Rule of thumb · ElectricalNº 95 / 96
Resistor bands read digit-digit-multiplier
On a 4-band resistor: first two bands are significant digits, third is the power-of-ten multiplier, fourth is tolerance.
Why it works
IEC 60062 colour code. Gold/silver as the third band means 0.1/0.01 multipliers; as the fourth they mean 5%/10% tolerance.
Do it exactly
Estimate with the rule, then check it against the calculator that models it properly.
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