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Resistor Color Code:
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Resistor color coding is a system that uses colored bands to indicate a resistor's resistance value, tolerance, and sometimes temperature coefficient. This system allows values to be easily read from small components where printed numbers would be impractical.
The calculator interprets the color bands based on standard color codes:
| Color | Digit | Multiplier | Tolerance | Temp. Coeff. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 0 | 1Ω | - | 250 ppm/°C |
| Brown | 1 | 10Ω | ±1% | 100 ppm/°C |
| Red | 2 | 100Ω | ±2% | 50 ppm/°C |
| Orange | 3 | 1kΩ | - | 15 ppm/°C |
| Yellow | 4 | 10kΩ | - | 25 ppm/°C |
| Green | 5 | 100kΩ | ±0.5% | 20 ppm/°C |
| Blue | 6 | 1MΩ | ±0.25% | 10 ppm/°C |
| Violet | 7 | 10MΩ | ±0.1% | 5 ppm/°C |
| Gray | 8 | 100MΩ | ±0.05% | 1 ppm/°C |
| White | 9 | 1GΩ | - | - |
| Gold | - | 0.1Ω | ±5% | - |
| Silver | - | 0.01Ω | ±10% | - |
Details: Resistor color coding is essential for quickly identifying resistor values in electronic circuits. It's particularly important for through-hole resistors where space for printed values is limited.
Tips:
Q1: What's the difference between 4, 5, and 6 band resistors?
A: 4-band has 2 digits, multiplier, and tolerance. 5-band has 3 digits, multiplier, and tolerance. 6-band adds temperature coefficient.
Q2: How do I read the resistor if I don't know which end to start from?
A: Look for a gap between the tolerance band and other bands, or note that gold/silver tolerance bands are always on the right.
Q3: What if my resistor has no tolerance band?
A: Resistors without a tolerance band typically have ±20% tolerance.
Q4: Why do some resistors use 5 or 6 bands?
A: More bands allow for more precise values (3 significant digits instead of 2) and additional information like temperature coefficient.
Q5: Are there resistors with more than 6 bands?
A: Rarely. Some precision resistors might have additional bands for special characteristics, but 6 is typically the maximum.