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ECE lab1 - Resistor and Color code lab

Electrical Devices & Systems I Lab (Temple University)

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Temple University

College of Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Lab Report Cover Page

ECE 2113

Experiment # 1: Resistors and Color Code

Nelson Chan

Alan Henry

September 17, 2018

I. Introduction

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Many electrical circuits contain multiple variations of resistor networks. Resistors play a vital
role in the distribution and limiting of electric current in a circuit. Learning to identify and
measure the values of these components to effectively design and troubleshoot electrical and
electronic circuits is vital when building a circuit. Each resistor has three to five colored bands
on them that represent different values. Reading and decoding these bands allows you to
determine a resistor’s value and accuracy. In Figure 1.1, the chart shows the three and four band
resistor color codes. Five percent tolerance resistors use the three band code on the top of the
diagram.
Figure 1.1

In this system of notation colors being painted on the body of the resistors corresponds to some
predefined numerical values. In general dark colors like black and brown correspond to lowest
numbers, 0 and 1 respectively and the light colors indicate higher numerical values. The first two
or three bands determine the significant digits based on the resistor accuracy. High accuracy
resistors use three bands while standard accuracy resistors use two bands. The next band is the
multiplier of the significant digits. The last band is the tolerance. The tolerance is a percentage
that determines the expected range of resistance values based on the marked value. The
following equation shows how to compute the range of expected resistance values for a known
marked value:

Rmax =R ( 1+ [ Tolerance ] ) Equation 1.1

Rmin =R(1−[ Tolerance ] ) Equation

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where Rmax ∧Rmin is the maximum and minimum resistance, respectively, and R is the marked
value on the resistor. Another way to identify the value of a resistor is to use a Digital Multi-
Meter to measure its resistance. The Digital Multi-Meter passes a known amount of current to
through its leads. The meter then measures the voltage drop across the resistor being tested and
calculates the resistance using Ohm’s Law. The purpose of this lab is to:

1. To identify resistor values and tolerances from the color code and measurement.

2. To learn to use the ohmmeter to measure resistance and continuity.

3. To compare the color coded resistor tolerance with the actual measured resistance value.

II. Procedure

In this experiment, a set of resistor were provided in which the resistance must be determined by
using a color code chart, Figure 1.1, and recorded to Table 2.1. Using Figure 1.1, determine its
coded resistance, in units of ohms (Ω), and tolerance, in percentage. Repeat this step until the set
of resistors in Table 2.1 is complete. After the coded color and tolerance is determine, calculate
and record the maximum and minimum resistance to Table 2.2 using Equation 1.1 and 1.2, with
the coded resistance and tolerance in Table 2.1. Using the Digital Multi-Meter, set to the Ohms
function, measure the resistance of the resistor and record the measured resistance (using proper
Ω, kΩ or MΩ notation) in Table 2.3. By comparing the measured resistance with the maximum
and minimum coded resistances, decide if the resistor is within tolerance. Record the result (YES
or NO) and determine the percent difference.

III. Results and Discussion

Resistors of various values were found and the corresponding band colors and band numerical
values were recorded in Table 2.1. The 22Ω resistor served as an example.

Table 2.1:
Resistor Band Colors and Values

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Using the Rmax ∧Rminequations from above, the maximum and minimum resistance for each
resistor was determined. The resistances are recorded in Table 2.2
Table 2.2:
Maximum and Minimum Resistances

The Digital Multi-Meter was used to read the actual resistance level of each resistor and the
percent difference was determined to see if the reading fell within the tolerances. The measured
values and percent differences are recorded in Table 2.3 with the 22Ω resistor as an example.

Table 2.3:
Measured values vs. labeled values

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The table shows that all of the actual values for the resistors fell within their tolerances.

For Exercise 1, the ohmic values and tolerances for the band colors in the following table were
determined using the chart in Figure 1.1.

Exercise 1 Table:
Ohmic values and tolerances

To review, to measure the resistance of a resistor, wires attached to a Digital Multi-Meter are
connected to each end of the resistor. Software on a computer reads the resulting value.

IV. Conclusion

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During this lab, the resistance values of resistors was determined by matching band colors with
their numerical values based on a chart. The bands also indicated a tolerance value. A Digital
Multi-Meter was used to measure the actual resistance of the resistors and the values were
compared to their band values. The measured resistances were all well within the tolerance.

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