Use this calculator to identify the value, and tolerance of a 5-band color coded resistor by simply selecting the bands colors.
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Resistor value:
How to Use It?
To use the calculator, just choose the color for each band and watch how the actual bands on the resistor illustration change. You will also see the resistance value and its tolerance.
A cool feature of this calculator is that it can be used in reverse; That is, instead of calculating the resistance value based on color bands, you can enter a resistance value and it will tell you what color bands will be on that resistance.
Resistor Color-coding
Resistor color-coding is a way of representing the resistance value of a resistor using colored bands. The colors are assigned to specific values, and the bands are arranged in a specific order. This allows engineers and technicians to quickly and easily identify the resistance of a resistor without having to read the printed value.
The resistance value, tolerance, and wattage rating are typically printed in numbers or letters on the resistor’s body, especially for larger power resistors. For smaller resistors, like 1/4 watt carbon or film types, the print would be too small to read, so the color code was developed in the early 1920s.
The Resistor Color-coding is defined in the international standard IEC 60062:2016.
5-Band Resistor Color Code System
Resistors typically have three to six bands indicating resistance, tolerance, and, in some cases, temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR). Because this calculator supports resistors with five bands, we’ll discuss the 5-Band Resistor Color Code System.
In a 5-band resistor color code system, the first three bands represent the significant digits of the resistance value, the fourth band represents the multiplier, and the fifth band represents the tolerance.
Here’s a breakdown of each band:
First Band (Significant Digit):
This band represents the first significant digit of the resistance value. Each color is assigned a specific numerical value from 0 to 9. The following table shows the color-code assignments for the significant digits:
Resistor Color Code Mnemonics
Over the years, many mnemonics have been created to easily memorize the sequence of the colors. Here are some commonly used mnemonics:
Big Boys Race Our Young Girls But Violet Generally Wins
Bad Boys Ravage Our Young Girls, But Violet Gives Willingly
Better Be Right Or Your Great Big Venture Goes Wrong
Bad Booze Rots Our Young Guts, But Vodka Goes Well
Second Band (Significant Digit):
This band represents the second significant digit of the resistance value and follows the same color-code assignments as the first band.
Third Band (Significant Digit):
This band represents the third significant digit of the resistance value. It also follows the same color-code assignments as the first two bands.
Fourth Band (Multiplier):
This band represents the multiplier for the resistance value. It determines the power of 10 by which the significant digits are multiplied to obtain the final resistance value. The following table shows the color-code assignments for the multiplier:
Fifth Band (Tolerance):
This band represents the tolerance, which indicates the maximum deviation from the nominal value. It is typically expressed as a percentage. The following table shows the color-code assignments for the tolerance:
Calculating the Resistance Value
To calculate the resistance value, first identify the reading direction by looking for the tolerance band, which is usually gold or silver and has a wider width or gap than the other bands. If a gold or silver band is present, it must be at the right end.
Next, find the corresponding digits for the first three bands. Write them down in order. Then find the corresponding multiplier for the fourth band and multiply the three digits by this factor to get the resistance value in ohms.
Finally, find the corresponding tolerance for the fifth band. This is a percentage that indicates how much the actual resistance can vary from the nominal value.
Let’s consider an example: a resistor with the color bands: Yellow, Violet, Orange, Brown, Gold.
The first band is Yellow, representing the digit 4.
The second band is Violet, representing the digit 7.
The third band is Orange, representing the digit 3.
The fourth band is Brown, representing the multiplier 10Ω.
Combining the first three digits (473) and multiplying by the multiplier (10Ω), we get a resistance value of: 473 x 10 = 4730Ω = 4.73kΩ.
The fifth band is Gold, representing a tolerance of ±5%.
Therefore, the resistor has a resistance value of 4.73kΩ with a tolerance of ±5%.
