15K Ohm 2W 5% Carbon Film Fixed Resistor

 

If your board needs a 15k ohm resistor that can handle real power, and the old part is a 2W carbon film part with 5% tolerance, this is the part to order. It is a 15k ohm 2w resistor in an axial through-hole body, built for current regulation, voltage regulation, and current limiting where a small resistor would run too hot. It fits power supplies, solar inverters, and general repair jobs that need a fixed 15K value at up to 2W. It does not fit jobs that need a different resistance value, a surface-mount body, or more than 2W of power. Check the checks below before you order, so the value, the power, the voltage, and the body all match your board.

This is an original, high-quality part.

What it does

A resistor limits current and drops voltage in a circuit. A carbon film resistor does that job with a thin carbon layer on a ceramic rod, which gives steady performance at low cost for standard circuit designs. This 15k ohm resistor holds its 15K value within 5%, so a board that calls for 15K gets between 14.25K and 15.75K. The 2W rating is what sets it apart from the small resistors used for signal work only — it can turn real power into heat without damage, as long as the cooling and the voltage limits below are respected.

Repair techs use a part like this as a 15k ohm resistor for current regulation, where it holds current to a safe level, and for voltage regulation, where it takes a share of the voltage so the next stage sees the right level. It also fits voltage dividers, filtering circuits, and load balancing, where a fixed resistance sets a level or shares a load. It is an axial resistor, so it mounts through holes on a board, not on the surface. You can check the value on the body itself: a 15K ohm 5% part carries four colour bands — brown, green, orange, gold.

Key features

• 15K Ohm fixed resistance, ±5% tolerance
• 2W power rating at 70°C ambient
• Carbon film construction for dependable, low-cost, stable work
• Axial leads for through-hole mounting on PCBs and breadboards
• Maximum working voltage 500V (see the power-based limit in the checks)
• Temperature coefficient ±350 ppm/°C
• Wide temperature range: −55°C to +155°C

Checks before you order

• Value: your board list must call for 15K. A nearby value is not the same part — if your board needs a different value, stop and check the board list again. A 51K part in the same family is a different job, not a swap for this one.
• Power and heat: the power this part turns into heat must stay at or below 2W, and that 2W counts only up to 70°C ambient — above that, the safe power drops toward zero at 155°C, so check the derating for your real working temperature. Work out the power from your real voltage and current (power = voltage × current) and keep it inside 2W with room to spare.
• Voltage: the voltage across this part must stay inside the limits in the table. From power alone, the working voltage for a 15K part at 2W is about 173V, and the series cap is 500V — stay below both. Above that, this part is the wrong pick.
• Tolerance: the real value may sit up to 5% away from 15K. If your circuit needs tighter than 5%, this part is the wrong pick — do not hope the part you get sits near the middle.
• Body and fit: your board must take an axial through-hole body. Measure the old part and match it against the holes and the space on your board. The series normal-style body for a 2W part is about 15.5 mm long and 5.0 mm across — if your old part is much smaller, check the board list again before you order.
• Fit for the job: if your circuit only needs a fraction of a watt, this big part still works, but a small 1/2W carbon film part is a different job, not a swap for this one. Match the value first, then the power, then the body.

Specifications

All figures below are from the maker series documents for this resistor family. No figure here was guessed. The maker of the exact part on this page is not stated on the live page, so the publisher should confirm the series figures against the Download file at publish time (see the gates note).

Type	Carbon film fixed resistor, axial leads, through-hole
Resistance	15K Ohm (15,000 Ω)
Tolerance	±5% (14.25K to 15.75K)
Power rating	2W at 70°C
Maximum working voltage	500V
Maximum overload voltage	1000V
Voltage proof on insulation	1000V
Temperature coefficient	±350 ppm/°C
Operating temperature range	−55°C to +155°C
Colour bands	4 bands: brown, green, orange, gold
Derating	Full power to 70°C; derate above 70°C to zero at 155°C

Other names for the same part (good to know)

Shoppers and repair techs call this same part by a few names. 15k ohm 2w is the plain name from its value and its power. 15k ohm resistor is the name buyers use with the unit spelled out. Carbon film resistor is the name for its construction type. Axial resistor is the name for its lead style. 15k ohm 5% is the short name that carries the value and the tolerance together. If your board list calls for 15K at 2W with 5% tolerance in an axial body, this page is the right match. Do not judge by size alone — check the value, the power, and the tolerance too.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 15K mean?

It means 15,000 ohms of resistance. K stands for kilo, which means one thousand, so 15K is 15 × 1,000 ohms.

What does 2W mean, and what does 5% mean?

2W is the power rating: the most power the part can turn into heat without damage, rated at 70°C ambient, with less allowed as it gets hotter. 5% is the tolerance: the real resistance may sit up to 5% above or below 15K, so between 14.25K and 15.75K.

What are the colour bands on a 15K resistor?

Four bands: brown, green, orange, gold. Brown is 1, green is 5, orange means three zeros, and gold means ±5% tolerance. That reads as 15K ohm ±5%.

Can I use a different value, like a nearby kilo-ohm part?

No, not without checking the circuit. A resistor value sets the current and the voltage drop, so a different value changes how the circuit behaves. Only swap in a different value if the circuit design allows it — otherwise match the board list exactly.

How do I fit an axial resistor?

Push the two leads through the matching holes on the board, bend them flat on the back if the board needs it, and solder them. Check the spacing of the holes against the body length before you solder, and keep the body clear of parts that cannot take heat.

What is the price of this part?

Check the live price on the website. The price shown on the product page is the current one.

Use note kept from the old page: this part was listed before as a reliable 2W carbon film resistor for efficient current regulation, with a stable resistance value for consistent performance in power applications including solar inverters, where voltage regulation and current limiting are essential, used in power conversion and energy management systems, voltage dividers, filtering circuits, and load balancing, with carbon film construction for stability and durability and axial leads for easy mounting in home appliances, communication, instruments, and electronic equipment — and that use still stands.