Resistors

TR

TR - High Voltage Thick Film Planar Resistor | Vishay

The Vishay TR series is a thick film planar resistor designed for through-hole mounting in high voltage applications. According to the Vishay datasheet, the series is intended for power supplies, transformers, and any application requiring operation within an environment where high voltages are used. A high voltage planar resistor is a passive component in the resistor family (resistor -> passive component -> electronic component) that uses a thick film resistive element printed on a flat, planar substrate. The planar geometry extends the creepage and clearance distance along the surface of the part, which is the fundamental mechanism that allows these resistors to withstand far higher working voltages than conventional axial or chip resistors of similar resistance value. In the power-management hierarchy, high voltage resistors serve as bleeder resistors, voltage dividers, and damping elements where ordinary resistors would arc over or drift. Key characteristics of the TR series include its thick film resistive element technology, its through-hole (leaded) termination style for mechanical robustness, and a construction optimized for sustained operation at elevated voltages. Thick film technology provides good long-term stability, low temperature coefficient behavior relative to the application needs, and cost-effective manufacturing for high voltage ratings that would be impractical with wirewound or metal film geometries. From a technical standpoint, the planar construction means the resistive path is effectively a serpentine or elongated track on an insulating body. This maximizes the voltage that can appear across the terminals without surface flashover, and the through-hole leads allow secure mounting on boards or chassis points in industrial equipment where vibration and humidity are concerns. Designers should always validate that the specific resistance value, tolerance, power rating, and maximum voltage of the ordered part number (the TR series is ordered with full suffix coding) match the application, as Vishay notes that parameters may vary in different applications and performance may vary over time. Typical applications include high voltage power supplies, transformer circuits, X-ray and medical equipment HV sections, capacitor bleed/ balancing, and industrial instrumentation operating in high voltage environments. A key design consideration is creepage management on the PCB: provide adequate copper clearance around the body and consider slots in the board for the highest working voltages. This page synthesizes manufacturer datasheet information, application context, and sourcing guidance in one place - practical engineering context not found in the raw datasheet alone.