LESSON 5:

RESISTOR COLOR CODE

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 OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this Lesson, the learners should be able to:

1. Define Resistance
2. Interpret resistor color codes
3. Determine the value of a resistor using the color code chart
4. Explain Tolerance.

LEARNING COMPETENCIES:

1. Compute for the value of resistors based on its color code

2. Identify the purpose and application of a resistor
3. Carry out measurements and calculations

WHAT HAPPENED?

Zel can you help me

find the value of this Sure Cat, let’s use
resistor. I lost my resistor color code. It
details and VOM is fun and easy!

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 Find out how much you are familiar about
PRETEST resistors

A. Direction: Match Column A to Column B.

CARBON-
COMPOSITION
RESISTORS
WIRE WOUND

PRECISION

METAL-FILM

B. Direction: Choose the best answer. Circle the letter only.

1. Which component resists the flow of current in an electrical circuit?
A. Capacitor B. Inductor C. Resistor D. Transistor
2. What kind of component is resistor?
A. Combined B. Discrete C. Integrated D. Hybrid
3. What color in the color scheme has an equivalent of 5 in the 2 nd band?
B. Brown B. Green C. Red D. Yellow
4. What is the color of the tolerance representing ±10%?
C. Gold B. Black C. Orange D. Silver
5. What is the value of a resistor with the following colors:
A. 500 Ohms ± 5% C. 5.0 Ohms ± 5%
B. 50 Ohms ± 5% D. 0.5 Ohms ± 5%

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 DRAW ME ACTIVITY

A. Direction: Illustrate the statement below and draw its representation about
water analogy. (Explain your illustration)

 The Resistor and the water analogy

The resistance to flow represented by a severe constriction in a water pipe is
analogous to the resistance to electric current represented by a common
electric "resistor". The severe constriction will have more resistance than the
remainder of the pipe system.

 Furthermore….
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 The most commonly used electronic components in the field are known
as resistors. Resistor is a discrete component that offers opposition to the flow
of current.
Resistors have different types in accordance with the material used like
carbon-composition and the wirewound resistor. According to construction, we
have the fixed resistor and the variable resistor. Resistors are very common and
are the cheapest electronic components in the market for so many years. Their
features are so interesting and are very colorful. That’s why resistors are very
popular among students studying electronics. One distinct feature of this
resistance - giving component is the way its value is determined. It uses a set
of colors which follows a code for its assumed resistance expressed in OHMS.

Wire-wound

Variable resistor
(Rotary type)

Resistor in Band
Metal FIlm

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 Resistance is the opposition to current flow. The unit measured is in
Ohms Ω. The resistor is used to create desirable voltage drops and limit
current values in electronic circuitry.

I. Basic Definitions

A. Resistors are components used in electronic equipment.

B. They resist or limit the flow of current.
C. The common carbon composition resistors are all brown with wire
leads coming out of each end.
D. On the outside they all look alike. Inside they may be 10 ohms or 10
mega ohms
E. The color bands on the outside tell the value on the inside
F. Resistors are a linear device.

II. Resistor Types Overview

A. The two basic types of resistors are fixed and variable.

B. Fixed resistor values are nearly constant, or constant within a
defined tolerance range.
C. When actual resistance value is outside the tolerance range, the
resistor is “bad” and needs to be replaced.
D. Variable resistors are designed to have an adjustable value.
E. The adjustment varies the controlled value of voltage or current,
similar to a volume control.

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 RESISTOR COLOR CODE CHART
Resistors Color Code
1st Color Band: First digit of value
2nd Color Band: Second digit of value

Tolerance 3RDColor Band: Multiplier

or numbers of zeros
Example:

Brown Black Yellow Gold

1 0 0000 5%

  Significant Digit Decimal Multiplier

  First and second band Third band
Black 0 1
Brown 1 10
Red 2 100
Orange 3 1,000 (k)
Yellow 4 10,000
Green 5 100,000
Blue 6 1,000,000 (M)
Violet 7 10,000,000
Gray 8 100,000,000
White 9 1,000,000,000

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 69
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 IDENTIFYING AND READING THE COLOR BANDS

A. Notice the color bands are not in the center of the resistor.
B. There are two common methods used to identify the first band.
C. The first method is to have a small gap between bands.
D. The other method is to have the bands start close to one end of the
resistor.
E. The band closest to the end is band one.
F. The value is read from a group of bands (typically three bands); then after the
small gap is the single tolerance band.
G. Resistor manufacturers will use one method or the other (but not both).
H. On some resistors, there is a fifth band. This band can be another value band for
a more accurate resistance value or an indication of the failure rate (required for
military use).

RESISTOR TOLERANCE

Resistor Tolerance (Distribute the Resistance Value and Tolerance Range handout
and have students complete the handout before moving to resistor measurement.)
A. Resistor tolerance has been mentioned several times in this lesson because
it is an important concept that is also confusing.
B. Tolerance is the range of values a resistor may have and still be a good
resistor.
C. A resistor marked 100,000 ohms with a tolerance of 20 percent can vary
from that value by 20,000 ohms. (100,000 x 0.2) With an ohm meter, the
resistor measuring between 80,000 ohms and 120,000 ohms is still good.
D. Tolerance is one reason the ohmmeter measures resistance other than what
is marked on the resistor. The tighter the tolerance, the closer the resistor is to
the value marked on the resistor.

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 RESISTOR MEASUREMENT

A. Actual resistance value of a resistor must be measured with a multimeter (or

ohmmeter).
B. The measured value is often different from the indicated value (the indicated
value is from the color code).
C. If the measured value is within the tolerance range of the resistor, the resistor is
still good.
D. Students should practice measuring resistance values not only to see how
resistance values can differ from indicated value but also to gain experience with
using a meter.
E. Print or have students create a chart to compare actual measurement to
indicated value using whatever resistors you have on hand.

RESISTOR SIZE VS. RESISTOR RESISTANCE VALUE

A. Resistance value depends on the amount of carbon mixed in with filler when
the resistor is manufactured.
B. The carbon mixture values do not affect the size or shape of the resistor.
C. Heat is generated in the resistor as it consumes power in the process of
restricting or limiting current.
D. The more power a device consumes, the hotter it gets.
E. At some point, as the temperature rises, the device will burn up.
F. A larger surface area means the device will give off more heat, meaning it will
stay cooler for a given amount of heat.

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 Resistance Value and
ASSESSMENT 1 Tolerance Range

Direction: Determine the resistance value and tolerance range of the

following resistors.
1. 1.   VIOLET, RED, YELLOW, GOLD
A.) Indicated Resistance:
B.) Tolerance:
C.) Acceptable Resistance Value Range:
2.  BROWN, BLACK, YELLOW, GOLD
  A.) Indicated Resistance:
  B.) Tolerance:
C.) Acceptable Resistance Value Range:
3. RED,RED,RED,GOLD
  A.) Indicated Resistance:
  B.) Tolerance:
C.) Acceptable Resistance Value Range:
4. GREEN,BLUE,BROWN,GOLD
  A.) Indicated Resistance:
    B.) Tolerance:
C.) Acceptable Resistance Value Range:
5.  BROWN,GRAY,GREEN,GOLD
  A.) Indicated Resistance:
  B.) Tolerance:
C.) Acceptable Resistance Value Range:
6.  GRAY,BLACK RED,GOLD
  A.) Indicated Resistance:
  B.) Tolerance:
C.) Acceptable Resistance Value Range:
7.  BLUE,GREEN,BLACK,GOLD
  A.) Indicated Resistance:
  B.) Tolerance:
C.) Acceptable Resistance Value Range:
8.  BROWN,BLACK,RED,SILVER
  A.) Indicated Resistance:
  B.) Tolerance:
C.) Acceptable Resistance Value Range:
9.  BLACK,YELLOW,BLACK, GOLD
  A.) Indicated Resistance:
  B.) Tolerance:
C.) Acceptable Resistance Value Range:
10.  RED,BLACK,YELLOW,SILVER
  A.) Indicated Resistance:
B.) Tolerance:
C.) Acceptable Resistance Value Range:
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 ASSESSMENT 2 Resistors Exam

Direction: Mark the best answer to each question.

1. The resistor color code is used to express the value of all types of resistors.
A. True B. False
2. In the resistor color code, black represents the number _______.
A. 0 B. 3 C. 2
3. In the resistor color code, red represents the number _______.
A. 0 B. 1 C. 2
4. In the resistor color code, orange represents the number _____.
A. 0 B. 3 C. 2
5. In the resistor color code, brown represents the number ______.
A. 0 B. 1 C. 2
 

6. Decode the resistor. Brown, Black, Brown, Gold

  Value __________  
  Tolerance __________  
7. Decode the resistor. Red, Red, Brown, Silver
  Value __________  
  Tolerance __________  
8. Decode the resistor. Yellow, Violet, Red
  Value __________  
  Tolerance __________  

9. Decode the resistor. Orange, Orange, Orange, Gold

  Value __________  
  Tolerance __________  
10. Decode the resistor. . Brown, Red, Yellow, Gold
  Value __________  
  Tolerance __________  

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