Instructor manual

Linear Circuit Analysis

Muzamil Hussain

Experiment No 02
Resistor Color Code Chart – Understanding Resistance Color Coding.

About This Experiment :

“Color coding” is used in electronics to identify between different components.
In the case of resistors, color coding is used to identify a specific resistance
value, for example a 100 ohms resistor or a 1 kilo ohms resistor with 5%
tolerance. Electronic components like resistors are very small in size and it is
difficult to print its value directly on to the component surface. Hence a
standard was formed in 1920 by then Radio Manufacturers Association (now
part of EIA – Electronic Industries Alliance) to identify values and ratings of
electronic components by printing color codes on them. Color coding
technique makes it easy to print values (based on color codes) on small
components, such as resistors and facilitates cost effective manufacturing.

After Completing This Experiment You will Be To:

 Read the resistor values by the color code.

Reading Assignment
Topic color coding,
Book, V.K Mehta “Electronics and Electrical Technology”.

Tools, Equipment, and Components.

Carbon composition Resistors
DMM
Time Required
Approximately 1 hour and half hour

Theory of Operation
How to Identify Resistor Color Code
The figure below shows the layout of the bands, the multiplier and the
tolerance value of a resistor. For a 6-band resistor, an additional temperature
coefficient band is provided. The temperature co-efficient is measured in
ppm/K.

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 Instructor manual
Linear Circuit Analysis
Muzamil Hussain

The gap between the multiplier and the tolerance specifies the left and right
side of the resistor. So here are the key points;
4 band resistors – has 3 color bands on left side and one color band on right
side. First two bands represent significant digits, the 3rd band represents
multiplier and the fourth band on right side represents tolerance.
5 band resistors – has 4 color bands on left side and one color band on right
side. Here the first 3 color bands represent significant digits, fourth one
represent multiplier and the 5th one on right side represents tolerance.
6 band resistors – has 4 color bands on left side and 2 color bands on right
side. Here the first 3 color bands represents significant digits, fourth one
represents multiplier, 5th one represents tolerance and the 6th one represents
temperature coefficient of the resistor.
In a 4-band resistor, the first two bands represent the first two digits of the
resistor. The multiplier band indicates the value that is to be multiplied with the
first two digits. The tolerance band after the multiplier band indicates the range
of accuracy of the resistor. It is represented in units of percentage. In case of 5
band resistor, the decimal multiplier will be assigned to the fourth band and
tolerance value will be assigned to the fifth band. Finally in case of a 6 band
resistor, the last band (i.e. 6th band) represents temperature coefficient. .The
sixth temperature coefficient band increases the precision of the resistance
value. Temperature coefficient tells us the behavior of resistor under different
heating conditions (means the variation in resistance values under normal
conditions and overheated conditions).

Resistor Color Code Chart:

We have presented 3 charts below – which are exactly resistor color code
charts for 4 band, 5 band and 6 band resistors respectively.
4-Band Resistor Color Code Identification
Let us consider the color code for the resistor with the bands BROWN-
BLACK-RED-GOLD. Brown corresponds to the value ‘1’ in the color chart.
Black represents ‘0’ and Red represents the multiplier ‘100’. Thus the value of
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 Instructor manual
Linear Circuit Analysis
Muzamil Hussain

the resistance to the corresponding color code is 10*100 = 1000 ohms or 1 kilo
ohm with the tolerance band being Gold which represents a tolerance of +/-
5%. Thus the actual value of the 1 kilo ohm can be between 950 ohms and
1050 ohms.

Band 1 – First digit value of resistor

Band 2 – Second digit value of resistor
Band 3 – Decimal Multiplier
Band 4 – Tolerance Value
5-Band Resistor Color Code Identification
Let us consider the color code for the resistor with the bands YELLOW-
VIOLET-BLACK-BROWN-GREY. Yellow corresponds to the value ‘4’ in the
color chart. Violet represents ‘7’ and Black represents the value ‘0’. Brown
represents the multiplier ‘10’. Thus the value of the resistance to the
corresponding color code is 470*10 = 4700 ohms or 4.7 kilo ohm with the
tolerance band being Grey which represents a tolerance of +/- 0.05%.

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Linear Circuit Analysis
Muzamil Hussain

Band 1 – First digit value of resistor

Band 2 – Second digit value of resistor
Band 3 – Third digit value of resistor
Band 4 – Decimal Multiplier
Band 5 – Tolerance Value
6-Band Resistor Color Code Identification
Here also, if we can consider the same color code used for the 5-band, with an
additional temperature coefficient band with a blue color. This shows that the
resistor has a value of 4.7 kilo ohms, with tolerance +/- 0.05% and with a
temperature coefficient of 10 ppm/K (part per million).

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 Instructor manual
Linear Circuit Analysis
Muzamil Hussain

Band 1 – First digit value of resistor

Band 2 – Second digit value of resistor
Band 3 – Third digit value of resistor
Band 4 – Decimal Multiplier
Band 5 – Tolerance Value
Band 6 – Temperature Coefficient

Note: - Nowadays with advances in printing technology, it’s possible to print

numeric values on small components as well. If you look at an SMD resistor
(surface mount), you will see the resistance value printed directly on the
surface of the resistor.

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Linear Circuit Analysis
Muzamil Hussain

Name____________________________ CMS ID ___________________

WRITTEN LAB REPORT

Experiment 02: Color coding of Resistors

Questions for experiment 02

Color code Value in Ω and Tolerance

1. Brown, Black, Brown, Silver

1.__________________________
2. Green, Blue, Brown, Silver
2.__________________________
3. Red, Red, Orange Gold
3.__________________________
4. Orange, orange, Red, Gold
4.__________________________
5. Red, Red, Yellow
5.__________________________
6. Brown, Red, Red, silver
6.__________________________
7. Orange, Orange, green, gold
7.__________________________
8. Brown, Black, Yellow
8.__________________________
9. Blue, Gray, Brown, Silver
9.__________________________
10. Yellow, Green, Yellow
10._________________________
11. Black, Brown, Black, Gold
11._________________________
12. Yellow, Violet, Red, Silver
12._________________________
13. Violet, Violet, Brown, Silver
13._________________________
14. Brown, Black, Red, Gold
14._________________________

15. Brown, Black, Silver, Gold

15._________________________
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Linear Circuit Analysis
Muzamil Hussain

16. ____________________ 16. 16 MΩ 5%

17. ____________________ 17. 1200 Ω, 10%
18. ____________________ 18. 1Ω, 10%
19. ____________________ 19. 47 KΩ, 5%
20. ____________________ 20. 470 KΩ, 20%

Assignment

Complete the written report as follows:

Answer the questions.
1. Find out the value of the resistance of the given Resistors.

Instructor’s
Signature______________

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