High-Energy Particulate Resistors

A power system comprising:

• a plurality of resistors coupled to a power source and having adjustable resistance values, each resistor of the plurality of resistors comprising:
• a resistive body comprising unbound particulate material;
• a container to contain the unbound particulate material;
• a first contact arranged to electrically contact the unbound particulate material from a first end of the container;
• a second contact arranged to electrically contact the unbound particulate material from a second end of the container;
• and
• a clamping assembly to hold the second contact with respect to the first contact and maintain a pressure applied by the first contact and the second contact on the unbound particulate material to provide a resistance value that is constant to within 2% throughout use of the resistor during operation of the power system.

A method of making an adjustable resistor having a resistive body of unbound particulate material, the method comprising:

• filling a container of a resistor assembly with the unbound particulate material to form the resistive body, wherein the resistor assembly is configured to connect to an electrical circuit;
• arranging a first contact of the resistor assembly to contact the unbound particulate material at a first location with respect to the container;
• arranging a second contact of the resistor assembly to contact the unbound particulate material at a second location with respect to the container;
• and
• adjusting an adjustment mechanism of the resistor assembly to change an amount of pressure applied by the first contact and the second contact to the unbound particulate material to obtain a selected resistance value for the adjustable resistor.