7 Best resistance decade box (Accurate 2024)

For various lab testing, calibration, and analysis we need variable resistance loads. We get these loads we need to have a solid best resistance decade box in our lab.

A resistance box is a simple tool that has various internal resistance values. We can connect our device to this various resistance for calibration or testing.

At the end of the article, you should be able to know:

• What is a resistance decade box?
• How to choose the best resistance decade box
• Some key technical parameters of resistance box
• List of proven best quality resistance boxes used by thousands of people and field professionals.

Sounds interesting? Then, let’s get started.

Best resistance decade box

The resistance decade box has a bunch of resistors connected in series to give almost any combination of resistance.

Following is an example of a decade box.

For testing, troubleshooting, circuit prototyping, and circuit analysis every lab has a resistance decade box.

The resistance box kinda helps us make that ideal load for our circuits.

The best resistance decade boxes that field professionals recommend are the GME RD-300 and the Extech 380400.

They are the best because they came from proven brands. They are high quality, reliable, used by thousands of people, and have a decent price tag that anyone can afford.

Technical parameters to look for

A resistance box is a simple tool.

We need to keep the following in mind while selecting the one for our lab.

a. No of Decades

In simple words, it is the resistance range. The higher the number of decades, the higher will be the resistance range.

b. Wattage

By wattage, I mean how much power a decade box can safely handle. We don’t want to burn down the internal resistance.

So, choose the decade power handling as per the requirements of your lab requirements.

c. Selecting switches

These are the switches using which we select the resistance value for our projects. So these switches must be of high quality. As they will be used constantly.

d. Quality

Of course, the quality of the inner resistor, switches, and external connectors must be high. Else you will have less accurate and less reliable results.

e. Safety and calibrations

Most of the time, the decade box will be used as the testing load. So it is important that it is safe and correctly calibrated.

List of best resistance decade box

I think I have shared all the information that I have about the topic. Now let’s have a look at some decade boxes. I will start with very basic ones then I will talk about the intermediate models and then will end with some professional resistance decade boxes. So please keep on reading.

Keep in mind, I am not going to repeatedly talk about the above features of the decade box over again and again. They are applied to all the below mentioned models.

Also, I am not going to add some fancy-looking models that you will see a bunch of them online. Look man, I am an engineer and technical terms are more romantic to me than looks. 

1. Elenco RS-500

The first best resistance decade box that I have for you is the RS-500. This box comes from the famous Elenco brand. It is the simplest decade box with a resistance range of up to 1M Ohm.

Let me quickly tell you about the Elenco brand. For almost 50 years, Elenco has been using its strong engineering and design skills to develop reliable, affordable electronic test equipment, tools, and educational kits.

Important features:

• Solid body
• Reliable for long term use
• All resistors are with a precision value of 1%
• Upto 1Watt ratings, which is very impressive.
• Different resistance range has different wattage rating.

In short summary, the Elenco RS-500 (Amazon link) is an amazing starter decade box. You can have it for your lab especially if you are just starting out with circuit testing and troubleshooting.

2. Extech 380400 Resistance Decade Box

The next decade box is from the Extech brand. This is US based brand and is famous for manufacturing various electronic equipment.

Important features:

• Resistance value ranges from 1Ohm to 11MOhm.
• It has a precision of 1% industry standard
• The body is made of solid plastic materials, making it ideal for use in a number of environments.
• You can choose the resistance value with a 1 Ohm increment value.
• Multiple configurations can be tested to find the best value for circuit operation.

In short summary, Extech 380400 Resistance Decade Box (Amazon link) is the perfect tool for testing and calibrating in the product design process as it can be easily substituted into a circuit and function in the place of any component with a standard value.

3. GME RD-300

The next decade box is from the GME called the RD-300. GME is USA based manufacturer. There is no question about the quality and reliability of this decade box.

Important features of this resistance decade box:

• Wide resistance range from 1Ω to 11,111,110Ω (over 11MΩ) in 1Ω steps
• 1% high accuracy
• 1-watt rated resistors ideal for prototyping, educational, and professional calibration of test equipment
• 28 slide switches organized in a clean 4 x 7 grid for easy use
• Each switch displays a visible white dot when in the ON position

In a short summary, the GME RD-300 (Amazon link) is a high accuracy resistance decade box designed and supported in the USA; compare to most other decade boxes on the market that are generic private label imports with unknown manufacturers and no support or warranty.

4. Global Specialties RDB-10 

The next decade box is from the Global Specialties brand. It is quite similar to GME decade box.

Important features:

• Best used as calibrated test equipment with its high accuracy of 1 percent
• Designed with accuracy to meet the needs of industry and education alike.
• Quality selecting switches
• All switches clearly display a visible white dot when in the on position

In a short summary, the Global Specialties RDB-10 (Amazon link) is a handheld Resistance decade box that creates a specific resistance value using a combination of switches. The RDB-10 is a compact, convenient tool for aiding in engineering design and testing as well as the calibration of test equipment.

5. Eisco Decade Resistance Box 

The next resistance box is from the Eisco brand. The difference between this box and the above ones is the dial switches.

Important features:

• Best for students as this box has a low resistance range.
• Ranges from 0 – 11,110 Ohms in increments of 1 Ohm – ±1% tolerance
• The maximum power output of 2W
• Lowest Ampere: 20mA and the Highest Ampere: 700mA
• The unique thing about this box is, resistances are easily selected by the turn of a dial

In a short summary, Eisco Decade Resistance Box (Amazon link) is an amazing starter resistance decade box that provides 4 decade ranges with a resolution of 1 Ohm. 

6. RS-200  Resistance Decade Box

The next best resistance decade box is the RS-200. This is very different and very easy to use because of its unique switches.

Important features:

• Resistance range of 1 Ohm to 10 MOhms
• Accuracy of 1%, which is amazing
• Compact, convenient, and rugged

In a short summary, the RS-200 (Amazon link) is the best decade box from the IETLabs. It is small and easy to get the resistance value.

7. Guanruixin Digital Decade Box

The last resistance box is from the Guanruixin brand. This box has a very special type of digital switch system.

Important features:

• Fully digital display, less error-prone during adjustment
• No need for any calculations, what you see is what you get
• Ultra-wide range values can meet your various needs

In a short summary, Guanruixin Digital Decade Box (Amazon link) is a digital type of decade box that is easy to measure. You actually don’t need a multimeter.

Conclusion

When we are designing a circuit we need some kind of test load to verify our results. To help us with that. There is a dedicated resistance decade box.

From that decade box, we choose the value of our requirements.

A resistance box not only helps us with that. But also helps us in calibration, analysis, and circuit troubleshooting.

So that is it. That is all I want to share about the best resistance decade box out there on the market. I hope I was helpful.

Thank you and have a grateful life.

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