Resistor codes

Resistors oppose the flow

of electrical current.
Resistance is measured
in ohms ().
Resistor values are read
using a series of four
coloured bands.
There are 10 colours that
can be used in these four
bands.
Black
Brown
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Violet
Grey
White



0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Black
Brown
Red
Orange
Yellow

Green
Blue
Violet
Grey
White
Black
Brown
R.O.Y.
Got
Bloody
Violent
Grey
White
A memory tool

1
st
digit
2
nd
digit
Multiplier or
number of
zeros
Tolerance
2
5
Zero
None
+/- 5%
Value = 25
Tolerance band
The 4
th
band is either
gold +/- 5% (better quality)
Silver +/- 10% (lesser quality)
Band 1 Band 2 Band 3 Band 4

Brown


White

Orange

Gold
Value = 19000 Or 19K


Correct notation.
1000 ohms = 1 kilohm = 1K
1,000,000 = 1 megohm = 1M
The letter K or M is used as the
comma as small dots can easily
be missed.
To go from a smaller unit to a larger unit divide
the ohmic value by 1000.
Move decimal place to the left 3 places, or cut
off 3 zeros.

Example:

Ohms to Kilohms
5,000 ohms = 5K


To go from a larger unit to a smaller unit,
multiply by 1000.
Move decimal place to the right 3 places, or
add 3 zeros.

Example:

Ohms to Kilohms
50 Kilohms = 50,000


Give the correct notation for these
examples
a) 2,000
b) 300,000
c) 4,200,000
d) 40,700
e) 970,000
a) 2K
b) 300K
c) 4M2
d) 40K7
e) 970K
Answers
Band 1 Band 2 Band 3 Band 4 Value
(Ohms)
Tolerance
%

Yellow Green Black Gold
Grey Red Brown Gold
Blue Orange Red Silver
White Black Green Silver
Band 1 Band 2 Band 3 Band 4 Value
Yellow
4
Green
5
Black
-
Gold
+ _ 5%
Grey
8
Red
2
Brown
0
Gold
Blue
6
Orange
3
Red
2
Silver
10 %
White
9
Black
0
Blue
000000
Silver
45
820
6,300
6K3
9,000,000
9M
When given a notation and asked to give
the bands first put the resistor value into
ohms. This will stop you getting
confused.

Example:
8K2 = 8,200 ohms
4M6 = 4,600,000 ohms
47K = 47,000
Do the resistor value worksheet.


Work out the values of the resistors given.
Ranges of resistor values
The fourth band tells us the tolerance of
the resistor.
Gold indicates a better quality of resistor
and the range is smaller 5%
Silver is lesser in quality and is 10%
Aim: calculate the ohmic range of a resistor given its
banding pattern.
Red, red, red, silver.
1. The value is _______ _________ ________ +/- 10 %
2. Silver means 10 % so what is 10 % of this resistors value?
All you do is move the decimal place one place to the left. Eg 10% of
100.0 = 10.00 so the tolerance value of this resistor is ___________
3. So the range of this resistor is
___________ - ___________ = ____________
to ____________ + _________ = ____________

Aim: calculate the ohmic range of a resistor given its
banding pattern.
Red, red, red, silver.
1. The value is 2200 +/- 10 %
2. Silver means 10 % so what is 10 % of this resistors value?
All you do is move the decimal place one place to the left. Eg 10% of
100.0 = 10.00 so the tolerance value of this resistor is 220
3. So the range of this resistor is
__ 2200 ___ - ___ 220 ____ = __1980__
to __ 2200 _____ + __ 220 ___ = __2420_

Aim: calculate the ohmic range of a resistor given its banding
pattern.
Orange Blue Brown Silver.
1. The value is _______ _________ ________ +/- _____ %
2. Silver means 10 % so what is 10 % of this resistors value?
All you do is move the decimal place one place to the left. Eg 10%
of 100.0 = 10.00 so the tolerance value of this resistor is
___________
4. So the range of this resistor is
___________ - ___________ = ____________
to ____________ + _________ = ____________

Aim: calculate the ohmic range of a resistor given its banding
pattern.
Orange Blue Brown Silver.
1. The value is __3_6_0 +/- __10___ %
2. Silver means 10 % so what is 10 % of this resistors value?
All you do is move the decimal place one place to the left. Eg 10%
of 100.0 = 10.00 so the tolerance value of this resistor is
____36_______
4. So the range of this resistor is
___360____ - ____36____ = ____324_
to __360_____ + ___ 36 ____ = __ 396

Aim: calculate the ohmic range of a resistor given its banding
pattern.

1. Red, Black Red Gold.

2. Grey Green Brown, Gold

3. Violet, Yellow, Orange, Gold

4. Green, Green, Black, Silver