UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY of SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES
C. M Recto Ave. Lapasan Cagayan de Oro City
College of Technology
Laboratory Activity
Name: _______________________ Date: ________________
Year/Section: _________________
The Resistor Color Code
The general purpose carbon film resistors which are used in electrical and electronic
circuits are marked using a four colored bands system. The 4th color band indicates the
resistor’s tolerance and is normally gold. This means that the resistor is within 5% plus
or minus of the marked value. A silver 4th color band indicates a 10% tolerance. The
first three bands determine the value of the resistor. The first two bands determine the
value of the resistor and the third band determines the multiplier for the first two digits.
Simply stated, the value of the third band determines the number of zeros to add to the
first two color values.
Example 1
Resistor color bands: Blue, Grey, Brown, Gold. The color code is reproduced for
convenience.
Band 1: Blue = 6
Band 2: Grey = 8
Band 3: Brown = 1, add one zero to the first two numbers
Therefore the value of this resistor is 680 Ohms. This is written as 680R.
ELECTRONIC WORKSHOP 2 Page 1
Module 1 - Installing And Configuring Computer Systems
Prepared by: Elmarie G. Recorba
UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY of SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES
C. M Recto Ave. Lapasan Cagayan de Oro City
College of Technology
The second resistor color code skill is converting a numerical resistor value into the
correct color bands. Since most circuit diagrams list numerical values on schematic
symbols, this skill allows design engineers and technicians to select the correct device
from a stock of resistors.
Example 2
What are the color bands on a 10 kΩ resistor with a 5% tolerance?
Step 1: Convert from kilo-Ohms to Ohms 10 kΩ = 10 000 Ohms.
Step 2: Look at the first digit is 1. 1 = Brown. This will be the first color band on
the left.
Step 3: Look at the next digit after the number 1. This is a 0. 0= Black. This will be
the second color band.
Step 4: What remains is 000 (three zeros). An Orange third band indicates three
zeros. This will be the third color band.
Step 5: The fourth band is the tolerance, which is 5%. This is represented by the
color Gold.
Complete the following exercises and submit them for grading.
Exercise 1
Using the color chart above, decode the value of the following resistors and indicate the
tolerance:
1. Brown, Black, Red, Gold. _____________________
2. Yellow Violet, Yellow, Gold. ______________________
3. Brown, Black, Green, Gold. ______________________
4. Blue, Grey, Black, Gold. ______________________
ELECTRONIC WORKSHOP 2 Page 2
Module 1 - Installing And Configuring Computer Systems
Prepared by: Elmarie G. Recorba
UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY of SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES
C. M Recto Ave. Lapasan Cagayan de Oro City
College of Technology
5. Orange, White, Orange, Gold. ______________________
Exercise 2
What are the color bands on the following value resistors all of which have a 5%
tolerance?
1. 22 k Ω _________________________________________________________
2. 10 Ω ___________________________________________________________
3. 10 k Ω _________________________________________________________
4. 470 kΩ _________________________________________________________
5. 33 kΩ __________________________________________________________
6. 220 kΩ _________________________________________________________
Exercise 3
Fill in the lines with the correct value of each resistor.
1. Red, Brown, Black, No Band
2. Yellow, Red, Brown, Gold
3. Blue, Red, Red, Silver
4. Orange, Black, Black, Silver
5. Red, Yellow, Orange, No Band
ELECTRONIC WORKSHOP 2 Page 3
Module 1 - Installing And Configuring Computer Systems
Prepared by: Elmarie G. Recorba
UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY of SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES
C. M Recto Ave. Lapasan Cagayan de Oro City
College of Technology
6. Red, Violet, Brown, Silver
7. Orange, White, Black, No Band
8. Green, Blue, Orange, Gold
9. Red, Red, Red, Gold
10. Gray, Green, Yellow, No Band
ELECTRONIC WORKSHOP 2 Page 4
Module 1 - Installing And Configuring Computer Systems
Prepared by: Elmarie G. Recorba
