Resistor Calculator - 4, 5, 6-Band Color Code & Circuits
Free online electronic resistor calculator and color code decoder. Decode 4-band, 5-band, and 6-band standard axial resistor color bands with a photorealistic live SVG graphic, calculate total equivalent resistance for series and parallel resistor networks, and compute conductor wire resistance using resistivity constants.
Resistor Color Code & Circuit Calculator
Interactive 4/5/6-band color code decoder with SVG resistor, parallel/series network analyzer, and conductor resistance.
Resistor Color Code & Network Circuit Guide: 4/5/6 Bands, Parallel Networks & Conductor Resistance
Fixed axial through-hole resistors use standardized color-coded bands to indicate nominal resistance value, multiplier, and manufacturing tolerance. Understanding electronic color coding and circuit branch physics is essential for circuit design and embedded hardware prototyping.
Standard EIA Color Band System
4-Band Resistors: Band 1 (1st digit) + Band 2 (2nd digit) × Band 3 (Multiplier) ± Band 4 (Tolerance).
5-Band Resistors: Band 1, 2, 3 (Three significant digits) × Band 4 (Multiplier) ± Band 5 (Tolerance).
6-Band Precision: Adds a 6th band indicating the Temperature Coefficient of Resistance (TCR) in ppm/K.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Select Color Band Count
Choose 4-Band Resistor (standard 5% tolerance), 5-Band Resistor (precision 1% metal film), or 6-Band Resistor (precision with Temperature Coefficient).
Select Color Bands from Left to Right
Pick the color for each band (Black, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet, Gray, White, Gold, Silver).
Read Resistance & Tolerance Values
The calculator evaluates the exact resistance value in Ohms (Ω), Kilohms (kΩ), or Megohms (MΩ) with tolerance percentage (±%).
Reverse Lookup: Enter Resistance to Get Color Bands
Type any target resistance value (e.g. `4.7 kΩ ±5%` or `100 Ω`) to instantly generate the corresponding color band sequence.
Key Features & Capabilities
- Complete 4-Band, 5-Band, and 6-Band EIA-60062 / IEC 60062 electronic color code calculation
- Bidirectional decoding: Color-to-Value calculation and Value-to-Color reverse lookup
- Precision tolerance calculation: ±0.05%, ±0.1%, ±0.25%, ±0.5%, ±1%, ±2%, ±5%, and ±10%
- 6th-Band Temperature Coefficient of Resistance (TCR) calculation in parts per million per Kelvin (`ppm/K` or `ppm/°C`)
- Standard EIA Decade Resistor Values matching (E12, E24, E48, E96, and E192 series)
- Interactive realistic visual resistor graphic rendering vibrant color bands dynamically
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you read a 4-Band resistor color code?
For a 4-band resistor: Band 1 is the 1st significant digit, Band 2 is the 2nd significant digit, Band 3 is the decimal Multiplier (`10^n`), and Band 4 is the Tolerance. For example, Yellow (4), Violet (7), Red (x100), Gold (±5%) = `47 * 100 = 4,700 Ω = 4.7 kΩ ±5%`.
What is the difference between 4-Band and 5-Band resistors?
4-band resistors are standard general-purpose carbon film resistors providing 2 significant digits (typically ±5% or ±10% tolerance). 5-band resistors are precision metal film resistors providing 3 significant digits plus a multiplier and tight tolerance (typically ±1% or ±0.5%).
What does the 6th band on a precision resistor indicate?
The 6th band specifies the Temperature Coefficient of Resistance (TCR) measured in ppm/K (parts per million per Kelvin). It indicates how much the resistance will drift as operating temperature changes (e.g. Brown = 100 ppm/K, Red = 50 ppm/K, Blue = 10 ppm/K).
What is the mnemonic phrase used to memorize resistor color codes?
A classic popular mnemonic is: **B**lack (0), **B**rown (1), **R**ed (2), **O**range (3), **Y**ellow (4), **G**reen (5), **B**lue (6), **V**iolet (7), **G**ray (8), **W**hite (9) — *'**B**ad **B**oys **R**ace **O**ur **Y**oung **G**irls **B**ut **V**iolet **G**enerally **W**ins'*.
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