1.1 Resistor Markings

Resistance value is marked on the resistor body. Most resistors have 4 bands. The first two bands provide the numbers for the resistance and the third band provides the number of zeros. The fourth band indicates the tolerance. Tolerance values of 5%, 2%, and 1% are most commonly available

The following table shows the colors used to identify resistor values

photo 1

TC - Temp. Coefficient, only for SMD devices

photo 2

Four-band resistor, c. Five-band resistor, d. Cylindrical SMD resistor, e. Flat SMD resistor

NOTES

The resistors above are "common value" 5% types The fourth band is called the "tolerance" band. Gold = 5% (tolerance band Silver =10% but no modern resistors are 10%!!)"common resistors" have values 10 ohms to 22M

RESISTORS LESS THAN 10 OHMSWhen the third band is gold, it indicates the value of the "colors" must be divided by 10.Gold = "divide by 10" to get values 1R0 to 8R2See 1st Column above for examples

When the third band is silver, it indicates the value of the "colors" must be divided by 100. (Remember: more letters in the word "silver" thus the divisor is "larger.")Silver = "divide by 100" to get values 0R1 (one tenth of an ohm) to 0R82e.g: 0R1 = 0.1 ohm 0R22 = point 22 ohms See 4th Column above for examples

The letters "R, k and M" take the place of a decimal point. The letter "E" is also used to indicate the word "ohm."e.g: 1R0 = 1 ohm 2R2 = 2 point 2 ohms 22R = 22 ohms 2k2 = 2,200 ohms 100k = 100,000 ohms2M2 = 2,200,000 ohms

Common resistors have 4 bands. These are shown above. First two bands indicate the first two digits of the resistance, third band is the multiplier (number of zeros that are to be added to the number derived from first two bands) and fourth represents the tolerance

Marking the resistance with five bands is used for resistors with tolerance of 2%, 1% and other high-accuracy resistors. First three bands determine the first three digits, fourth is the multiplier and fifth represents the tolerance

For SMD (Surface Mounted Device) the available space on the resistor is very small. 5% resistors use a 3 digit code, while 1% resistors use a 4 digit code

Some SMD resistors are made in the shape of small cylinder while the most common type is flat. Cylindrical SMD resistors are marked with six bands - the first five are "read" as with common five-band resistors, while the sixth band determines the Temperature Coefficient (TC), which gives us a value of resistance change upon 1-degree temperature change

The resistance of flat SMD resistors is marked with digits printed on their upper side. First two digits are the resistance value, while the third digit represents the number of zeros. For example, the printed number 683 stands for 68000W , that is 68k

It is self-obvious that there is mass production of all types of resistors. Most commonly used are the resistors of the E12 series, and have a tolerance value of 5%. Common values for the first two digits are: 10, 12, 15, 18, 22, 27, 33, 39, 47, 56, 68 and 82. The E24 series includes all the values above, as well as: 11, 13, 16, 20, 24, 30, 36, 43, 51, 62, 75 and 91. What do these numbers mean? It means that resistors with values for digits "39" are: 0.39W, 3.9W, 39W, 390W, 3.9kW, 39kW, etc are manufactured. (0R39, 3R9, 39R, 390R, 3k9, 39k)

For some electrical circuits, the resistor tolerance is not important and it is not specified. In that case, resistors with 5% tolerance can be used. However, devices which require resistors to have a certain amount of accuracy, need a specified tolerance