Resistor Color Code Calculation | Resistor Color Code Table | New Topic [2024]

In this article, we are going to discuss how we can do Resistor Color Code Calculation by using Resistor Color Code Table. Welcome to Poly Notes Hub, your ultimate destination for Diploma Engineering Notes.

Author Name: Arun Paul.

Resistor Color Code

The resistor color code is a scheme that uses colored bands to show the resistor’s value, tolerance, and even the temperature coefficient.

Color Bands of Resistors

Resistors have four or five color band by which we can easily calculate the value of a resistor –

1. 1st Band (1st Significant no): It Indicates the first digit of the resistance value. For Ex. 0,1,2, etc.
2. 2nd Band (2nd Significant no): It Represents the second digit of the resistance value. For Ex. 0,1,2, etc.
3. 3rd Band (Multiplier Band): It Indicates the power of 10 that the first two digits must be multiplied by to get the resistance value. For Ex. 10⁰, 10¹, 10², etc.
4. 4th Band (Tolerance Band): It Shows the tolerance or the allowed deviation from the resistance value. For example, a tolerance of ±5% means the actual resistance could be 5% higher or lower than the indicated value.

Resistor Color Code Calculation Chart

The color and their corresponding values are shown in the table below –

Another Example of Resistor Color Code Calculation

Let’s assume again we have a resistor with bands as follows: Red, Violet, Orange, and Gold.

1. 1st Band – Red: 2 (1st Significant No)
2. 2nd Band – Violet: 7 (2nd Significant No)
3. 3rd Band – Orange: x1,000 (Multiplier Band)
4. 4th Band – Gold: ±5% (Tolerance Band)

So, the resistance value would be 27 x 1,000 = 27,000 ohms or 27 kΩ with a tolerance of ±5%.

This color code system is standard, but there are variations for different types of resistors, like 5-band or 6-band codes for high-precision resistors or those indicating temperature coefficients.