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Subject - Resistors
David Hyatt One theory I still don't have a grasp on yet is resistors.
OK a light bulb is a resistor, right? Basically you have a filament separating a hot and a neutral. Same on a heating element 220 volt, you have one leg feeding one side of the element and one leg feeding the other, it is not a dead short because of the resistance of the element, right? Can you make a resistor out of a coil of wire?
I installed a 220 voltbaseboard heater today and the thermostat was breaking only one leg of the circuit, as the diagram showed. The only thing separating the two hots was the heating coil. Explain why in theory is this not a dead short? A good diagram would be nice, Scott. I haven't heard from you lately.
JimmyDee
quote:
it is not a dead short because of the resistance of the element, right?

Yes, this is correct. Also, as the element heats up, the resistance increases greatly.
quote:
Can you make a resistor out of a coil of wire?

Yes, as a mater of fact, a coil of #12 wire 1000' long has a resistance of 2 ohms.
quote:
I installed a 220 voltbaseboard heater today and the thermostat was breaking only one leg of the circuit, as the diagram showed. The only thing separating the two hots was the heating coil. Explain why in theory is this not a dead short?

You will have current flowing from the one hot, through the single pole switch (thermostat)then through the element (resistor) to the other hot wire. A short circuit would eliminate the element and cause the current to flow direct ally from on hot to the other and the current would go ballistic. The element or resistor limits (as per ohms law) the current flow. No resistance, unlimited current, high resistance, very low current flow.
Jim