EXPERIMENT NO.
2
RESISTOR COLOR CODING
OBJECTIVES
1. Determine the resistance of a resistor from its color code.
2. Calculate the maximum and minimum resistance a resistor may offer based on its
color code.
INSTRUMENTS and MATERIALS
In-person laboratory activity:
10 pcs assorted resistors
Ohmmeter
Color Code Chart
Calculator
INTRODUCTION
*Discuss the following:
Ohmmeter
--- (Provide the discussion – Minimum 100 words) ---
* Cite your source/s.
Resistor Color Coding
The resistance of a resistor is usually determined by measuring using an ohmmeter,
however this may also be identified using its color bands. Typically, a resistor of up to 1
watt may have 4 or 5 color bands. For a four-band resistor, the first two colors represent
the first two significant digits of its resistance, respectively. The third color is the multiplier
and the fourth color is the tolerance. For a five-band resistor, the first three colors are the
first three significant digits of its resistance. The fourth color is the multiplier and the fifth
color is the tolerance. Figure 1 shows a four-band resistor and a five-band resistor. A Color
Code Chart shown in Figure 2 is used as a guide to determine the resistive values of
resistors.
Figure 1: Four-band and five-band resistors
COLOR 1ST BAND 2ND BAND 3RD BAND MULTIPLIER TOLERANCE
Black 0 0 0 X1 Ω
Brown 1 1 1 X10 Ω 1%
Red 2 2 2 X100 Ω 2%
Orange 3 3 3 X1 kΩ
Yellow 4 4 4 X10 kΩ
Green 5 5 5 X100 kΩ 0.5%
Blue 6 6 6 X1 MΩ 0.25%
Violet 7 7 7 X10 MΩ 0.10%
Grey 8 8 8 X100 MΩ 0.05%
White 9 9 9 X1 GΩ
Gold 3rd digit X0.1 Ω 5%
Silver only for X0.01 Ω 10%
None 5 bands 20%
Figure 2: Resistor color code chart
The four-band resistor shown in Figure 1.1 above is color coded as follows: brown,
black, yellow, gold. With the aid of the color code chart in Figure 1.2, the first two colors
represent respectively, the significant digits 1 0. Yellow, the third color which is the
multiplier, is represented by x 10 kΩ. The fourth color, gold, is given by ± 5%. Hence, this
resistor has a coded value of 10 x 10 kΩ ± 5% or 100 kΩ ± 5%.
The five-band resistor shown above has the color codes: brown, orange, black,
black, brown. Notice that the last color is farthest from the first four colors, just like in the
case of the four-band resistor. The first three colors are represented by the digits 1 3 0,
respectively. The multiplier, which is the fourth color, is x 1 Ω, and the tolerance is ± 1%.
Hence, this resistor has a coded value of 130 x 1 Ω ± 1% or 130 Ω ± 1%.
Maximum and Minimum Resistance Values
The maximum and minimum values of resistors may be determined from its
tolerance. In the case of the four-band resistor with a coded value of 100 kΩ ± 5%, its
maximum value is 100 kΩ + 5% (100 kΩ) = 105 kΩ while its minimum value is 100 kΩ − 5%
(100 kΩ) = 95 kΩ. For the five-band resistor with a coded value of 130 Ω ± 1%, its maximum
value is 130 Ω + 1% (130 Ω) = 131.3 Ω while its minimum value is 130 Ω − 1% (130 Ω) = 128.7
Ω.
Remembering the Color Codes
To remember what color represents what number, use the mnemonic
BBROYGBVGWGSN that stands for Bad Beer Rots Our Young Guts But Vodka Goes Well
Get Some Now.
PROCEDURE
1. Identify the colors of the following resistors:
a. 386 ohms 5%
b. 69 ohms 2%
c. 125 ohms 1%
d. 250 ohms 10%
e. 4.7 ohms 0.25%
2. Write the values of the following resistors:
a. yellow, blue, red, red
b. brown, black, gold, silver
c. green, gray, yellow, gold
d. violet, green, red, black, brown
e. white, blue, orange, brown, green
CONCLUSION
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QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS
1. Get the maximum value and minimum values of the resistors in procedure 2.
2. Why are resistors color coded?
3. List three safety precautions when measuring resistance using an ohmmeter.
