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Some Vishay Precision Group (VPG) Bulk Metal Foil resistor families specify a typical temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) as low as ±0.2 ppm/°C. That is an exceptionally small change in resistance with temperature, but it is a manufacturer specification for particular products and conditions—not a guarantee for every Vishay resistor. The VSMP wraparound surface-mount resistor is one example; the right choice still depends on tolerance, temperature range, power, package and application.
What does a 0.2 ppm/°C resistor mean?
TCR describes how much a resistor’s resistance changes as its temperature changes. At 0.2 parts per million per degree Celsius, the stated change is about 0.2 millionths of the resistance for each degree Celsius, relative to the specified reference temperature. The ± sign indicates that the change may be positive or negative.
For scale, a 10 kΩ resistor changing by 0.2 ppm/°C changes by approximately 0.002 Ω per °C, assuming the specified TCR applies across the temperature interval in question. Over a 100°C change, that corresponds to roughly 0.02 Ω if the coefficient remains constant; actual performance must be judged against the product datasheet and its test conditions.
VPG’s foil-resistor overview lists ±0.2 ppm/°C as a typical TCR for its precision foil offerings and gives a resistance span of 10 Ω to 75 kΩ and power ratings up to 400 mW for one high-precision family. Those figures describe product-family capabilities, not a single part that necessarily combines every listed value. VPG Bulk Metal Foil resistor overview.
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Which Vishay foil resistor reaches ±0.2 ppm/°C?
VSMP wraparound surface-mount resistor
The VSMP datasheet identifies an ultra-high-precision wraparound surface-mount chip resistor and tabulates ±0.2 ppm/°C performance for multiple resistance ranges and tolerances. The cited datasheet revision is dated 4 March 2020; check the current revision and the exact ordering code before designing in a part. VSMP datasheet.
Z-Foil options
VPG’s Z-Foil material also describes parts with typical TCR as low as ±0.2 ppm/°C. The Z201 technical overview states tolerance down to ±0.005% and ±0.2 ppm/°C typical over −55°C to +125°C. These are separate specification dimensions: the TCR describes change with temperature, while tolerance describes initial resistance error. Z201 technical overview.
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Not every Z-Foil part or Vishay resistor carries the same limits. Some Z-Foil products specify tighter behavior over a narrower temperature interval, such as 0°C to +60°C. Compare the stated reference temperature and full test range rather than treating the lowest coefficient as a universal rating. VPG Z-Foil technical information.
How does Bulk Metal Foil construction support precision?
VPG describes a trimming approach in which shorting bars built into the foil chip are selectively removed. Each controlled cut raises resistance by a known increment. The technique is intended to limit hot-spot effects and support long-term stability, helping the resistor maintain precision under demanding conditions. VPG foil technology description.
How to choose a foil resistor for a current-sense or reference circuit
- Match TCR to the actual temperature range. Confirm whether the quoted figure is typical or a guaranteed maximum, its reference temperature, and the interval over which it applies. A ±0.2 ppm/°C figure over a wide range is not directly comparable with a tighter figure measured over a narrower span.
- Set the initial tolerance separately. Calculate the allowable resistance error at calibration or startup, then select a tolerance that meets it. A low TCR does not correct an initial value that is already outside the circuit’s error budget.
- Check dissipation and thermal conditions. Use the package’s rated power at the relevant ambient temperature and mounting conditions, and account for self-heating. For example, VPG specifies the VCS1625 at 0.5 W on an FR4 PCB at +70°C; this condition is part of the rating, not an unconditional value for every layout. VCS1625 datasheet, revision 10 January 2025.
- Choose the physical construction for the circuit. Wraparound SMD, flip-chip, current-sense chip and TO-220 power formats have different footprint and thermal-path implications. For higher dissipation, VPG lists the VPR220S/VPR221S power family at up to 8 W with ±2 ppm/°C typical TCR; that is a different trade-off from a ±0.2 ppm/°C part. VPR220S/VPR221S datasheet.
- Verify long-term and environmental limits. For equipment exposed to sustained load, elevated temperature or moisture, inspect the exact grade’s load-life, high-temperature and moisture specifications rather than relying on the family name alone.
- For current sensing, check current and layout constraints too. Confirm the permitted current and dissipation for the selected resistance and package, then account for the board’s thermal path and measurement connections. TCR is only one contributor to measurement error.
How to compare the main figures
| Product or family | Published figure | What the figure means |
|---|---|---|
| VPG high-precision foil family overview | ±0.2 ppm/°C typical; 10 Ω to 75 kΩ; up to 400 mW for one family | Family-level overview; confirm that the particular resistance, package and power combination is offered. |
| VSMP | ±0.2 ppm/°C listed for multiple resistance ranges and tolerances | Ultra-high-precision wraparound SMD chip; cited datasheet revision dated 4 March 2020. |
| VCS1625 | 0.5 W on FR4 PCB at +70°C | Power rating under the stated board and temperature condition; datasheet revision dated 10 January 2025. |
| VPR220S/VPR221S | Up to 8 W; ±2 ppm/°C typical | TO-220 power format, trading a higher power capability for a higher typical TCR than the lowest-TCR families. |
| Z201 overview | ±0.005% tolerance; ±0.2 ppm/°C typical over −55°C to +125°C | Separate initial-tolerance and temperature-coefficient specifications; check the exact ordering code and conditions. |
What matters most in practice
Start with the circuit’s error budget, not the smallest TCR printed in a family overview. For a precision reference or current-sense path, initial tolerance, operating temperature span, self-heating, power handling and long-term stability can matter as much as the coefficient itself. Use the exact part-number datasheet to confirm that all required specifications apply together.
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