Zero ohm resistor

[fenghuang]

I know zero ohm resistors have been discussed before, and I understand their purposes in manufacturing, but I can't quite find the answer I'm looking for.

I'll be making my own single sided, THT, PCBs with a desktop CNC machine.
There are one or two places where having a surface jumper would make routing simpler. (Most notably eliminating islands for GND fills.)
Is there any advantage (or good practice) to using a zero ohm resistor rather than eg the cut-off leg of any other THT component (R/C/D/etc) or hook-up wire?
(I can see a nominal advantage of using insulated hook-up wire if it's a long jumper, but if it's much less than 0.5", I find the insulation has melted before the solder ... and is it really worth it?)

[alto777]

Around here, we differentiate between little projects and things that are meant to be "flown to the Moon".

If you flying this to the Moon, zero ohm resistors. Otherwise, whatever makes you happy.

And I dare say you wouldn't be flying anything like the boards you describe to the Moon, so we are logically left with

you get to decide, it makes no difference, whatever.

a7

[jim-p]

@fenghuang

but if it's much less than 0.5"

Make an arch when using bare wire.
Also makes a handy test point

[oldcurmudgeon]

Zero ohm resistors are essentially jumper wires for automated assembly. If you are doing it by hand just use a wire.

[fenghuang]

Thanks. That's what I thought.
( @alto777 I'll send a postcard fron the moon ... but not with this project.)

[LarryD]

• See this link:

Share tips you have come across

To Keep Circuit Noise to a Minimum, a PCB Ground Plane Should be Disruption Free For a double-sided PCB, we run power and circuit signals on the top of the board. The bottom of the board is used as our signal ground return path. When a PCB signal goes to its destination, the signal return path is right under the signal’s copper trace i.e. it follows the signal trace in our bottom GND plane. We need to avoid slicing and dicing the ground plane to avoid return signals from interfering wit…

[JohnRob]

Zero ohm resistors are usually used in high volume production.

To make a on board "jumper"
Component leads are not pure copper. In a low current application it will likely work fine, however in a higher current design it will cause a small voltage drop which may or may not be OK.

Depending on the size of the jumper you likely don't need to have it insulated. If you do need it insulated purchase some Teflon insulated wire on ebay, the teflon won't melt as soldering temperatures.
You can alos purchase silicone insulated wire on ebay but this wire has many many strands making it super flexible but a little clumsy for a jumper.

[jim-p]

@fenghuang

Thanks. That's what I thought.

You are welcome