and ran my test all before I got your last post so you may have answered my question.

Stopped at radio shack on my way home and picked up two different resistors. One was a .47ohm, 5 watt resistor, the other was a 1ohm 10 watt resistor. First used the 1ohm/10 watt and just placed it in line. Hooked up the power supply and sure enough, I had control over the amps from .00 to 10.00. SWEET! So then I notice a tiny little wisp of smoke coming from the big resistor and that the volts are pretty high It started to turn dark grey and was incredibly hot so I figured I'd try the smaller resistor. Put in the .47ohm resistor and it worked great though it only went down to 3 or 4 amps and then defaulted to .40 (reading a short as you suggested below?). Volts stayed low (makes sense with your equation below of V=IxR) but I'm not sure why you said I shouldn't see more than 3 volts if I am plating at 6 amps with a 1ohm resistor. Wouldn't my volts be 6? Sorry if I am just missing the obvious.

So I ran a 1ohm at 6 amps and 6 volts so that is why it burned up, it was only rated for 10watts and needed to be rated for 36 watts right? Do they make a 1ohm resistor rated at 100watts? 100 watts=10amps x 10 volts?

Sorry for all the questions. Starting to make sense though. Again, THANK YOU!!!!
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