4-Band Resistor Color Code Calculator
Result
Nominal Value: 10.00Ω
Tolerance Range: 9.50Ω to 10.50Ω
Understanding 4-Band Resistor Color Codes
1. Color Code System
The 4-band color code system is the most common method for marking resistance values on through-hole resistors. Each band represents a specific value:
- 1st Band: First significant digit
- 2nd Band: Second significant digit
- 3rd Band: Multiplier (number of zeros)
- 4th Band: Tolerance
2. Reading Direction
To correctly read a 4-band resistor:
- Hold the resistor with the gold or silver band to the right
- Read the colors from left to right
- The tolerance band is typically wider or separated
- Gold and silver are only used for multiplier and tolerance bands
3. Color Values
Significant Digits (1st & 2nd Bands)
- Black: 0
- Brown: 1
- Red: 2
- Orange: 3
- Yellow: 4
- Green: 5
- Blue: 6
- Violet: 7
- Gray: 8
- White: 9
Multiplier (3rd Band)
- Black: ×1
- Brown: ×10
- Red: ×100
- Orange: ×1k
- Yellow: ×10k
- Green: ×100k
- Blue: ×1M
- Violet: ×10M
- Gold: ×0.1
- Silver: ×0.01
4. Tolerance Values
The fourth band indicates the tolerance range:
- Brown: ±1%
- Red: ±2%
- Gold: ±5%
- Silver: ±10%
- No Band: ±20%
5. Applications
4-band resistors are commonly used in:
- General purpose electronic circuits
- Hobbyist projects
- Educational applications
- Prototype development
- Non-critical circuit applications
6. Practical Tips
When working with 4-band resistors:
- Use a multimeter to verify values when precision is critical
- Consider environmental factors that may affect resistance
- Store resistors in proper conditions to maintain markings
- Account for tolerance in circuit design
Quick Reference
Value Calculation
Value = (D1 × 10 + D2) × 10^M
D1 = First digit
D2 = Second digit
M = Multiplier
Common Values
- 1.0Ω - Brown, Black, Gold
- 10Ω - Brown, Black, Black
- 100Ω - Brown, Black, Brown
- 1kΩ - Brown, Black, Red
- 10kΩ - Brown, Black, Orange
- 100kΩ - Brown, Black, Yellow
- 1MΩ - Brown, Black, Green