1. What is a 5-Band Resistor Calculator?

Definition: This calculator determines the resistance value and tolerance of a resistor based on its 5-color band code.

Purpose: It helps electronics engineers, technicians, and hobbyists quickly identify resistor values without manual calculation.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( R \) — Resistance value (ohms)
• \( band1 \) — First significant digit (first color band)
• \( band2 \) — Second significant digit (second color band)
• \( band3 \) — Third significant digit (third color band)
• \( band4 \) — Multiplier exponent (fourth color band)
• \( band5 \) — Tolerance percentage (fifth color band)

Explanation: The first three bands represent significant digits, the fourth is the multiplier (power of 10), and the fifth indicates tolerance.

3. Importance of Resistor Color Codes

Details: Color coding allows quick identification of resistor values when printed numbers would be too small to read. The 5-band system provides more precision than 4-band coding.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Select the color for each band from the dropdown menus. The first three bands are digits (0-9), the fourth is the multiplier, and the fifth is tolerance.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use 5 bands instead of 4?
A: 5-band resistors provide an extra significant digit for higher precision components (typically ±1% tolerance or better).

Q2: What if my resistor has only 4 bands?
A: For 4-band resistors, leave the third digit as 0 (black) and use the fourth band as the multiplier.

Q3: How do I read the bands?
A: Hold the resistor with the tolerance band (usually gold/silver) to the right. Read left to right.

Q4: What's the most common tolerance?
A: 5% (gold) is most commo