Resistor Color Code Identification
The standard color coding method for resistors uses a different color to represent each number 0 to 9:
black, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, grey, white. On a 4 band resistor, the first two
bands represent the significant digits. On a 5 and 6 band, the first three bands are the significant digits.
The next band represents the multiplier or "decade". As in the above 4 band example, the first two bands
are red and purple, representing 2 and 7. The third band is orange, representing 3 meaning 103 or 1000.
This gives a value of 27 * 1000, or 27000 Ohms. The gold and silver decade bands divide by a power of
10, allowing for values below 10 Ohms. The 5 and 6 band resistors work exactly the same as the 4 band
resistor. They just add one more significant digit. The band after the decade is the tolerance. This tells
how accurate the resistance compared to its specification. The 4 band resistor has a gold tolerance, or 5%,
meaning that the true value of the resistor could be 5% more or less than 27000 Ohms, allowing values
between 25650 to 28350 Ohms. The last band on a 6 band resistor is the temperature coefficient of the
resistor, measured in PPM/C or parts per million per degree Centigrade. Brown (100 PPM/C) are the most
popular, and will work for most reasonable temperature conditions. The others are specially designed for
temperature critical applications.
black, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, grey, white. On a 4 band resistor, the first two
bands represent the significant digits. On a 5 and 6 band, the first three bands are the significant digits.
The next band represents the multiplier or "decade". As in the above 4 band example, the first two bands
are red and purple, representing 2 and 7. The third band is orange, representing 3 meaning 103 or 1000.
This gives a value of 27 * 1000, or 27000 Ohms. The gold and silver decade bands divide by a power of
10, allowing for values below 10 Ohms. The 5 and 6 band resistors work exactly the same as the 4 band
resistor. They just add one more significant digit. The band after the decade is the tolerance. This tells
how accurate the resistance compared to its specification. The 4 band resistor has a gold tolerance, or 5%,
meaning that the true value of the resistor could be 5% more or less than 27000 Ohms, allowing values
between 25650 to 28350 Ohms. The last band on a 6 band resistor is the temperature coefficient of the
resistor, measured in PPM/C or parts per million per degree Centigrade. Brown (100 PPM/C) are the most
popular, and will work for most reasonable temperature conditions. The others are specially designed for
temperature critical applications.
