What does the term working voltage refer to?

[Nora]

Resistor question

I usually buy resistors and power size them using Watts. The following link will work fine for me resistor size and Watt size but it has a term I've not used before: Working Voltage.
My working voltage, that is, the voltage in the circuit is 24V, yet this sheet says 15V.
My question is, what does the term working voltage refer to, and does it matter if my wattage (calculated from volts and current) and resistance are OK?
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=1.0KQBK-ND
Thanks!
Nora

 

[dfullmer]

Re: Resistor question

Hi Nora,

It looks like someone at digikey put the wrong numbers in. If you look at the data sheet you would find that the max working voltage for the type you would be buying is 250V with a surge or overload of 500V. These type of specs have to do with the material dielectric of the part and how much voltage can be safely stood off under load.

Hope that helps

dfullmer