How to read resistor color codes
The unassuming resistor is the least expensive component in our manufacturing box, but it's also very useful. We've shown you how to use resistors in your projects before, but the focus of this guide is to understand the colored strips that surround the center of the resistor. These resistor color codes tell us exactly how many ohms of current each unit handles.
How do we read resistor color codes? this passage answers this question and give you the tools to quickly calculate the correct resistors for all your projects.
Resistor Color Codes: Quick Reference
Color | 1st Band | 2nd Band | 3rd Band | Multiplier | Tolerance |
Black | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
Brown | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | ±1% |
Red | 2 | 2 | 2 | 100 | ±2% |
Orange | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1000 |
|
Yellow | 4 | 4 | 4 | 10000 |
|
Green | 5 | 5 | 5 | 100000 | ±0.5% |
Blue | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1000000 | ±0.25% |
Violet | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10000000 | ±0.1% |
Grey | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| ±0.05% |
White | 9 | 9 | 9 |
|
|
Gold |
|
|
| 0.01 | ±5% |
Silver |
|
|
| 0.01 | ±10% |
None |
|
|
|
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Firstly,Reading resistor color codes from left to right
Resistors have no polarity, so they can be used in any orientation in a circuit. But to identify the correct resistor color code value, we need to understand the color bands on the resistors. On a typical four-band hobby grade resistor, there are three colors in a group. These are the first and second significant digits and the multiplier. The last band is the resistor's tolerance, a margin of error if you will. For most hobbyists, a 5% (gold) tolerance is perfect and common. If we create sensitive circuits, such as audio and video projects, we only need the extra precision. We can always find the tolerance band because it is the only band printed on the "shoulder" of the resistor. Look for this band to identify the direction of the resistor.
Five-band resistors have an additional band, the third significant digit, which provides a higher level of accuracy if needed. So we have three significant digits, a multiplier and a tolerance, which are printed separately on the shoulder.
Then,How to get resistance value with this resistor color codes？
Let's use the 220 ohm resistor commonly used in LED lights as an example of how to read the resistor color code.
1.The first significant digit is red, and using the decoder we can see that the value of red is 2.
2.The second significant digit is also red, so we get 22.
3.The multiplier is brown, which decodes to 10, and if we multiply 22 by 10 we get 220.
4.The last loop is gold. Gold is 5%, which means we can accept resistance with a 5% margin of error.
For manufacturers who need more precision, there are also five band resistors with a third significant digit. The extra digit provides clarity, which is critical for resistance-sensitive circuits such as scientific and engineering instruments.
This is a five band 220 ohm resistor and its resistor color code.
1.The first valid number is red, and using the decoder, we can see that the value of red is 2.
2.The second significant digit is also red, so we get 22.
3.The third significant digit is black, which is 0. We now have 220.
4.The multiplier is black, which decodes to 1. If we multiply 220 by 1, we get 220.
5.The last band, tolerance, is gold. Gold is 5%, which means we can accept a resistance with a 5% margin of error.
The above is about how to read the resistance value with the resistor color codes. If you still have any questions or want to purchase resistors, please feel free to contact us at any time.
