What is the E12/E24 resistor series?

These are standard sets of preferred values defined by the EIA for resistors, allowing manufacturers to cover values with consistent logarithmic spacing (12 values per decade for E12, 24 values for E24).

Why does my 6-band resistor need a temp coefficient?

Precision circuits (like RF or analog filtering) undergo heating. The temperature coefficient indicates the expected value drift in parts per million per Kelvin (ppm/K).

Resistor Color Code Decoder

engineering100% Client-Side

Decode 4, 5, or 6-band resistor color codes using an interactive visual band-picker, with E12/E24 nearest series value comparison.

Interactive Resistor Preview

Editing Band 1 (DIGIT)

Current color: Brown

Select Color for Band 1:

Calculated Resistance

1 kΩ

Tolerance: ±5%

Standard Series Parity

Nearest E12:1 kΩ

Exact Match

Nearest E24:1 kΩ

Exact Match

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How to use Resistor Color Code Decoder

1Select the resistor type (4, 5, or 6 color bands) using the top selector tabs.
2Click on any color band on the visual resistor representation to select it.
3Click on a color in the palette below to assign it to the selected band.
4Review the calculated nominal resistance, tolerance range, and temperature coefficient values instantly.
5Compare the final resistance value with nearest standard E12 or E24 resistor series values.

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About Resistor Color Code Decoder

Understanding Resistor Color Bands

Resistors are color-coded to quickly identify their nominal resistance and tolerance. Different band configurations provide different levels of precision:

4-Band Resistors: Composed of two significant digits, a multiplier, and a tolerance band.
5-Band Resistors: Composed of three significant digits, a multiplier, and a tolerance band, used for higher precision.
6-Band Resistors: Include three significant digits, a multiplier, a tolerance band, and a temperature coefficient band indicating how much resistance changes per degree Celsius (in ppm/K).

Interactive Visual Band-Picker

Our tool stands out by offering a fully interactive visual resistor body. You can select bands directly by clicking on them in the SVG illustration rather than wading through tedious dropdown menus.

Frequently Asked Questions

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