EXPERIMENT NO.

2
TO STUDY RESISTOR COLOR CODE AND MEASUREMENT OF
RESISTANCE

Objectives
1. To determine the value of resistors from their EIA (Electronic Industries Association)
color code.
2. To measure resistance using ohmmeter.

Equipment
• Bred board
• Fixed Resistors
• Potentiometers
• DMM

Theory
Color Code
A basic resistor with color bands is shown in Fig 2.1. The standard color code marking consists
of four bands around the body of the resistor. The colors and their numerical values are given in
the resistor color chart; Table 2-1. The color of the first band indicates the first significant figure
of the resistance value. The second band indicates the second significant value. The color of the
third band indicates the number of zeros that follow the first two significant figures. If the third
band is gold or silver then the third band indicates the fractional value of the first two significant
figures.
▪ A gold band means the resistance is 1/10 the value of the first two significant figures.
▪ A silver band means the resistance is 1/100 the value of the first two significant figures.
Table 2.1
Significant
No. of zeros % %
Figure*
Color (Multiplier) Tolerance Reliability
(First and
(Third (Fourth (Fifth
Second
Band) Band) Band)
Bands)
Black 0 0 - -
Brown 1 1(101) - 1
Red 2 2(102) - 0.1
Orange 3 3(103) - 0.01
Yellow 4 4(104) - 0.001
 Green 5 5(105) - -
Blue 6 6(106) - -
Violet 7 7(107) - -
Gray 8 8(108) - -
9
White 9 9(10 ) - -
Gold - (0.1 or 10-1) 5 -
(0.01 or 10-
Silver - 2 10 -
)
No color - - 20 -

lead lead

Percent tolerance

Number of zeros (multiplier)

second significant figure
first significant figure

Fig 2.1
The fourth band indicates the percent tolerance of the resistance. Percent tolerance is the amount
the resistance may vary from the value indicated by the color code. Because the resistors are
mass-produced, variations in materials will affect their resistance. Tolerances are usually given
as plus or minus of the nominal, or color-code value.
Example: Brown Red Orange Gold
1 2 1035% = 12 K  , ±5%
The fifth band is a reliability factor, which gives the percent of failure per one thousand hours of
use. For instance, a 1% failure rate would reveal that one out of every 100 would fail to fall
within the tolerance range after 1000 hours of use.
High precision resistors have five bands. The first three bands indicate the first three significant
figures of the resistance; the fourth band indicates the number of zeros; the fifth band is the
percent tolerance. Percent tolerance for these resistors ranges from 0.1 percent to 2 percent. Wire
wound high wattage resistors usually are not color-coded but have the resistance value and
wattage ratting printed on the body of the resistor.
Variable Resistors
In addition to fixed resistors, variable resistors are used extensively in electronics. Two types of
variable resistors are the rheostat and the potentiometer.
Potentiometer
Volume controls used in radio; contrast and brightness control of television receivers are typical
examples of potentiometers. Figure below shows the inside of potentiometer.

(a)Actual Shape (b) Inside of potentiometer

Fig 2.2
Rheostat
This is the simplest way of using a variable resistor. Two terminals are used: one connected to an
end of the track, the other to the moveable wiper. Turning the spindle changes the resistance
between the two terminals from zero up to the maximum resistance. Rheostats are often used to
vary current, for example to control the brightness of a lamp or the rate at which a capacitor
charges.

(a) Rheostat (b) Rheostat symbol

Fig 2.3
Presets
These are miniature versions of the standard variable resistor. They are designed to be mounted
directly onto the circuit board and adjusted only when the circuit is built.

(a)Preset(Open style) (b)Presets(Close style) (c)Symbol representation

Fig 2.4
Nonlinear Resistors
Resistance values detailed above are of constant value and do not change if the voltage or current
flow alters. But there are circuits that require resistors to change value with a change in
temperate or light. This function may not be linear, hence the name non-linear resistors.
There are several types of nonlinear resistors, which include
Thermistors
Negative Temperature Co-efficient (NTC) as shown in figure 1.5(a); their resistance lowers with
temperature rise. Positive Temperature Co-efficient (PTC) as shown in figure 1.5(b); their
resistance increases with the temperature rise.
Light Dependant Resistors
Light Dependent Resistors (LDR) figure1.5(c); their resistance lowers with the increase in light.
Voltage dependent Resistors (VDR); their resistance critically lowers as the voltage exceeds a
certain value. Symbols and shapes of some of these nonlinear resistors are shown below.

Fig 2.5 Nonlinear resistors – (a) NTC, (b) PTC, (c) LDR
Resistors Power Rating
The Power absorbed in a resistor is given by
𝑃 = 𝐼² × 𝑅 2.1

or
𝑃 = 𝑉²/𝑅 2.2
Where
P = Power absorbed in the resistor in watts (W)
I = Current through the resistor in amps (A)
R = Resistance of the resistor in ohms ( )
V = Voltage across the resistor in volts (V)
Resistors of different values are available in different power ratings. The typical power ratings
are 1/8W, 1/4W (quarter watt), 1/2W (half watt), 1W, 2W, 5W, and so on.
Example 1: A 470 resistor with 20V across it, needs a power rating
P = V²/R = 20²/470 = 0.851W.
In this case a standard 1W resistor would be suitable

Example 2
A 27 resistor with 10V across it, needs a power rating P = V²/R = 10²/27 = 3.7W.
A high power resistor with a rating of 5W would be suitable.
Thus when selecting a particular resistor for a given application, we should specify both its
resistance value in and its power rating. A general rule of thumb is to always select a resistor
whose power rating is at least double the amount of power it will be expected to handle. That
way, it will be able to dissipate any heat it generates very quickly, and will operate at normal
temperatures.

Experimental Work

Measuring Resistance with Ohmmeter

A multimeter when set to Ω can measure the resistance and the meter is called ohmmeter. To
measure the resistance between two points, say A and B connect one end of ohmmeter to A and
the other to point B. The meter display will indicate the value of resistance between A and B.

Equipment & Components Required

1. Digital multimeter (DMM)
2. Resistors, (color coded)
Procedure
1. You are given with resistors of various values and tolerances. Examine each one and
determine its resistance and tolerance according to its color code. Record the coded
resistance value, and tolerance in Table 2.2.
2. Using the coded resistance value as a guide, select an appropriate meter range by rotating
the multi-range selector switch to Ohms, and measure the resistance of each of the
resistors. Record your reading under “measured value” in Table 2.2.
3. Measure and record the resistance of a short length of hookup wire given to you.
R= _____Ω.
 4. Select one of the resistors in step 1 and connect the wire given in step 3 across it as
shown in Fig 1.6. By connecting the wire across the leads of resistor, the resistance has
been shot-circuited. Measure the resistance across the resistor-hookup wire connection.
R= _____Ω.

Resistor short-circuited by a piece of hookup wire

Fig 2.6

Experimental Results
First Second Third Fourth Coded
% Measured
Resistors color color color color value,
Tolerance value, 
band band band band 
1
2
3
4
5
Table 2.2
Question:
1. Comment on the behavior of actual resistance measurement and its coded value as
indicated by color codes. Explain your answer by referring to the results in Table 2.2.
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 2. What are the colors of the bands for each of the following carbon resistors having coded
values & tolerances given in table 2.3?

Table 2.3
First Second Third Fourth
Coded Tolerance
Resistors color color color color
value  %
band band band band
1 1 5
2 0.12 10
3 0.27 5
4 2.2M 10
5 820 20

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

 Evaluation Chart

Total Marks Obtained Marks

Participation in the Lab 3

Accuracy of Results Obtained 4

Viva 3

Total 10

Comments from Lab Instructor:

_______________________ _______________________

Date Instructor’s Signature