1. What is a Resistor Colour Coding 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 (color band 1)
• \( band2 \) — Second significant digit (color band 2)
• \( band3 \) — Multiplier (color band 3)

Explanation: The first two bands represent digits, the third band is the multiplier (power of 10), and the fourth band (if present) indicates tolerance.

3. Importance of Resistor Color Coding

Details: Color coding allows quick identification of resistor values and is standardized internationally for consistency.

4. Using the Calculator

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

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What do the colors represent?
A: Each color corresponds to a digit (0-9) or multiplier (power of 10). Gold and silver are used for multipliers (10^-1 and 10^-2) and tolerances.

Q2: What about 4-band or 5-band resistors?
A: This calculator handles 3-band resistors. For 4-band resistors, the formula is the same but includes a tolerance band (not calculated here).

Q3: Why are some multiplier values negative?
A: Gold (10^-1) and Silver (10^-2) represent decimal multipliers for resistors with values less than 1 ohm.

Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The calculation is exact, but real resistors have tolerance ratings (not shown here) that affect their actual resistance.

Q5: What if my resistor has more bands?
A: 5-band resistors use three digit bands. 6-band resistors add a temperature coefficient band.