DIGITAL ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY: IA 325

Module 2 Resistors and the Resistance of the Materials

Week 4 February 15-21, 2021| 2nd Semester, S.Y. 2020-2021

Introduction
This course tackles on the fundamental knowledge required to
understand the workings of every basic electronic devices found mostly in
every electronics components and gadgets.
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Intended Learning Outcomes

1. Discuss the importance of the resistance of the materials.

2. Identify the roles of the resistor in a circuit, the resistance in a certain
material and kinds of resistors.
3. Determine the value of resistance by color coding of a carbon type
resistor.
4. Calculate the resistance value of each resistor.

Lesson 2: Resistors

TRY THIS! Match COLUMN A TO COLUMN B

1. It is one of the components
that is graded based on their
power ratings (amount of A.
power they can handle
without exploding) and
resistance values (capacity
to resist current).
2. These components can store
electric charge temporarily.

B.
3. An electronic measuring
instrument that combines
several measurement
functions in one unit. It is also C.
known as VOM (volt-ohm-
milliammeter). What does
this refers to?
4. Built with two coils of wire,
transformers are commonly
used to step up or step
down power.

D.
5. Fuses help preserve
components from
overloading with excessive
current.

E.
 OVERVIEW:
The main purpose and usage of a resistor is to control or limit the
amount of current in a circuit. This lesson provides a simplified study of
types of resistors, color code and interpretation of color code, metal film
resistor code number, decoding, carbon resistor tolerance, coded value,
and measured value, interpretation of minimum and maximum tolerance.
You will find that the resistance value of a resistor is either imprinted on the
body of the resistor or determined by means of color coding.
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RESISTOR COLOR CODE

I. Introduction:
Carbon composition and wire-wound are two main types of
resistors. Whether they are the carbon type or wire-wound, resistors have
a resistance and a power rating. The rated power of carbon resistors
depend entirely on their physical size. Generally, resistors are the most
common components used in all kinds of electronic equipment.

II. Theories/Principles

In short and simple term, a resistor is an electronic device used to

minimize or control the current flow in the circuit. Resistors are
classified in three basic types:
1. Fixed resistors
2. Semi-variable/adjustable resistors and
3. Variable resistors

*FIXED RESISTORS
A. Carbon Composition Resistors:
1. Carbon resistors are made of a carbon rod, with a wire
connector lead attached to each end.
2. Carbon-type resistors are generally painted in colors,
arranged in the form of a code to indicate their value in
ohms. (Note: Complete details concerning this code are
given in this lesson.
3. At a glance, the carbon composition resistors look like
carbon resistors, but actually the resistance element is
made from a composition of powdered graphite mixed
with synthetic resins and other materials in proper
proportions.
 CARBON (COMPOSITION) FIXED RESISTORS

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4. Usually, carbon resistors have 4 colored bands.

RESISTORS COLOR CODE FOR A AND B

GOLD

B D
A C

0 – BLACK
1 – BROWN

2 – RED
3 – ORANGE

4 – YELLOW
5 – GREEN
6 – BLUE

7 – VIOLET
8 – GRAY

9 - WHITE

5. The resistance value is indicated by the first three bands

while the tolerance value is indicated by the fourth band.
6. The first significant figure of the ohmic resistance value is
the “A” band.
7. The second significant figure is the “B” band.
8. The multiplier is the “C” band.
9. Tolerance is indicated by the “D” band.
10. Each of these colors, from black to white, is assigned a
 numerical value from 0 to 9 when used for either band A
or band B. So the A, B and C bands will be one of the
colors shown in the resistor color code.
11. A multiplier value is assigned each of the colors from
black to white as follows:

RESISTORS COLOR CODE “C”

COLORS MULTIPLIERS
Black 1
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Brown 10
Red 100

Orange 1,000
Yellow 10,000
Green 100,000

Blue 1,000,000
Violet 10, 000, 000

Gray 100,000,000
White 1, 000,000,000

12. Silver or gold signifies the “D” band. Tolerance of 10% is

indicated by a silver band, whereas tolerance of 5% is
indicated by a gold band.
 *DECODING A CARBON RESISTOR:
1. Assuming that you have a resistor with Brown, Black, Red, Gold bands
arranged in the order shown below.

+5%
x100
1 0
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C
B D
A
x100
0 +5%
1

1kΩ + 5%

2. Firstly, turn the resistor so that the band which is nearest to one of the
resistor ends is to your LEFT as you decode it. Hence, in our example, the
brown band is to the EXTREME LEFT and the black, red and gold bands
FOLLOW TO THE RIGHT.
3. First significant color or the “A” band is BROWN and it has a numerical
value of “1”; the “B” band, the significant color is BLACK and has a
numerical vale of “10” which must be multiplied by “100” since the “C”
band is RED. The ohmic value of the resistor then will be “1000 ohms”.

4. We know that the tolerance is + 5% upon observing that the “D” band
is GOLD. This means that the manufacturer assures that the ohmic value
does not vary by more than + 5% and therefore is somewhere between
950 and 1050 ohms.

NOTE: Some carbon resistors do not have a “D” band. The absence of a
“D” band indicates that the tolerance is + 20%.
 For a color coding chart, refer BELOW.

CARBON (COMPOSITION) RESISTOR COLOR CODE CHART

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COLOR FIRST SECOND MULTIPLIER TOLERANCE

CODE SIGNIFICANT SIGNIFICANT
+%
FIGURE FIGURE
BLACK 0 0 1 -

BROWN 1 1 10 + 1%

RED 2 2 100 +2%

ORANGE 3 3 1,000 + 3%

YELLOW 4 4 10,000 + 4%

GREEN 5 5 100,000 -

BLUE 6 6 1,000,000 -

VIOLET 7 7 10,000,000 -

GRAY 8 8 100,000,000 -

WHITE 9 9 1,000,000,000 -

GOLD - - 0.1 + 5%

SILVER - - 0.001 +10%

NONE - - - + 20%

*EXAMPLES:
1. A carbon resistor called BROWN, GREEN, BLACK, and GOLD has a
resistance value of 15 ohms, and a tolerance of + 5%.

GREEN GOLD RESISTANCE READING

BROWN BLACK

CODED VALUE 15Ω

MULTIPLIER 1

1 5 X1 + 5% TOLERANCE + 5%
 2. Resistance reading of a carbon composition resistor using the EIA color
code.

RESISTANCE READING
RED RED BROWN SILVER
CODED VALUE 220Ω

MULTIPLIER 10

TOLERANCE + 10%
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3. Determining the resistance reading of a carbon-type resistor using the

EIA Color code.

BROWN
GRAY RED
RESISTANCE READING
SILVER
CODED VALUE 1.8KΩ

MULTIPLIER 100

TOLERANCE + 10%

4. Decoding the resistance value of a carbon composition type of resistor

using the EIA color code.

GREEN
BLUEORANGE
RESISTANCE READING
NONE
CODED VALUE 56KΩ

MULTIPLIER 1,000

TOLERANCE + 20%
56kΩ + 20%

5. Decoding the resistance value of a carbon composition-type resistor

using the EIA color code.

BLUE
GRAY
RESISTANCE READING
YELLOW GOLD
CODED VALUE 680KΩ

MULTIPLIER 10,000

TOLERANCE + 5%
 6. Determining the resistance value of a carbon-composition resistor using
the EIA color code.

BROWN
BLACK
RESISTANCE READING
GREEN
SILVER
CODED VALUE 1MΩ

MULTIPLIER 100,000

TOLERANCE + 10%
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7. Determining the resistance value of a carbon-composition resistor

using the EIA color code.

ORANGE
ORANGESILVER
RESISTANCE READING
SILVER
CODED VALUE 0.33Ω

MULTIPLIER 0.01

TOLERANCE + 10%

8. Decoding the resistance value of a carbon composition type of resistor

using the EIA color code.

RED
RED
RESISTANCE READING
GOLD
GOLD
CODED VALUE 2.2Ω

MULTIPLIER 0.1

TOLERANCE + 5%
 *METAL FILM RESISTORS
1. Metal film resistor is another type, in addition to the carbon, carbon
composition and wire-wound resistors.

2. Generally, the body of the metal film resistor consists of a tubular or

solid material of either glass or ceramic.
3. A thin film resistive metal is deposited on and intimately bonded and
connected to terminal ends, normally the wire led or the pigtail type.
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4. Some types of film resistors are made with the film on the inside of the
tubular core, although most film resistors available today have the
resistant element on the outside.
5. Silicon resin varnishes, plastic sleeving, plastic encapsulating materials
or ceramic sleeves are the various external protective materials used for
insulation.
6. All types of fixed resistors are manufactured in a great many different
values, ranging from fraction of an ohm to several million ohms
(megohms).

7. Instead of the color code, some resistors specifically metal film types
are marked with a number and/or letter code to indicate the ohmic
resistance and tolerance value. Always put in mind that the capital letters
R, K and M indicate both the multiplier and location of the decimal point
in the resistance value. The last letter represents the tolerance value.

EXAMPLES:
1. Find out the exact resistance reading of the resistor using the
number/letter/code.

RESISTANCE READING

CODED VALUE 5.6Ω

5R6F
MULTIPLIER 1

TOLERANCE + 1% (F)

2. Exact resistance reading of the metal film resistor using the

number/letter code.

RESISTANCE READING

CODED VALUE 6.8kΩ

6K8G
MULTIPLIER 1000
 TOLERANCE + 2% (G)

3. Metal film resistor resistance reading using the number/letter code.

RESISTANCE READING

CODED VALUE 1.2MΩ

1M2J
MULTIPLIER 1,000,000

TOLERANCE + 5% (J)
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4. Resistor (metal film) resistance reading using the number/letter

code.

RESISTANCE READING

CODED VALUE 3.3KΩ

3K3K
MULTIPLIER 1,000

TOLERANCE + 10% (K)

5. Resistance reading of the metal film resistor using the number letter.

RESISTANCE READING

CODED VALUE 4.7KΩ

4K7M
MULTIPLIER 1,000

TOLERANCE + 20% (M)

 SUMMARY:

1. A carbon composition resistor has a color coded

resistance value.
2. The unit of resistance is ohm. The symbol for ohm is Ω
(Greek letter Omega).
3. A carbon resistor has four color bands or dots printed on
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its body.
4. The first color or the significant figure is the color band or
dot which is closest to the extreme LEFT hand position of
the resistor.
5. Second significant figure is determined by the color of the
second band.
6. The color of the third band tells the multiplier (number of
zeros to be added or the placement of the decimal
point.
7. A fourth color band is used for tolerance designation.
8. The absence of the fourth color band means 20%
tolerance.
9. In case of a resistor whose value is LESS than 1 ohm, the
multiplier is SILVER (band or dot).
10. In the case of a resistor whose value is GREATER than 1
ohm but LESS THAN 10 ohms, the multiplier is GOLD.
11. Wire-wound high wattage resistors usually are not color
coded, but have the ohmic value and wattage rating
printed on the body of the resistor.
12. In writing the greater values of resistor, the following
designations are employed:
K, a multiplier which stands for 1,000
M, a multiplier which stands for 1,000,000

*EXAMPLES:
56 kilohms (56kΩ) stands for 56,000 ohms
1.2 megohms (1.2MΩ) stand for 1,200,00 ohms
 For your quiz and activity,

*open USTEP and/or

*download the file directly from our FB GROUP
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 References

 https://www.prescouter.com/2015/06/evolution-of-electronic-
devices-from-a-computing-age-towards-a-data-age/
 https://science.jrank.org/pages/2376/Electronics-History.html
 https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/capacitor/cap_3.html
 Practical Electrnocs Book by Sharif Bandi
 https://www.actpower.com/educational/what-is-a-power-supply-
and-how-does-it-work/
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