1.3k
To distinguish left from right there is a gap between the C and D bands.
- band A is the first significant figure of component value (left side)
- band B is the second significant figure (some precision resistors have a third significant figure, and thus five bands).
- band C is the decimal multiplier
- band D if present, indicates tolerance of value in percent (no band means 20%)
The standard color code is as follows:
| Color | Significant
figures |
Multiplier | Tolerance | Temp. Coefficient (ppm/K) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 0 | ×100 | – | 250 | U | |||||
| Brown | 1 | ×101 | ±1% | F | 100 | S | ||||
| Red | 2 | ×102 | ±2% | G | 50 | R | ||||
| Orange | 3 | ×103 | – | 15 | P | |||||
| Yellow | 4 | ×104 | (±5%) | – | 25 | Q | ||||
| Green | 5 | ×105 | ±0.5% | D | 20 | Z | ||||
| Blue | 6 | ×106 | ±0.25% | C | 10 | Z | ||||
| Violet | 7 | ×107 | ±0.1% | B | 5 | M | ||||
| Gray | 8 | ×108 | ±0.05% (±10%) | A | 1 | K | ||||
| White | 9 | ×109 | – | – | ||||||
| Gold | – | ×10-1 | ±5% | J | – | |||||
| Silver | – | ×10-2 | ±10% | K | – | |||||
| None | – | – | ±20% | M | – | |||||
|
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Resistors use preferred numbers for their specific values, which are determined by their tolerance. These values repeat for every decade of magnitude: 6.8, 68, 680, and so forth. In the E24 series the values are related by the 24th root of 10, while E12 series are related by the 12th root of 10, and E6 series by the 6th root of 10.
1.0, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.2, 2.7, 3.3, 3.9, 4.7, 5.6, 6.8, 8.2 and 10.0
The tolerance of device values is arranged so that every value corresponds to a preferred number, within the required tolerance.