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Color coding is used in electronics to identify between different components. In the case of
resistors, color coding is used to identify a specific resistance value, for example a 100 ohms resistor
or a 1 kilo ohms resistor with 5% tolerance. Electronic components like resistors are very small in
size and its difficult to print its value directly on to the component surface. Hence a standard was
formed in 1920 by then Radio Manufacturers Association (now part of EIA Electronic Industries
Alliance) to identify values and ratings of electronic components by printing color codes on them.
Color coding technique makes it easy to print values (based on color codes) on small components,
such as resistors and facilitates cost effective manufacturing.
This technique of color coding has 2 disadvantages. The first one appeals to general users
where it becomes difficult to distinguish between colors (for example Red and Brown ) when the
component is over heated. But this is not a major concern as the exact value can be easily identified
using a multimeter (in case of confusion). The next drawback is for a specific group of people color
blind people can not identify the device using color codes. However they too can depend on
multimeter to identify resistance values.
The gap between the multiplier and the tolerance specifies the left and right side of the resistor. So
here are the key points;
4 band resistor has 3 color bands on left side and one color band on right side. First two bands
represent significant digits, the 3rd band represents multiplier and the fourth band on right side
represents tolerance.
5 band resistor has 4 color bands on left side and one color band on right side. Here the first 3
color bands represent significant digits, fourth one represent multiplier and the 5th one on right side
represents tolerance.
6 band resistor has 4 color bands on left side and 2 color bands on right side. Here the first 3
color bands represents significant digits, fourth one represents multiplier, 5th one represents
tolerance and the 6th one represents temperature coefficient of the resistor.
In a 4-band resistor, the first two bands represent the first two digits of the resistor. The multiplier
band indicates the value that is to be multiplied with the first two digits. The tolerance band after the
multiplier band indicates the range of accuracy of the resistor. It is represented in units of
percentage. In case of 5 band resistor, the decimal multiplier will be assigned to the fourth band
and tolerance value will be assigned to the fifth band. Finally in case of a 6 band resistor, the last
band (i.e 6th band) represents temperature coefficient. .The sixth temperature coefficient band
increases the precision of the resistance value. Temperature coefficient tells us the behavior of
resistor under different heating conditions (means the variation in resistance values under normal
conditions and over heated conditions)It is defined in units of ppm/K.