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Resistor Color Code Calculator

Band 1 Band 2 Band 3 Band 3 Band 4 Band 6
Color 1st 2nd 3rd Multiplier Tolerance TCR (10-6/K)
Black
Brown
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Violet
Grey
White
Gold
Silver
Pink
What is Resistance Calculator?

A resistance calculator is a tool that helps you figure out the value of a resistor. Resistors are electronic components that control the flow of electricity. They have different colored bands on them, and each color represents a number or multiplier. By using a resistance calculator, you can input the colors of the bands and the calculator will tell you the resistance value of the resistor. It’s a handy tool for people who work with electronics and need to know the resistance quickly and easily, without having to understand the color codes themselves.

How to use the Resistance colour code calculator?

Our resistance calculator supports 3-band, 4-band, 5-band and 6-band resistors.
Choose the resistor band and select the colour of each band in the color coding table. The resistance of your resistor will be calculated and displayed.

What is Resistance tolerance?

Resistance tolerance refers to the permissible variation or deviation in the actual resistance value of a resistor from its specified or labeled resistance value. When resistors are manufactured, there is always a degree of uncertainty in achieving the exact resistance value due to various factors such as manufacturing processes, material properties, and measurement limitations.
Resistance tolerance is usually expressed as a percentage and indicates the range within which the resistance value of a resistor may deviate. For example, a resistor with a tolerance of 5% means that the actual resistance value can be 5% higher or lower than the labeled value.
Tolerance values vary depending on the type and precision of the resistor. Standard resistors typically have tolerances of 5%, 10%, or 20%, while precision resistors have tighter tolerances, such as 1%, 0.5%, or even smaller.
The tolerance value is important because it ensures that resistors meet certain specifications and allows engineers and designers to account for the potential variation in resistance when calculating and designing electronic circuits. It helps in maintaining the accuracy and reliability of circuits by considering the acceptable range of resistance values for the resistors used.

What is the process to calculate resistance using color bands?

The resistor color band is a coding system used to indicate the resistance value of a resistor. It consists of a series of colored bands painted around the body of the resistor. The number and arrangement of these bands convey information about the resistor’s resistance, tolerance, and sometimes its temperature coefficient.

Here’s a general guide to interpreting the color bands on a resistor:

Determine the number of color bands: Most resistors have either four or five color bands.
Read the colors from left to right: Start with the band closest to one end of the resistor and read the colors in sequence towards the other end.
Identify the first and second bands: The first two bands represent the significant digits of the resistance value. Each color corresponds to a specific number according to the following chart:
Black: 0 Brown: 1 Red: 2 Orange: 3 Yellow: 4
Green: 5 Blue: 6 Violet: 7 Gray: 8 White: 9
Determine the third band: The third band indicates the multiplier or the number of zeros to add to the significant digits obtained from the first two bands. The color code for the third band is the same as the color code for the significant digits, but each color represents a power of ten. For example:
Black: x1 Brown: x10 Red: x100 Orange: x1000
Yellow: x10,000 Green: x100,000 Blue: x1,000,000 Violet: x10,000,000
Gray: x0.1 White: x0.01
Interpret the fourth band (optional): Some resistors have a fourth band that represents the tolerance, which indicates the allowable deviation from the stated resistance value. The color code for the tolerance is as follows:
Brown: ±1% Red: ±2% Gold: ±5% Silver: ±10%
Interpret the fifth band (optional): In a few cases, a fifth band may be present to indicate the temperature coefficient of the resistor. The color code for the temperature coefficient is typically as follows:
Brown: 100 ppm/°C Red: 50 ppm/°C Orange: 15 ppm/°C
Yellow: 25 ppm/°C Blue: 10 ppm/°C Violet: 5 ppm/°C

By combining the colors of the respective bands and following these guidelines, you can determine the resistance value, tolerance, and temperature coefficient (if applicable) of a resistor.

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