1. What is a Resistor Color Code Calculator?

Definition: This calculator determines the resistance value of a resistor based on its color bands.

Purpose: It helps electronics engineers, technicians, and hobbyists quickly identify resistor values without memorizing the color code.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( R \) — Resistance value (ohms)
• \( band1 \) — First significant digit (1st color band)
• \( band2 \) — Second significant digit (2nd color band)
• \( band3 \) — Multiplier/exponent (3rd color band)

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

3. Importance of Resistor Color Codes

Details: Color coding allows quick identification of resistor values when printed numbers would be too small to read.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Select the color for each band from the dropdown menus. The calculator will display the resistance value in ohms.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What about 4-band or 5-band resistors?
A: This calculator handles 3-band resistors. For 4-band resistors, the 4th band represents tolerance (not included here).

Q2: What do gold and silver bands mean?
A: In the multiplier position, gold means ×0.1 and silver means ×0.01.

Q3: How accurate are resistor color codes?
A: Without a tolerance band (4th band), assume ±20% tolerance.

Q4: What if my resistor has more bands?
A: 5-band resistors have three digit bands. 6-band resistors include temperature coefficient.

Q5: Why are some resistance values displayed differently?
A: Values ≥ 1000 are shown in kΩ (kilo-ohms) and ≥ 1,000,000 in MΩ (mega-ohms) for readability.