2994 - Resistor Colour Code
2994 - Resistor Colour Code
Resistors carry a number of coloured rings placed around the resistor, called colour bands shown below.
The resistor colour code provides an easy and reliable method for value indication. It is difficult to print numbers
on resistors, and they can also become obscured during handling and use. The resistor colour code system relies
on the colour rings around the resistor, such that even if part of the coding scheme is erased, other areas can be
seen and the values and other information understood. The main resistor colour coding schemes that are seen are:
Some resistors have five or even six colour bands. The six-band resistor colour code system provides the
maximum amount of information about the resistor parameters. Like the Five-band colour code system, this one
is generally used with higher tolerance value. Resistor colour coding system is the same as the four, five or six
band colour code system.The colour code table below is used in conjunction with the colours on the resistor to
get all the information about the resistor.
For the 4-band resistor shown above, the colours are Red, violet, Orange and Red. Using the table, we can read
off the value as shown below:
1st colour, Red corresponds to 2 on the 1st digit column of the table
2nd colour colour, violet-------7
3rd colour, orange------------the multiplier or the power of ten= 103 i.e.1000
4th colour, Red----------------gives a tolerance percentage of ±2%
Putting the digits together, we get 27x 103Ω ±2% =27KΩ ±2%
Resistor Colour Code Table
Tolerance percentage:
The tolerance of a resistor is the amount in percentage by which the resistance value can vary and still be within
operational limit. For example, a resistor with ±10% tolerance means that the resistance might be as much as 10
percent more or 10 percent less than the indicated amount. In the case of a 470Ω resistor, the value can be off by
as much as 47Ω ohms and still be within tolerance. That’s a range of 423Ω to 517Ω. The tolerance is calculated
according to the specified value of the resistor, not the actual value.
We can also get the colour code of a resistor from the value given or quoted. For example,a resistor is rated
730KΩ±4%. What will be the colour code and the tolerance range?
Solution: 730KΩ = 730 ×1000Ω = 730000Ω±4%. From the table, 7 correspond to Violet, 3 to Orange, 0000 to
Yellow and the 4% tolerance to Yellow. Hence the code is Violet, orange, yellow, yellow.
The tolerance of ±4% means a range of 730000 + 4% and 730000- 4%.
4% of 73000 is 29,200Ω. Maximum tolerance will be 730000+ 29200 = 759,200Ω
Minimum tolerance will be 700,800Ω.
Temperature coefficient of resistance
The Rate at which resistance change as a result of temperature change. It is represented by (Greek letter alpha).
For most conductors, a temperature increase causes an increase in resistance that is relatively linear.In
semiconductors and insulators, increase in temperature results in decrease in resistance. Any material for which
the resistance increases with temperature is said to have a positive temperature coefficient, and if it decreases, it
has a negative coefficient.
Class work:
1. What is the colour code for a 4.7kΩ±20% resistance
2. A resistor has the value 560Ω±10%. Determine the colour code and the range of tolerance values.
3. What is the maximum value in the tolerance range of a resistor with colour code blue-grey-green-silver?
4. A resistor is rated 730KΩ±4%. What is the colour code? What is the range of tolerance values?
5. Determine the values of the resistors with these bands.
i). Red, orange, yellow and Gold.
ii). Green, Blue, yellow and No colour
iii). Blue, violet, Orange and Silver.