How to Read Resistor Values

Part of Electronics for Kids For Dummies Cheat Sheet

If you think those colorful bands on your resistors are there just for show, think again! Those
bands tell you the value of the resistor. Before you can decode the resistor value, you need to
know a little more about resistors.

There are two main types of resistors:

• Standard resistors have four color bands. Three of the bands tell you the nominal value,
which means the value the resistor was designed to have. The fourth band tells you
the tolerance of the resistor, which indicates how far off the nominal value the actual
resistance could be. (The manufacturing process isn’t perfect, so most resistors are a
little off.)

For instance, you may buy what you think is a 100 Omega resistor, but the actual
resistance most likely isn’t exactly 100 Omega. It may be 97 or 104 Omega, or some
other value close to 100 Omega. For most circuits, “close” is good enough.

• Precision resistors, which have more precise values than standard resistors, have five
color bands. Four of the bands tell you the nominal value. The fifth band tells you the
tolerance.

You can count on the actual resistance of a precision resistor being really close to its
nominal value. So, if you buy a 100 Omega precision resistor, chances are its actual
value is within 1 or 2 of 100 Omega.

The following figure shows a diagram of the color code of a standard (four-band) resistor. You
use this color code to figure out the nominal value and tolerance of a standard resistor.
Decoding the nominal value of a resistor

Here’s how you use the color code to figure out the nominal value of the resistor (refer to the
figure):

1. Decide which band is the first band.

Compare the ends of the resistor. Usually, the colored band at one end is closer to that
end than is the colored band at the other end. If that is the case, the band that is closest
to one end of the resistor is the first band.
 If you can’t determine which is the first band, look at the two outer bands. If one of the
outer bands is silver or gold, that band is probably the last band, so the first band is at
the other end.

2. Look up the color of the first band in the column labeled “1st digit” and find the number
associated with that color.

This number is the first digit of the resistance. In the resistor shown in the preceding
figure, the first band is yellow, so the first digit is 4.

3. Look up the color of the second band in the column labeled “2nd digit” and find the
number associated with that color.

This number is the second digit of the resistance. In the resistor shown in the preceding
figure, the second band is violet, so the second digit is 7.

4. Look up the color of the third band in the column labeled “X” and find the number
associated with that color.

This number is the multiplier. In the resistor shown in the preceding figure, the third band
is brown, so the multiplier is 101 (which is 10).

5. Put the first two digits side-by-side to form a two-digit number.

For the resistor shown in the preceding figure, the first two digits are 4 and 7, so the two-
digit number is 47.

6. Multiply the two-digit number by the multiplier.

This gives you the nominal value of the resistor in ohms. In the resistor shown in the
preceding figure, the two-digit number is 47 and the multiplier is 10, so the nominal value
is

An easy way to multiply a whole number by a power of 10 (that is, 100, 101, 102, 103, and so on)
is to just append (meaning tack on to the end) the whole number with zeros, and use
the exponent (which is the small, raised number next to the 10) to tell you how many zeros to
append. Here are two examples:

• 22 x 103. The exponent is 3, so you stick 3 zeros to the right of 22, and you get 22,000.
(The multiplier in this case is 103, which is 1,000.)
 • 56 x 100. The exponent is 0, so you stick 0 zeros to the right of 56, and you get 37. (The
multiplier in this case is 100, which is 1, because any number raised to the 0th power
equals 1.)

If you have a precision (five-band) resistor (which you’re unlikely to use for projects
in Electronics For Kids For Dummies), the third band gives you the third digit of the resistance
and the fourth band gives you the multiplier.

Reading a resistor’s tolerance

To figure out how far off from the nominal value the actual resistance could be, you look at the
fourth band on a standard resistor (or the fifth band on a precision resistor). Refer to the
preceding figure for the color code for the tolerance of a resistor.

Say that the fourth band of the 470 Omega resistor you have chosen for a particular project is
gold. The color, gold, in the column labeled “tolerance” in the figure represents a tolerance of 5
percent. Because 5 percent of 470 is 23.5, the actual resistance could be as much as 23.5
Omega higher or lower than 470 Omega. So the actual value of the resistance could be any
value from 446.5 to 493.5 Ω.

Most standard resistors have tolerances of 5%, 10%, or 20%, and most precision resistors have
tolerances of 1% or 2%. For the majority of circuits — and in all the projects in Electronics For
Kids For Dummies — it’s okay to use a standard resistor. For certain circuits, it’s important to
use a precision resistor with a lower tolerance.

The following figure shows you two more examples of resistors and their values.

You can measure the actual value of a specific resistor using a device called a multimeter. For
example, when you use a multimeter to measure a 470 Omega resistor with a 5 percent
tolerance, you might find that the actual value is 481 Omega.
Electronics Components: How to Read Capacitance Values on a

Capacitor

By Doug Lowe

If there’s enough room on the capacitor, most manufacturers of electronics components print
the capacitance directly on the capacitor along with other information such as the working
voltage and perhaps the tolerance. For example, the value of the capacitor below is 3300µ with
a working voltage of 35v.

However, small capacitors don’t have enough room for all that. Many capacitor manufacturers
use a shorthand notation to indicate capacitance on small caps.

If you have a capacitor that has nothing other than a three-digit number printed on it, the third
digit represents the number of zeros to add to the end of the first two digits. The resulting
number is the capacitance in pF. For example, 101 represents 100 pF: the digits 10 followed by
one additional zero.

If there are only two digits listed, the number is simply the capacitance in pF. Thus, the
digits 22 indicate a 22 pF capacitor.

This shows how some common capacitor values are represented using this notation:

Marking Capacitance (pF) Capacitance (ìF)

 100 pF 0.0001 ìF

101

220 pF 0.00022 ìF

221

471 470 pF 0.00047 ìF

102 1,000 pF 0.001 ìF

222 2,200 pF 0.0022 ìF

472 4,700 pF 0.0047 ìF

103 10,000 pF 0.01 ìF

223 22,000 pF 0.022 ìF

473 47,000 pF 0.047 ìF

104 100,000 pF 0.1 ìF

224 220,000 pF 0.22 ìF

474 470,000 pF 0.47 ìF

105 1,000,000 pF 1 ìF
 225 2,200,000 pF 2.2 ìF

475 4,700,000 pF 4.7 ìF

You may also see a letter printed on the capacitor to indicate the tolerance. You can interpret
the tolerance letter as follows:

Letter Tolerance

A ±0.05 pF

±0.1 pF

C ±0.25 pF

D ±0.5 pF

E ±0.5%

F ±1%

G ±2%

H ±3%

J ±5 %

K ±10%
 L ±15%

M ±20%

N ±30%

P –0%, + 100%

S –20%, + 50%

W –0%, + 200%

X –20%, + 40%

Z –20%, + 80%

Notice that the tolerances for codes P through Z are a little odd. For codes P and W, the
manufacturer promises that the capacitance will be no less than the stated value but may be as
much as 100% or 200% over the stated value.

For codes S, X, and Z, the actual capacitance may be as much as 20% below the stated value
or as much as 50%, 40%, or 80% over the stated value. For example, if the marking is 101P,
the actual capacitance is no less than 100 pF but may be as much as 200 pF. If the marking is
101Z, the capacitance is between 80 pF and 180 pF.
Inductor Color Code
• September 1, 2015
• By Administrator

An inductor establishes a magnetic field when current passes through it. Most of the inductors

are in the range of milli Henry (mH) or micro Henry (µH). These are available with air, ferrite and

iron cores. In today’s market there are several inductors available from various manufacturers

and their size varies from larger to smaller units.

Inductor values can be determined mainly by two ways, namely text coding and color coding

methods. Some inductors are larger in size, thus often their values are printed on their body

(name plate details).

However, for smaller inductors, abbreviation or text is used because there may not be enough

room , for printing the actual value on it. Also, some inductor values can be determined by

reading color on the body of inductors by comparing them with color coding chart.
Outline
• Inductor Value Identification using Text Marking
o Example for Text Marking Method
• 4-Band Inductor Color Code
o 4-Band Inductor Color Code Example
o Example 2
• 5-Band Inductor Color Code (Military Standard Inductor Color Code)
o 5-Band Inductor Color Code Example for the Values Equal or Higher Than 10
uH
• Surface Mount Device (SMD) or Chip Inductor Codes
• RF Inductors Color Coding

Inductor Value Identification using Text Marking

In this, the value of the inductor is printed on inductor body which consists of numerical digits

and alphabets. For this marking, micro Henry is the fundamental unit of measurement (even if

no units are given). The following are the steps of identifying the value of inductor by using text

marking method.

1. It consists of three or four letters (including alphabets and numerical digits).

2. First two digits indicate the value.

 3. Third digit is the power to be applied for the first two , this means it is the multiplier and

power of 10. For example, 101 is expressed as 10*101 micro Henry (µH).

4. Suffix or fourth letter or alphabet represents the tolerance value of the inductor. Suppose

if this letter is K, then tolerance value is ± 10%, for J it is ± 5%, for M it is ± 20% and so

on. Follow the tolerance value table given below to know each letter value.

Example for Text Marking Method

Suppose if an inductor is labeled as 223K, find the exact value of inductor.

First two digits, i.e., 2 and 2 represent the first two digits of the inductor value. Third digit, 3 is

the multiplier and hence it is 10^3 = 1000. Now, multiplying with first two digits we get 22000.

Now, it is to be noted that no units are given, hence this value is in micro Henry (µH). Thus the

value becomes 22000 µH or 22mH.

Last letter K represents the tolerance and is equal to ± 10%.

Therefore, this is a 22000 µH or 22mH inductor with ± 10% tolerance.

Inductor Value Identification using Color Coding

The color coding system for inductors is very similar to that of resistors, especially in case of

molded inductors. This color coding is in accordance with the color code table. Starting from the

band closest to the one end, this color code sequence is identified. 4-band and 5-band color

coding methods are described below with examples.

4-Band Inductor Color Code

The above figure shows the 4-band inductor consisting four different color bands. Similar to the

number coding, first and second color bands represents the first and second digits of the value,

third color band is the multiplier and fourth band is the tolerance.

Therefore the value of inductor can be determined by reading the colors of inductor body and

comparing them with color code chart. It is to be noted that the result of this color coded value is

in the unit of micro Henry (µH).

The table below shown gives the color corresponding to the numerical values for a four band

inductor.
4-Band Inductor Color Code Example

Let us consider the following inductor in order to identify the value of inductor using 4-band color

coding.

Initially, note down the tolerance percentage of the inductor which is mostly colored in gold,

silver and black.

Now note the colors from other end of an inductor. In the inductor the first band is red; according

to the above table the number associated with this color is 2.

Now move to second band, observe the color and note the associated number according to the

color given in the table. Here, the second band is violet and its number is 7. Then the value

becomes ‘27’.

Coming to 3rd band i.e., multiplier is brown in color and its corresponding number is 10.

Thus the inductor value is 27 X 10 uH = 270 uH with a tolerance rating of ±5%.

In some cases we can have this multiplier band color as gold or silver. If the multiplier is gold

divide the value by ‘10’ and if the multiplier band is silver, divide the value by ‘100’.

Example 2

Consider the below inductor with band colors yellow, violet, black and silver.

1st band yellow = 4

2nd band violet = 7

3rd band black = 1

4th band is silver = ±10% tolerance.

Thus by this we can say that the inductor is 47 uH with ±10% tolerance.

5-Band Inductor Color Code (Military Standard Inductor Color Code)

Usually cylindrical molded inductors are marked with 5 coloured bands. In this, one end of the

coil consists of a wide silver band which identifies the military radio-frequency inductors. The
next three bands indicate the value of inductance in micro Henries while 4th band indicates the

tolerance.

The table below shown gives the color corresponding to the numerical values for a five band

inductor.

These inductors consist of tolerance values from 1% to 20%. For inductance values less than

10, the second or third band is gold which represents the decimal point. Then remaining bands

indicates the two significant bits, and tolerance.

For inductance values equal or more than 10, first two bands represent the significant bits, third

one is multiplier and fourth one is tolerance while considering MIL band.

5-Band Inductor Color Code Example for the Values Equal or Higher Than 10 uH

In the above figure, inductor consists of following colors:

1st band – silver (military inductor indicator)

2nd band – red (2)

3rd band – violet (7)

4th band – brown (1 or × 10)

5th band – gold (±5% tolerance)

Thus the inductor value is 270 uH ±5%.

5-Band Inductor Color Code Example for the Values Less Than 10 H

A gold band is used in either 2-band or 3-band , which indicates the decimal point. Therefore,

the 4th band acts as digit instead of a multiplier. If these two bands that is 2-band or 3-band

does not contain gold coloured band then the 4-band acts as a multiplier.

Consider an inductor shown in below figure.

The above inductor consists of following colors

1st band – silver (military inductor indicator)

2nd band – red (2)

3rd band – gold (decimal point)

4th band – red (2)

5th band – silver (10% tolerance)

Thus, the inductor value is 2.2uH ± 10%

Surface Mount Device (SMD) or Chip Inductor Codes

Some inductors consist of color dots on surface of the device instead of bands and these are

very small in size. Generally these are coded according to the top colored dot on the surface.

From this top dot we have to calculate the inductor value in clockwise direction. These dots will

not indicate polarity. This type of inductors measured in nano-henries.

Consider the following example:

Green and red color indicates the value of inductor in nano Henries and the orange color

indicates the multiplier.

Thus the value of this inductor is 52  103=52,000 nH

If only single dot is represented, the specifications of the inductor must be referred from data

sheet of that particular series to that of corresponding manufacture.

SMD Indcutor

RF Inductors Color Coding

These are also similar to chip inductors. These are smaller in size. Because of this size, the

value of inductor is marked with a single of multiple color dots.

In a single color dot, colored dot is represented on one end or middle of the part as shown in

below figure. This dot does not indicate the polarity but the value of inductance which is given

on the data page of each type of inductor series.

In multi-dot colored representation, inductors are marked with three color dots. These dots do

not indicate the polarity. The first and second colored dots on the chip indicate the inductance in

nano Henries and the third dot indicates the multiplier as shown in below.

In the above figure, inductor is marked with three colors and hence the value of the inductor is

given as

Yellow violet and orange = 47000 nF

Generally these RF variable inductors have the size and voltage specifications marked on the

side of the inductors.

For Values Lower Than 10 nH

It is to be noted that, for inductors which are rated lower than 10nH, the third dot will not act like

a multiplier. According to the series some of the inductor values are tabulated as below for

inductors with coloured dots:

Reference:
https://www.dummies.com/programming/electronics/how-to-read-resistor-values/
https://www.dummies.com/programming/electronics/components/electronics-components-how-
to-read-capacitance-values-on-a-capacitor/
https://www.electronicshub.org/inductor-color-
code/#:~:text=First%20two%20digits%20indicate%20the,tolerance%20value%20of%20the%20i
nductor.