Understanding Thermal Resistance

Contributors: Alex the Giant

Introduction

When working with low power devices, thermal management isn’t much of an issue. Once you start adding motors, LED strips, and the current draw of the project goes up, parts can start to get hot. If you don’t manage the heat, parts can overheat, shortening the life of the component. In this tutorial we’ll cover what thermal resistance is, how it’s used for thermal management, and how to maximize the life of your project.

Suggested Reading

If you aren’t familiar with the following concepts, we recommend checking out these tutorials before continuing.