Question 1

How do I read a 4-band resistor?

Accepted Answer

The first two bands represent the first two digits of the resistance value. The third band is the multiplier (number of zeros). The fourth band indicates the tolerance (accuracy).

Question 2

What is the difference between 4, 5, and 6 band resistors?

Accepted Answer

4-band resistors are the most common with 2 significant digits. 5-band resistors offer higher precision with 3 significant digits. 6-band resistors include a temperature coefficient band indicating how resistance changes with temperature.

Question 3

What does the gold or silver band mean?

Accepted Answer

Gold and silver are typically used for tolerance (Gold = ±5%, Silver = ±10%) or as fractional multipliers (Gold = 0.1, Silver = 0.01) in the 3rd or 4th position.

Question 4

Which end do I start reading from?

Accepted Answer

Start reading from the end that has bands closer together. The tolerance band (often Gold or Silver) is usually separated by a larger gap at the other end.

How to Use This Resistor Color Code Decoder

Features

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Tools