4 Band Inductor Color Code Calculator

Inductor Value Formula:

\[ L = (10 \times band1 + band2) \times 10^{band3} \]

Band 1 (First Digit):

Band 2 (Second Digit):

Band 3 (Multiplier):

Inductor Value (μH):

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1. What is a 4-Band Inductor Color Code Calculator?

Definition: This calculator determines the inductance value in microhenries (μH) from the color bands on an inductor.

Purpose: It helps electronics engineers, technicians, and hobbyists quickly identify inductor values without memorizing color codes.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

\[ L = (10 \times band1 + band2) \times 10^{band3} \]

Where:

\( L \) — Inductance value (μH)
\( band1 \) — First significant digit (color band 1)
\( band2 \) — Second significant digit (color band 2)
\( band3 \) — Multiplier exponent (color band 3)

Explanation: The first two bands represent digits, the third band is the power-of-ten multiplier.

3. Importance of Inductor Color Codes

Details: Color coding allows quick identification of component values in circuits and helps prevent installation errors.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Select the colors for each band from the dropdown menus. The fourth band (tolerance) is not used in this calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does each band represent?
A: Band 1 = first digit, Band 2 = second digit, Band 3 = multiplier, Band 4 = tolerance (not used here).

Q2: Why are gold and silver used in multiplier band?
A: Gold represents 0.1x (10^-1) and silver represents 0.01x (10^-2) multipliers for small values.

Q3: How accurate is this calculation?
A: This gives the nominal value. Actual value may vary by tolerance (typically ±5% to ±20%).

Q4: What about 5-band inductors?
A: 5-band codes add a third digit: (100×band1 + 10×band2 + band3) × 10^band4.

Q5: Can I use this for resistors?
A: The color code is similar but values would be in ohms. Use our Resistor Color Code Calculator instead.