How to read a resistor color code chart
The resistor shadeation code lets you discover the resistive price of a resistor or the quantity of resistance in ohms that the resistor is ready to. This code is a sample of colored bands on the floor of the resistor. How to read a resistor color code chart
This article breaks down the bands on a resistor and affords instance photos so that you can get acquainted with the way to discover every one of the colors, in case you don`t need to manually do this, you could use a Resistor shadeation code calculator to decode the price of your resistor through coming into the colors of the bands.
Knowing the way to examine a resistor color code shadeation code is beneficial for DIY initiatives in which resistors are used- so in case you`re searching out a short and clean manner to analyze this skill, then this newsletter is for you!
In only a few minutes, you`ll be capable of discovering shades through their numbers, and greater importantly, calculating the resistance of a selected resistor in ohms.
Resistor Color Code Chart
You`ve probably observed that it has a sequence of colored stripes jogging alongside its body. These shades correspond to numbers, and they suggest the price of the resistor. By understanding the way to examine the shadeation code, you could speedy decide the price of any resistor following the reference chart that may be used to decide the code of every shadeation band.
How To Read A Resistor Color Code
The resistance of a resistor relies upon the number of shadeation bands (from three to 6) at the resistor. Reading of resistance thru the shadeation band is one-of-a-kind for a one-of-a-kind quantity of shadeation bands. For instance, when you have resistance with 4 shadeation bands its resistance studying varies from the resistor with six bands.
First, maintain the resistor so the tolerance band (gold or silver) is for your proper. Then observe the stairs beneath in keeping with the quantity of the shadeation bands for your resistance.
Three or Four Band Resistors
This code includes 3 colored bands which might be examined from left to proper. The first band represents the primary digit of the resistance price, the second band represents the second digit of the resistance price, and the 0.33 band is called the multiplier. The multiplier is used to calculate the real resistance price of a resistor primarily based totally on its shadeation code.
Some resistors even have a fourth band that represents the tolerance of the resistor. The tolerance is typically represented as a percentage and may be +/- five%, 10%, or 20%.
The maximum not unusualplace values for resistors are 10 ohms, one hundred ohms, 1 kilohm (a thousand ohms), and 10 kilohms (10,000 ohms). The wellknown tolerance values are five% and 10%.
Five or Six Band Resistors
On 5 band resistor, the primary 3 bands suggest the primary 3 digits of the resistance price, at the same time as the fourth band suggests the multiplier manner the number of zeros that observe.
The 5th band on a 5 or six-band resistor suggests the tolerance of the resistance price. The maximum, not unusualplace tolerance values are five% and 10%. This manner that the real resistance price of the resistor might be as much as five% or 10% better or decrease than the indicated price.
Finally, the six bands on a six-band resistor suggest the temperature coefficient. This is a degree of the way lots the resistance price will extrude with temperature. The maximum not unusualplace values are +/- 200ppm/K and +/- 500ppm/K.
Resistor Color Code Mnemonic
There are many methods to memorize the resistor shadeation code, however, one of the maximum famous is the usage of a mnemonic. A mnemonic is a word that enables you to consider something by associating it with a phrase or word that is straightforward to consider.
One, not unusualplace mnemonic is “Bad Boys Rape Our Young Girls But Violet Gives Willingly.” This acronym stands for Black, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet, Gray, and White. As you could see, it spells out the colors so as from darkest to lightest.
Another mnemonic is “Bread higher delivered domestic brown or overseas ingredients may make infants barf badly.” This one additionally spells out the colors so as from darkest to lightest.
Once you’ve got memorized this type of mnemonic, virtually use it on the resistor shadeation code and you`ll be capable of examining it speedy and easily!
Examples of Different Resistor Codes
As you understand The shadeation code on a resistor suggests the price of its resistance. Here are a few examples of various resistor codes:
Example 1: Red, Green, Red, Gold
The first shades (Red and Green in this case) constitute the primary digits of the resistance price, the same time as the 0.33 shadeation (Red) represents the number of zeroes to feature to the one’s digits to get the entire price. Finally, the fourth shadeation (Gold) is the tolerance of the resistor, which suggests how correct its resistance price is.
To decide the resistance of a given resistor, then, you virtually want to examine the colors from left to proper and convert them into numbers in keeping with the above scheme. In this case, the resistor has a resistance price of 2500 ± five% Ω or 2. five kΩ.
Example 2: Orange, Green, Blue, Gold
Here the primary shadeation is Printed circuit board in china orange, which suggests a price of three; the second shadeation is green, which suggests a price of five. And the 0.33 shadeation is blue, which might suggest a price of 10^five; and if the fourth shadeation is gold, this will suggest a tolerance price of five%. This offers us a complete resistance price for this unique resistor of 35.00MΩ.
Example three: Brown, Grey, Orange, Silver
To decide the resistance of a given resistor with the given shadeation sequence, you’ll want to apply Resistor Color Code Chart.

Brown (1), Grey (8), Orange (three), Silver (10%)
The first shades in the chart, brown and grey, constitute the primary and 2nd digits of the resistance price respectively. The 0.33 shadeation, orange, represents the decimal point. The fourth shadeation, silver, denotes that the tolerance is +/- 10%. How to read a resistor color code chart