How to Read a Resistor

Summary

This script educates on the color coding of resistors, a crucial skill for anyone working with electronics. It explains how to interpret the first two bands for significant figures, the third for the multiplier, and the fourth for tolerance. The script provides examples, like reading a 270kΩ resistor with 5% tolerance and a 39Ω resistor with 10% tolerance. It also demonstrates how to determine the color bands for a 15kΩ resistor with a 10% tolerance, emphasizing the importance of understanding resistor values and tolerances in electronic projects.

Takeaways

• 🌈 Resistors are color-coded with bands that represent their resistance values and tolerances.
• 📊 A color chart is essential for quickly identifying the value of resistors based on their bands.
• 🔢 In a four-band resistor, the first two bands denote the significant figures of the resistance value.
• ✖️ The third band in a four-band resistor is the multiplier for the significant figures.
• 📏 The fourth band indicates the tolerance of the resistor, which is its accuracy level.
• 👀 To read resistor bands, start from the end with the most bands and look for a gap to determine the reading direction.
• 🔴 The first example given is a resistor with red (2) and violet (7) bands, resulting in a 270 kiloohm value with a 5% tolerance.
• 🟠 Another example features an orange (3) and white (9) band resistor, which equals 39 ohms with a 10% tolerance after adjusting for the silver (-2) multiplier.
• 🔢 To determine the bands for a 15 kiloohm resistor, you'd use brown (1) for the first digit and green (5) for the second.
• 🔄 For the 15 kiloohm resistor, the multiplier is 10 to the power of 3, indicated by an orange band, and the tolerance is 10%, indicated by a silver band.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the color bands on a resistor?

The color bands on a resistor allow you to quickly identify the resistance value and tolerance using a color chart table.

How many bands are typically used to represent the significant figures in a resistor's value?

In a four-band resistor, the first two bands represent the significant figures or digits.

What does the third band on a resistor signify?

The third band on a resistor indicates the multiplier for the significant figures.

What does the fourth band on a resistor represent?

The fourth band on a resistor indicates the tolerance of the resistance value.

How should you determine the direction to read the resistor bands?

You should read the resistor bands beginning with the end that has the most bands, and a space between the third and fourth bands also indicates the reading direction.

What is the first digit value of a resistor with a red band?

The first digit value of a resistor with a red band is 2.

What is the resistance value of a resistor with bands red, violet, yellow, and gold?

The resistance value of such a resistor is 270 kiloohms with a tolerance of plus or minus 5%.

What does a silver band on a resistor signify in terms of tolerance?

A silver band on a resistor signifies a tolerance of plus or minus 10%.

How do you calculate the resistance value of a resistor with bands orange, white, and silver?

The resistance value is calculated as 39 ohms with a tolerance of plus or minus 10%, by multiplying the first two numbers (39) and moving the decimal point two places to the left due to the silver band multiplier.

What color bands would represent a 15 kiloohm resistor with a 10% tolerance?

A 15 kiloohm resistor with a 10% tolerance would have bands of brown, green, orange, and silver.

What does the term 'multiplier' in the context of resistor color bands mean?

The multiplier is a factor by which the significant figures (from the first two bands) are multiplied to get the actual resistance value.

How do you determine the tolerance of a resistor with a gold band?

A gold band on a resistor indicates a tolerance of plus or minus 5%.

What is the significance of the 'space' between the third and fourth bands on a resistor?

The space between the third and fourth bands on a resistor signifies the correct direction to read the resistor's value and tolerance.