Resistor Color Code Guide

This guide shows an easy illustration on using resistor color codes.  The image is fairly easy to understand up front, but I will provide some explanation.

There are typically between 4 bans and 6 bands on a resistor.  You must be very careful when reading them because after a long day working some colors can start to blend.

The first 2-3 bands represent single digits, there will then be a band representing the multiplier, a space, and then a tolerance band.  On some occasions there will be a temperature coefficient band at the end.

The easiest way to learn to read it is to imagine writing the numbers down on paper

for example, say we have a resistor with the following colored bands : BROWN, GREEN, RED, GOLD

This would represent the following:

BROWN   -   GREEN   -   RED   -   GOLD
       1                    5            X100        +/-5%

so it is simply 15 x 100 +/- 5%

so you would be holding a 1500 ohm resistor with a 5% tolerance (meaning the resistor value can actually be anywhere between 1425 and 1575)

And thats it, pretty simply to pick up, i wouldnt worry about memorizing the colors, You get used to them after a while but i always have a card nearby with the color codes on them too.

Photo credit : michaels-electronics-lessons.com/