An Introduction to Resistor Color

Code
6 COMMENTS

Intro to Resistor Color Code

As the electronics industry evolved, one of the first things that the
industry’s players did was standardize the color code marking on
resistors. Resistor manufacturers adopted this color code.

The first band you start with when reading resistor color code will be
closer to one end of the resistor.

In the figure below, we see that the brown band on the left is the one
closest to one end of the resistor and therefore the one we start with
when determining its value.

Figure 1: the brown band is the one we start with because it is closer
to one end of the resistor
Although resistors with four bands (like the one in the picture above)
are the most common you’re likely to run into as a hobbyist, there are
resistors that use a five band and even a six-band color code.

We’ll talk a bit more about why in a minute.

But first, let’s have a look at the helpful chart below, which came from
a text book of mine. I had to edit the figure because for some reason
they did not include the multiplier value for grey and white. Though
it’s unlikely you’ll be working with resistors in the gigaohm range very
often, they do exist.

Referring to this diagram as you read will make understanding resistor

color code a breeze.

Figure 2: resistor color code chart

The left column of the chart starts with a helpful mnemonic for
remembering the colors and their order. There are other mnemonics
for this which we’ll touch on later.

The third column assigns a number to each color.

The fourth assigns a multiplier to each color. Notice that the number
of zeroes is equal to the color’s number. For example, the color
orange represents the number 3 and a multiplier of 1000, which has 3
zeros.

On top of the chart, we can see a picture of a normal four-band

general purpose resistor and a five-band precision resistor. This
graphic tells us what each of the numbers from the chart means.

On a four-band resistor we can see that the first two bands represent
the first two digits of the resistor’s value. The third band is a
multiplier, which tells us what to multiply the first two digits by to get
the ohmic value of the resistor. Finally, the fourth band gives us the
tolerance of the resistor, which is just a way to measure the variation
of real ohmic value between different batches of resistors.

For example, if the first 3 bands were red and the fourth was gold,
we’d have a 2,200-ohm resistor with a 5% tolerance. The first two red
bands give us the first two digits, which are 2 and 2. The third red
band tells us to multiply this by 100 (notice the two zeros in 100). The
fourth band gives the tolerance. Because this is not a precision
resistor, the chances of it being exactly 2.2k ohms is extremely small.

Rather, because of the 5% tolerance we can expect any given resistor

with these markings to measure somewhere between 2,090 ohms and
2,310 ohms if we put an ohmmeter across it.

For many applications, this may be acceptable. If we needed a tighter

tolerance, we could switch to a five-band precision resistor.

For example, if we had a five-band resistor whose colors were red,

red, red, red, and violet we’d have a 22,200-ohm resistor with a 0.1%
tolerance. This is likely the best you’ll see as far as tolerances go. We
get this value because red represents the number 2. Only this time,
since it’s a five-band resistor, the first 3 digits are 2s and the fourth
red band represents the multiplier of 100. The fifth band is the
tolerance.

If we put our ohmmeter across this resistor we can expect the value to
be between 22,177.8 ohms and 22,222.2 ohms. As we can see, this is
pretty darn close to the expected value.

Note that you will never see a resistor that starts with a black band as
black is the color for zero. The only exception to this is the zero-ohm
resistor which has only one black band and no others.

Resistor Color Code Practice

Let’s try a few practice problems to hone our skills at deciphering
resistor color code. The answers are given at the end of the post. No
peeking!

Ex. 1: A four-band resistor has the colors (starting with band one):
green, blue, brown, gold. What is its resistance and tolerance?

Ex. 2: A five-band resistor has the colors (starting with band one): red,
red, green, gold, brown. What is its resistance and tolerance?

Ex. 3: A four-band resistor has the colors (starting with band one):
gray, black, black, no fourth band. What is its resistance and
tolerance?

Resistor Color Code Mnemonics

From the chart in figure 2 we already know one mnemonic or memory
aid for color code. That one goes:

Big (for black) Beautiful (brown) Roses (red) Occupy (orange) Your
(yellow) Garden (green) But (blue) Violets (violet or purple) Grow
(gray) Wild (white) So (silver) GetSome (gold).

There are two other mnemonics for remembering color code.

One of them may be offensive to some people.

6-Band Resistor Color Code

Believe it or not, there are resistors with 6 bands. The average
hobbyist probably won’t see these very often (or at all), but they do
exist.

To read a six-band resistor, we treat it just like a 5-band resistor with

the 6th band representing a temperature coefficient.

This band indicates how much the actual resistance value of the
resistor changes when the temperature changes.

The picture below is a color code chart for 6-band resistors. I’m not
going to go into detail about the temperature coefficient in this post,
but the chart can help if you run into one of these.
Figure 3: 6-band resistor color code

The Zero-Ohms Resistor

You now know that zero-ohm resistors exist. These resistors have one
black band on them to represent zero ohms. There are no other
bands.

But why bother making a zero-ohm resistor?

A zero-ohm resistor is equivalent to a straight piece of wire or a

jumper wire.

Many PCBs are assembled and soldered by machines, not humans.

Since the equipment used to assemble PCBs handles resistors and not
wires, the zero-ohm resistor is used in place of where there’d normally
be jumper wires.

That’s the purpose of zero-ohm resistors.

Answers to Example Problems

Above
Ex 1: The colors on the four-band resistor are: green, blue, brown,
gold.

Remembering our mnemonic of choice, we know that green

represents the number 5, blue represents 6, and brown tells us to use
a multiplier of 10 (notice 10 has one zero and brown represents the
number one). Because it’s a four-band resistor, the first two bands
represent the first two digits.

So, we have: 56 * 10 = 560 ohms. The gold band tells us this resistor
has a 5% tolerance.

Ex 2: The colors on the five-band resistor are: red, red, green, gold,
brown.

Once again, we delve into our memory and access the mnemonic of
choice. We remember that red represents the number 2 (there are 2
twos), and green the number 5. Remember that on a five-band
resistor the first three bands represent the first three digits. In this
case, the gold band is the multiplier. This is due to the fact that the
fourth band on a five-band resistor is the multiplier. It is 0.1 in this
case.

So, we have: 225 * 0.1 = 22.5 ohms. The brown band tells us this
resistor has a tolerance of 1%.

Ex 3: The colors on the four-band resistor are: gray, black, black, none
(you’ll just have to imagine the fourth band is there).

We know that gray represents the number 8 and that black represents
zero (there are 2 of them).

So, we have: 80 * 1 = 80 ohms. Remember, when a black band is in

the multiplier position it simply means to use a multiplier of one (with
no zeros).

The absence of a fourth band indicates that its tolerance is 20%.

Bonus Question: If you were measure each one of these with your
ohmmeter, what are the low and high values you’d expect from each
resistor?

You Can’t Resist Resistor Color Code

Thus concludes our post on resistor color code. Remember, there are
plenty of online calculators to check your work when you’re first
learning color code. With a bit of practice, you’ll be able to gaze at a
resistor and rattle off its value in a matter of seconds.

In the future, I may add my own color code calculator to this site.

Until then, comment and share your (offensive or non-offensive)

mnemonics you use for color code.

TLE (3) - Basic Electricity

1) A form of electricity where
the flow of
current is
always in the same direction:
a. voltage
b. power
c. alternating current
d. direct current
2) The force which opposes and
reduces the
flow of
electrical current is recognized
as ________.
a. power
b. resistance
c. electromagnetism
d. frequency
3) A part of an electric circuit
which converts
electrical energy into another
form of energy to
do
work is ________.
a. load
b. circuit
c. source
d. control
4) A part of an electrical circuit,
consists of
batteries,
generator or a main electrical
power which
supplies
electricity is called ________.
a. control
b. load
c. source
d. voltage
5) A law that states that
current is directly
proportional to voltage and
inversely
proportional to
resistance is known as ________.
a. PEC
b. Law of Resistivity
c. Kirchoff's Law
d. Ohm's Law
6) In Ohm's Law, to find
the unknown
voltage in the
circuit, the formula to be used
is:
a. E = I x R
b. E = I / R
c. I = E / R
d. R = E / I
7) What amount of current
does a 40-watt
fluorescent
lamp draw from a 220 volts
power source?
a. 5.5 amperes
b. 0.18 amperes
c. 25.5 amperes
d. 50.5 amperes
8) There are several factors
involved in electrical
wiring installation but the
foremost
consideration is
________.
a. cost
b. labor
c. safety
d function
9) The standard number or
diameter of wires for
convenience outlet layout
should be?
a. 12
b. 14
c. 18
d. 10
10) To comply with the
requirements of the
Philippine Electrical Code, the
appropriate fuse
rating
for lighting outlet should be
________.
a. 15 amperes
b. 30 amperes
c. 60 amperes
d. 20 amperes
11) Planning and designing of
electrical wiring
plan
is being done in order to:
a. Provide efficient and
effective wiring system
of the
building.
b. Maintain quality
workmanship.
c. Avoid overloaded circuit.
d. Protect the circuit from high
current.
12) Circuit breakers are used to
protect
household
electrical circuits. What is the
ampacity rating of
the
breaker used for convenience
outlets or general
purpose circuits?
a. 20 amperes
b. 30 amperes
c. 15 amperes
d. 60 amperes
13) An electrical component
used to control
electrical
circuit in two different locations
is called:
a. four-way switch
b. three-way switch
c. push-button switch
d. remote controlled switch
14) To conserve energy, what
kind of lamp
should be
used in lighting fixtures?
a. Incandescent lamp
b. Mercury lamp
c. Compact fluorescent lamp
d. Neon lamp
15) The size of electrical wire
recommended for
installing lighting fixtures is:
a. No. 12 AWG
b. No. 10 AWG

of the
following is important?
a. same size and type
b. same type but different
rating
c. same size but different rating
d. different size and type
30) Which of the following is a
source of
alternating
current?
a. Dynamo
b. Battery
c. Dry cell
d. Alternator
31) When there is a break in
the circuit and the
current could not pass through,
the circuit is
________.
a. closed
b. shorted
c. grounded
d. open
32) Which term usually refers
to a device that
produces an electric current
when light falls
upon
them?
a. Solar cell
b. Dry cell
c. Solar lamp
d. Solar light
33) Which is synchronous
alternating-current
machine that changes
mechanical power into
electrical power?
a. Dynamo
b. Motor
c. Alternator
d. Lathe machine
34) Which battery CANNOT be
recharged after
its
chemical energy has been
depleted?
a. Energizer
b. Eveready
c. Primary battery
d. Secondary battery
35) Which generator generates
direct current?
a. Alternator
b. Dynamo
c. Battery
d. Adaptor
36) Which battery can be
recharged after each
chemical energy has been
depleted?
a. Primary battery
b. Energizer
c. Eveready
d. Secondary battery
37) Which is used to change
mechanical energy
into
electrical energy?
a. Battery
b. Circuit
c. Dry cell
d. Generator
38) A process in splitting the
atom of uranum is
called ________.
a. fusion
b. fission
c. friction
d. tension
39) A process by joining
hydrogen atoms which
causes heat hotter than the
sun is called
________.
a. fusion
b. fission
c. friction
d. tension
40) Which transforms heat
energy to electric
energy?
a. Transformers
b. Battery
c. Generator
d. Thermocouple
41) Which is the kinetic energy
of falling water?
a. Thermo energy
b. Hydro energy
c. Solar energy
d. Mechanical energy
42) Which is a solar collector
that is capable of
producing voltage when
exposed to radiant
energy
(sunlight)?
a. Photoelectric
b. Photovoltaic system
c. Photoemission system
d. Solar light
43) Energy derived or
extracted from the
internal
heat of the earth is called
________.
a. volcanic
b. geothermal
c. thermal
d. chemical
44) Which refers to the
extraction of electrons
from a
substance by sunlight on
incident
electromagnetic
radiation?
a. Photoelectric effect
b. Photovoltaic effect
c. Photoemission
d. Electron microscopy
45) Which statement is TRUE?
a. Bigger size of wire has
higher resistance.
b. Bigger size of wire has lower
resistance.
d. Short wire has higher
resistance.
46) A small light ulb with a
resistance of 100
ohms is
connected across a 120-v line.
What is the
current
through the bulb?
a. 1.2 A
b. 0.012 A
c. 0.12 A
d. 12 A
47) A 200-v lamp has a
resistance of 400 ohms.
The
power rating in watts of lamp is
________.
a. 100 w
b. 600 w
c. 200 w
d. 250 w
48) If 18 resistances, each of a
value of 36 ohms,
are
connected in parallel, then the
total resistance is
________.
a. 36 ohms
b. 2 ohms
c. 648 ohms
d. 54 ohms
49) A toaster takes 10 A from a
120v line. The
power
used is:
a. 12 w
b. 130 w
c. 1,200 w
d. 120 w
50) What is the resistance of a
100 w, 110-v
incandescent lamp?
a. 121 ohms
b. 115 ohms
c. 125 ohms
d. 12.1 ohms
51) How many kilowatts is the
water heater if it
draws a current of 10 amperes
and has a
resistance of
23 ohms?
a. 23 Kw
b. 2,300 Kw
c. 230 Kw
d. 2.3 Kw
52) The resistance of an
electrical wire is
inversely
proportional to its ________.
a. length
b. cross sectional area
c. temperature
d. material
53) A fluorescent lamp unit
connected to a 110v
AC
line takes 1.2A and requires
110w power. What
is its
power factor?
a. 0.9
b. 0.833
c. 0.866
d. 0.8
54) An electric heater uses
20kw-in 8 hours. If
the
voltage across the heater is
240 volts. What is
the
heater resistance?
a. 2.5 ohms
b. 83.3 ohms
c. 23.04 ohms
d. 2.30 ohms
55) The resistance of a 230v
incandescent lamp
is
300 ohms. What current is
required to operate
the
lamp?
a. 0.85 A
b. 0.77 A
c. 1.30 A
d. 7.74 A
56) A group of lamps operates
a current of 12 A
and
a voltage of 120v. What is the
total power of the
lamps?
a. 1.44 kw
b. 1.20 kw
c. 1.34 kw
d. 14.4 kw
57) What is the maximum load
capacity of a 15A
circuit breaker protecting a
branch circuit that
supplies a continuous load?
a. 15 A
b. 10 A
c. 12 A
d. 14 A
58) What is the horsepower
rating of an electric
water
pump if it has a power rating of
1.75 Kw?
a. 2 Hp
b. 2.3 Hp
c. 2.5 Hp
d. 23 Hp
59) How many kilowatts does a
certain
appliance
consume for 5 hours of useif it
has a power
rating of
1.5 Hp?
a. 56 Kw
b. 7.5 Kw
c. 5.6 Kw
d. 75