How to Identify Resistors

Axial resistors are cylindrical with leads extending from each end., Look at the resistor so the group of 3 or 4 color bands are on the left side., Read the color bands from left to right., Read the color on the last color band, which is farthest...

15 Steps 2 min read Advanced

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Axial resistors are cylindrical with leads extending from each end.

    These are sometimes followed by a gap, then an additional color band. , The colors on the first 2 or 3 bands correspond to numbers from 0 to 9, which represent the significant digits of the resistor's ohmic value.

    The last band gives the multiplier.

    For example, a resistor with brown, green and green bands is rated at 15 mega-ohms (15,000,000 ohms).

    The code is as follows:
    Black: 0 significant digit, multiplier of 1 Brown: 1 significant digit, multiplier of 10 Red: 2 significant digit, multiplier of 100 Orange: 3 significant digit, multiplier of 1,000 (kilo) Yellow: 4 significant digit, multiplier of 10,000 (10 kilo) Green: 5 significant digit, multiplier of 100,000 (mega) Blue: 6 significant digit, multiplier of 1,000,000 (10 mega) Violet: 7 significant digit Gray: 8 significant digit White: 9 significant digit Gold: multiplier of 1/10 Silver: multiplier of 1/100 , This represents the tolerance of the resistor.

    If there is no color band, the tolerance is 20 percent.

    Most resistors have no band, a silver band or a gold band, but you may find resistors with other colors.

    The tolerance color code is as follows: ,,,,,,,,,, Several exist, so choose the one that you won't forget.

    Remember that the first color is black, and afterward each first letter corresponds to a color in order from 0 to
    9.

    Some popular mnemonic devices include: "Bad beer rots our young guts but vodka goes well." "Bright boys rave over young girls but veto getting wed."
  2. Step 2: Look at the resistor so the group of 3 or 4 color bands are on the left side.

  3. Step 3: Read the color bands from left to right.

  4. Step 4: Read the color on the last color band

  5. Step 5: which is farthest right.

  6. Step 6: Brown: 1 percent tolerance

  7. Step 7: Red: 2 percent tolerance

  8. Step 8: Orange: 3 percent tolerance

  9. Step 9: Green: 0.5 percent tolerance

  10. Step 10: Blue: 0.25 percent tolerance

  11. Step 11: Violet: 0.1 percent tolerance

  12. Step 12: Gray: 0.05 percent tolerance

  13. Step 13: Gold: 5 percent tolerance

  14. Step 14: Silver: 10 percent tolerance

  15. Step 15: Memorize a mnemonic for resistors.

Detailed Guide

These are sometimes followed by a gap, then an additional color band. , The colors on the first 2 or 3 bands correspond to numbers from 0 to 9, which represent the significant digits of the resistor's ohmic value.

The last band gives the multiplier.

For example, a resistor with brown, green and green bands is rated at 15 mega-ohms (15,000,000 ohms).

The code is as follows:
Black: 0 significant digit, multiplier of 1 Brown: 1 significant digit, multiplier of 10 Red: 2 significant digit, multiplier of 100 Orange: 3 significant digit, multiplier of 1,000 (kilo) Yellow: 4 significant digit, multiplier of 10,000 (10 kilo) Green: 5 significant digit, multiplier of 100,000 (mega) Blue: 6 significant digit, multiplier of 1,000,000 (10 mega) Violet: 7 significant digit Gray: 8 significant digit White: 9 significant digit Gold: multiplier of 1/10 Silver: multiplier of 1/100 , This represents the tolerance of the resistor.

If there is no color band, the tolerance is 20 percent.

Most resistors have no band, a silver band or a gold band, but you may find resistors with other colors.

The tolerance color code is as follows: ,,,,,,,,,, Several exist, so choose the one that you won't forget.

Remember that the first color is black, and afterward each first letter corresponds to a color in order from 0 to
9.

Some popular mnemonic devices include: "Bad beer rots our young guts but vodka goes well." "Bright boys rave over young girls but veto getting wed."

About the Author

A

Alexis Rivera

With a background in lifestyle and practical guides, Alexis Rivera brings 1 years of hands-on experience to every article. Alexis believes in making complex topics accessible to everyone.

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