seires / parallel wattage question

[Randall]

Two 8 ohm 100 watt dummy loads. I think when in parallel it makes 4 ohm 200 watt, but about in 16 ohm series mode?

[R.G.]

The power rating of a resistor is independent of how it's connected. Yes, either parallel or series, you get 200W worth of heat dissipation abiliity.

[nsubulysses]

WHAT!
I thought when two resistors are paralleled their power handling does not go up.

I trust RG more than me but.....

[Justin Thomas]

I think it's caps whose voltage handling doesn't go up when put in parallel. Other than that, IDK... But I'd rather be sure.

Justin

[Leo_Gnardo]

WHAT!
I thought when two resistors are paralleled their power handling does not go up.

I trust RG more than me but.....

It's one of those very rare bonus deals nature allows.

[The Dude]

It's one of those very rare bonus deals nature allows.

You mean Ohm's Law?

[Leo_Gnardo]

You mean Ohm's Law?

Well, that's a bit different, Ohm's bonus is that the equation is simple. Yaay! Same for power law. Sometimes figuring out what factors in to each variable isn't so simple but I'll appreciate these blessings as I find 'em.

[nsubulysses]

I cannot upload a picture for some reason so please view here instead -- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YK1...ew?usp=sharing

This is wrong?

I thought in series arrangement each resistors dissipates half the total load but in the parallel arrangement each resistor dissipates the total load, albeit since there are two resistors rather than one, technically they would have more power handling becasue it's bigger physical size vs just one 4 ohm resistor, but I thought technically the watts rating only goes up in series.

I must be totally wrong if RG said that

[Leo_Gnardo]

I cannot upload a picture for some reason so please view here instead -- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YK1...ew?usp=sharing

This is wrong?

I thought in series arrangement each resistors dissipates half the total load but in the parallel arrangement each resistor dissipates the total load, albeit since there are two resistors rather than one, technically they would have more power handling becasue it's bigger physical size vs just one 4 ohm resistor, but I thought technically the watts rating only goes up in series.

I must be totally wrong if RG said that

I see Mike Sulzer & Helmholtz watching - please give us your thoughts gentlemen!

[The Dude]

I'm not 100% sure what you're asking. Maybe this will help? In parallel, current is split between the two resistors. In series, voltage is split between the two. Plug those values into your calculation and see what happens. If you don't want to do the math, here ya go.

http://www.ohmslawcalculator.com/ohms-law-calculator

Edit: Maybe a simpler thought. If you have a 100 watt amp, you don't need two 100w speakers in parallel. You only need two 50w speakers in parallel.

[Dave H]

I thought in series arrangement each resistors dissipates half the total load but in the parallel arrangement each resistor dissipates the total load

I'm not 100% sure of the question either but a 100W resistor is always capable of dissipating 100W either in series or parallel. Power is current x voltage. In series the resistors have the same current but half the voltage. In parallel they have the same voltage but half the current. Either way the product of the voltage x current is the same.

[nsubulysses]

In parallel, current is split between the two resistors. In series, voltage is split between the two..

This makes it all make sense. thanks! I never understood how that marshall 4x12 was 300W with 4 75W speakers. I could not understand it well beause I was thinking of voltage only and not current on my diagram

[Enzo]

A resistor - or speaker - has no idea what else it is connected to, so a 100 watt one will dissipate 100 watts, regardless if its friends are parallel or seriesed with it.

Yes, never forget power is current TIMES voltage.

[g1]

One wrench in the works is if the resistances are different values. Then you can't just add the wattages, you have to do more calculations. (ex. 4 ohm 100W in series with 8 ohm 100W does not give 200W power handling)

[Enzo]

Yes, the equal value series and parallel examples will be neat and simple, but the answers are still all generated by simple Ohm's Law.

In fact most any tech test given to potential electronics techs usually has a bunch of resistors in a knotted up series parallel arrangement and you have to figure out the total. I know my exam has a couple of those. Like: this array of resistors has 10v across it, so what voltage is across Rx? Like that.