Resistor

Reading
Yvette Kaye A. Orendain
BSEE 1B
What is a Resistor?
A resistor is a passive
electrical component
with the primary function
to limit the flow of
electric current.
Why is a Resistor color-coded?

Components and wires are coded

with colors to identify their value
and function. Resistor Color
Coding uses colored bands to
quickly identify a resistors
resistive value and its percentage
of tolerance with the physical size
of the resistor indicating its
wattage rating.
International Standards IEC 60062

This International Standard

specifies designation and marking
codes for capacitors and resistors. It
provides coding methods for the
resistance or capacitance value and
its tolerance, including color coding
for resistors.
How Does the Resistor Color Code
Work?
Multiplier
Tolerance Letter Coding for Resistors

The letter code for tolerance is

shown below

B = 0.1%
C = 0.25 %
D = 0.5 %
F=1%
G=2%
J=5%
K = 10 %
M = 20 %
How Does the Resistor Color Code
Work?
How do I know which end of the
resistor to start reading from?

Many resistors have some of

the color bands grouped
closer together or grouped
toward one end. Hold the
resistor with these grouped
bands to your left. Always
read resistors from left to
right.
How do I know which end of the
resistor to start reading from?

Many resistors have some of

the color bands grouped
closer together or grouped
toward one end. Hold the
resistor with these grouped
bands to your left. Always
read resistors from left to
right.
How do I know which end of the
resistor to start reading from?

Many resistors have some of

the color bands grouped
closer together or grouped
toward one end. Hold the
resistor with these grouped
bands to your left. Always
read resistors from left to
right.
How do I know which end of the
resistor to start reading from?

Many resistors have some of

the color bands grouped
closer together or grouped
toward one end. Hold the
resistor with these grouped
bands to your left. Always
read resistors from left to
right.
Three Band Resistor Color Code

1st Digit: Brown = 1

2nd Digit: Black = 0
Multiplier: Orange = 10³ (1000)

10×10³ = 10,000 or 10K Ω ± 20%

10K Ω×0.20 = 2K Ω

10K Ω + 2K Ω = 12K Ω
10K Ω - 2K Ω = 8K Ω

This means the resistance value lies in the region of

8K Ω to 12K Ω.
Four Band Resistor Color Code

1st Digit: Green = 5

2nd Digit: Black = 0
Multiplier: Red = 10² (100)
Tolerance: Brown = 2%

50×10² = 5,000 or 5K Ω ± 2%

5K Ω×0.02 = 100 Ω

5K Ω + 100 Ω = 5,100 Ω
5K Ω - 1K Ω = 4,900 Ω
This means the resistance value lies in the region of
4,900 Ω to 5,100 Ω.
Five Band Resistor Color Code
1st Digit: Red = 2
2nd Digit: Blue = 6
3rd Digit: Black = 0
Multiplier: Orange = 10³ (1000)
Tolerance: Gray = 0.05 %

260×10³ = 260,000 or 260K Ω ± 0.05%

260K Ω×0.0005 = 130 Ω

260K Ω + 130 Ω = 260,130 Ω

260K Ω - 130 Ω = 259,870 Ω
This means the resistance value lies in the
region of 259,870 Ω to 260,130 Ω.
Six Band Resistor Color Code
1st Digit: Orange = 3
2nd Digit: Green = 5
3rd Digit: White = 9
Multiplier: Blue = 10⁶ (1,000,000)
Tolerance: Gold = 5 %
Temperature Coefficient: Black = 100 ppm/K

359×10⁶ = 359,000,000 or 359M Ω ± 5% 100

ppm/K

359M Ω×0.005 = 1,795,000 Ω

359M Ω + 1,795,000 Ω = 360,795,000 Ω

359M Ω - 1,795,000 Ω = 357,205, 000Ω
This means the resistance value lies in the
region of 357,205ohms-360,795ohms.
 FINAL THOUGHTS

The resistor color code might seem a bit confusing and

rather inconvenient at first, but most electronics
hobbyists and technicians are surprised when they
realize how quickly they’ve memorized the color chart
without the use of mnemonics or other silly shortcuts.
The color code is quite intuitive, and after a brief
familiarization period, instantly recognizing resistor
values will come as second nature.
Thank You!