Wayne Parham Messages: 18757 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
At very low power levels, I wouldn't expect any difference. But as power levels are increased, the smaller resistors will get hotter which can cause their values to shift at the least. When they reach their limit, they can start to make thermal noise and eventually burn open, possibly damaging other nearby components. I've seen heat from power resistors burn through a fiberglass circuit board.