It is represented in units of percentage. The tolerance band after the multiplier band indicates the range of accuracy of the resistor.
The multiplier band indicates the value that is to be multiplied with the first two digits. In a 4-band resistor, the first two bands represent the first two digits of the resistor. Here the first 3 color bands represent significant digits, the fourth one represents multiplier, the 5th one represents tolerance and the 6th one represents the temperature coefficient of the resistor. Here the first 3 color bands represent significant digits, fourth one represent multiplier and the 5th one on right side represents tolerance.Ħ band resistor – has 4 color bands on the left side and 2 color bands on the right side. The first two bands represent significant digits, the 3rd band represents multiplier and the fourth band on the right side represents tolerance.ĥ band resistor – has 4 color bands on left side and one color band on right side. So here are the key points Ĥ band resistor – has 3 color bands on the left side and one color band on the right side. The gap between the multiplier and the tolerance specifies the left and right sides of the resistor. For a 6-band resistor, an additional temperature coefficient band is provided. The figure below shows the layout of the bands, the multiplier, and the tolerance value of a resistor. However, they too can depend on a multimeter to identify resistance values. The next drawback is for a specific group of people – color blind people can not identify the device using color codes. But this is not a major concern as the exact value can be easily identified using a multimeter (in case of confusion).
The first one appeals to general users where it becomes difficult to distinguish between colors (for example “Red” and “Brown” ) when the component is overheated. This technique of “color coding” has 2 disadvantages. The color-coding technique makes it easy to print values (based on color codes) on small components, such as resistors and facilitates cost-effective manufacturing. Hence a standard was formed in 1920 by the Radio Manufacturers Association (now part of EIA – Electronic Industries Alliance) to identify values and ratings of electronic components by printing color codes on them. Electronic components like resistors are very small in size and it’s difficult to print their value directly onto the component surface. In the case of resistors, color coding is used to identify a specific resistance value, for example, a 100 ohms resistor or a 1-kilo ohms resistor with 5% tolerance. “Color coding” is used in electronics to identify between different components.
Hence a standard was formed in 1920 by the Radio Manufacturers Association (now part of EIA – Electronic Industries Alliance) to identify values and ratings of electronic components by printing color codes on them.įor example a 100 ohms resistor or a 1-kilo ohms resistor with 5% tolerance. But for small rating resistors say 0.25 W resistors are very small in size and it’s difficult to print its value directly onto the component surface. With these color bands, we can identify the resistive value and its percentage tolerance of a resistor.įor large power resistors, the resistor body is big enough to print the resistance value, tolerance, and wattage rating on them. These color bands indicate the values of those resistors like the identity card does for us. A look into the electronic circuit board mostly shows wires with colorful bands, called resistors.