Otis Singleton
Resistors are passive devices that are essential in modern-day electronics, regulating current flow and controlling voltage. Before the 1920s, there was no standard colour code for resistors, but today, the EIA colour code is used to indicate the values or ratings of electronic components. There are several methods to remember the resistor colour codes, including creating your own mnemonic or memorising the colours of the rainbow.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of bands | Between 3 and 6, with 4 being the most common |
| First few bands | Represent digits in the value of resistance |
| Multiplier band | Signifies moving the decimal right or left |
| Last bands | Represent tolerance and the temperature coefficient |
| Tolerance bands | Gold, Silver, None for 5%, 10%, 20% |
| Mnemonic | Bright Boys Rave Over Young Girls But Veto Getting Wed. Black, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet, Grey, White <=> 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
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What You'll Learn
The colours represent the first and second digits of the value
The colours of electrical resistor colour codes represent the first and second digits of the value. The colours are black, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, grey, and white, which represent 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, respectively. Gold and silver are also sometimes used to represent 5% and 10% tolerance, respectively.
There are several resistor colour code mnemonics to help remember the colours and their respective values. One of the most well-known mnemonics is "Bad Boys Rape Our Young Girls But Violet Gives Willingly", where the first letter of each word corresponds to the colours black, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, grey, and white. However, this mnemonic has been criticised for its offensive and inappropriate nature, and some people prefer to use alternative phrases that do not contain violent or sexist language.
Some alternative mnemonics include "Bright Boys Rave Over Young Girls But Veto Getting Wed", "Better Be Right Or Your Great Big Venture Goes West", and "Big Beautiful Roses Occupy Your Garden But Violets Grow Wild". Another approach is to simply memorise the colours and their values without using a mnemonic, which can be done by creating flashcards, using a cheat sheet, or through repeated exposure and practice.
It is important to note that resistor colour codes are read from left to right, and the first two colours represent the first and second digits of the resistance value, while the third colour represents the decimal multiplier. For example, a resistor with the colours brown, green, and silver would be a 15-ohm resistor, while silver, green, and brown would represent 950 ohms. Additionally, it is assumed that you read the colours from the outside towards the inside of the resistor.
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The third colour is the decimal multiplier
The electronic colour code is used to indicate the values or ratings of electronic components, usually for resistors, but also for capacitors, inductors, diodes and others. The first few bands of colours on a resistor always represent the digits in the value of resistance. The third colour, then, is the decimal multiplier. This is followed by the last bands, which represent tolerance and the temperature coefficient.
There are several ways to remember the resistor colour codes. One is to use a mnemonic, such as "Bright Boys Rave Over Young Girls But Veto Getting Wed. Black, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet, Grey, White <=> 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9". Another is "BB ROY of Great Britain has Very Good Wife", or "Better Be Right Or Your Great Big Venture Goes West".
Some other mnemonics include:
- "Bad boys rape our young girls, but Violet Gives Willingly"
- "Better Buy Resistors Or Your Grid Bias Voltages Go West"
- "Betty Brown Runs Over Your Garden But Violet Gingerly Walks"
- "Big Beautiful Roses Occupy Your Garden But Violets Grow Wild"
It is worth noting that some of these mnemonics are considered offensive and outdated.
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Additional bands have meanings that vary
The number of bands on a resistor ranges from three to six, with four being the most common variation. The first few bands always represent digits in the value of resistance, followed by a multiplier band to signify the movement of the decimal point, and then the last bands represent tolerance and the temperature coefficient.
Resistors with additional bands have meanings that vary. For instance, five-band resistors allow for a third digit to be specified, while high-precision resistors with six bands have an extra band to specify the temperature coefficient. Resistors with six bands are usually produced according to military specifications and include an extra band to indicate reliability.
The colour black is often used to indicate zero-ohm resistors, which are essentially wire links used to connect traces on a printed circuit board. These resistors are packaged like regular resistors so that the same automated equipment can be used to place them on the circuit board.
Some other ways to memorise the colours are:
- "Bright Boys Rave Over Young Girls But Veto Getting Wed. Black, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet, Grey, White <=> 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9."
- "Better Be Right Or Your Great Big Venture Goes West."
- "Bad0 boys1 rape2 our3 yummy4 girls5 but6 violet7 gives8 willingly9."
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Tolerance bands are Gold, Silver or None
Tolerance bands are an important aspect of resistor colour codes, providing information about the accuracy of the resistance value. The most common tolerance values are 5%, 10%, and 20%, and these are indicated by specific colour bands.
When it comes to tolerance bands, the colours gold, silver, or none are significant. If a resistor has a gold band on one end, it indicates a 5% tolerance, while a silver band represents a 10% tolerance. In the absence of a metallic band, a "none" or blank band implies a 20% tolerance. These bands are usually found on the left end of the resistor. It's worth noting that gold and silver bands are replaced with yellow and grey in high-voltage resistors to prevent metal particles in the exterior coating.
To help memorise these colour codes, some people use the mnemonic "Bad Boys Race Our Young Girls But Vicky Generally Wins", where the colours black, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, grey, and white correspond to the numbers 0 to 9, respectively. Another variation of this mnemonic is "Better Be Right Or Your Great Big Venture Goes Wrong". These phrases can assist in remembering the colours associated with tolerance values.
Additionally, it's important to understand the overall structure of resistor colour codes. Typically, a resistor will have between three and six coloured bands, with four bands being the most common. The first few bands represent the digits in the value of resistance, followed by a multiplier band that indicates the decimal placement. The final bands represent tolerance and, in some cases, the temperature coefficient.
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The code is also used for inductors and capacitors
The colour code for electrical resistors is also used for inductors and capacitors. The code was standardised in 1952 by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and was originally meant to be used only for fixed resistors. However, in 1968, the IEC extended the code to cover capacitors as well.
The IEC standards define a colour code as well as a letter and digit code named RKM code for resistors and capacitors. The colour bands were used because they were easy and cheap to print on tiny components. There can be anywhere from three to six colour bands on the body of a resistor or capacitor, with four bands being the most common variation. The first few bands represent digits in the value of resistance, followed by a multiplier band to indicate the decimal point placement. The last bands represent tolerance and the temperature coefficient.
The same code is used for inductors, with the unit being μH, and for capacitors, with the unit being pF. Capacitors may be marked with four or more coloured bands or dots. The first two colours indicate the first and second most significant digits of the value in picofarads, and the third colour indicates the decimal multiplier.
Some useful mnemonics have been created to remember the numeric order of resistor colour bands. Here are some examples:
- Bright Boys Rave Over Young Girls But Veto Getting Wed (Black, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet, Grey, White)
- BB Roy of Great Britain Veto Getting Wed (Black, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet, Grey, White)
- Bad Boys Ruin Our Young Girls But Violet Gives Willing (Black, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet, Grey, White)
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Frequently asked questions
Here are some memorable mnemonics to help you remember the resistor colour codes:
- Bright Boys Rave Over Young Girls But Veto Getting Wed. Black, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet, Grey, White => 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
- Bad boys rape our young girls but Violet Gives Willingly. (Get Some Now refers to the tolerance bands Gold, Silver or None).
- Better Be Right Or Your Great Big Venture Goes West.
- Betty Brown Runs Over Your Garden But Violet Gingerly Walks.
- Big Beautiful Roses Occupy Your Garden But Violets Grow Wild.
One of the best ways to remember the colour codes is to use a memorable mnemonic, as listed above. You could also try to remember the colours in relation to the rainbow, with black and white at either end: Black, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet, Grey, White.
The resistor colour codes are used to indicate the values or ratings of electronic components, usually for resistors, but also for capacitors, inductors, diodes and others. There can be anywhere from three to six coloured bands on the body of a resistor, with four bands being the most common variation. The first few bands always represent digits in the value of resistance.
Some people find that repetition is the best way to remember the colour codes. You could also try to make your own mnemonic, or use a cheat sheet until you become more familiar with the codes.
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